ECHT traceability conference

The EU Interreg project ECHT aims to raise awareness among actors along the textile value chain that the traceability of chemicals in their products is an essential prerequisite for achieving the objectives of the Sustainable Textiles Strategy. As part of the project, roadmaps for the implementation of chemicals traceability in the industry will be developed – complemented by a policy action plan. Additionally, the results from the trainings and the insights gained in developing, testing and disseminating practical solutions will be upscaled into a Knowledge Platform to support SME´s of the textile and other sectors “beyond pure compliance” towards innovative business models.

To support these objectives, together with Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), the Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences is organising a one-day event dedicated to the different insights and findings from the project. Based on the project results from ECHT and the expert contributions, the event aims to promote an active exchange with relevant interested stakeholders from business (especially SMEs), science and authorities from the textile clothing sector and beyond.

During the first part of the conference, you will have the opportunity to learn more about:

• The training schemes concept developed under the ECHT project to support companies building their capacity regarding chemicals traceability. You will also learn more about the two main tools created and used during the capacity building program,: the Chemicals Traceability Canvas for Textiles, which offers a structured framework to outline key stages and fields in implementing chemicals traceability in textile value chains, and the Trace-It Game, which is a collaborative board game whose purpose is to rais awareness and building up capacity regarding the implementation of chemicals traceability in organisations.
• The Knowledge Platform developed under the ECHT project. This platform is a structured digital space that provides neutral information and resources to help users understand and build capacity to implement chemical traceability and the Digital Product Passport (DPP), targeting companies and supporting stakeholders. It aims to give advice on the concrete implementation, leading to more transparency and less harmful chemicals in products. You will also have the possibility to discover and test the Knowledge Platform yourself, and you will be given a questionnaire to gather your feedback directly.
• Various key aspects relating to traceability with a first presentation on where to start when implementing traceability with practical case from Puma, followed by a presentation on the Product Circularity Data Sheet (PCDS), an initiative led by Terra Matters, which aims to standardise circular product data to improve transparency. Finally, you can also learn more about other European projects, particularly the Horizon Europe TRUSTEX project, sharing technical specifications and best practices for implementing DPP solutions.

During the second part of the conference, you will have the opportunity to participate directly in discussions with project experts and provide feedback on two other key actions of the ECHT project

• The draft Policy Action Plan, that translates the ECHT results and the needs, benefits and challenges of traceability of chemicals in textiles value chains into clearly defined objectives and measures. This Policy Action Plan identifies policy objectives to overcome the challenges and proposes measures to achieve them. It will enable policymakers to pave the way for SMEs and other stakeholders within textile supply and value chains to implement chemical traceability.
• The Traceability Hub, that aims to establish traceability and transparency as a standard practice across the European industrial sector. It will address this challenge by creating a foundation for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and capacity building that bridges the current gap between regulatory requirements and practical implementation. The goal is to create practical tools enabling businesses of all sizes to access and share reliable supply chain data.

To conclude the day, participants are warmly invited to join a networking drink, offering a relaxed opportunity to continue discussions.