The RAIN Alliance has recently been accepted as a liaison to the CEN/CENELEC Joint Technical Committee 24 (JTC24). This committee is responsible for supporting the creation of standards for the Digital Product Passport (DPP) Framework and System, a vital component of the European Union’s efforts to build a sustainable economy. By creating standards that define a system for storing and accessing on-product data, the group aims to promote transparency, facilitate recycling, and prevent counterfeiting across various industries through the DPP.

CEN/CENELEC JTC24 Standards and RAIN’s Role in Enabling DPP

The CEN/CENELEC JTC24 Committee is tasked with establishing standards for multiple DPP modules, including the data carrier and product identifier. RAIN Alliance’s contributions are significant here: RAIN technology is recognized globally as a robust solution in both these areas.

Specifically, RAIN tags serve as data carriers for various standards. For example either the ISO/IEC 15961-2 AFI assignment or the ISO/IEC 15459 IAC assigned to the RAIN Alliance and the Company Identification Number (CIN) acts as a prefix for a reliable identifier for globally unique product identification.

These components allow manufacturers, retailers, and recyclers worldwide to track, identify, and manage products during production throughout their lifecycle and at the end of life with increased efficiency.

RAIN’s acceptance by CEN/CENELEC JTC24 reflects its growing recognition as an important data carrier for various industries, aligning with the objectives of the Digital Product Passport and the broader Ecodesign for Sustainable Product Regulation (ESPR).

Industries Benefiting from RAIN in Digital Product Passports

RAIN Alliance represents companies across multiple sectors that fall under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). These industries are among the biggest contributors to product lifecycle data, and the adoption of RAIN enables more streamlined, sustainable practices across their operations.

  1. Textile Industry: The textile sector has major players such as Decathlon, H&M, C&A, and Bvlgari among RAIN’s members or supporters of our working groups. Through the integration of RAIN technology, these companies can ensure that items are accurately tracked from production through recycling, enhancing the transparency and sustainability of their products.
  2. Tyre Industry: Leading tyre manufacturers, such as Michelin, are leveraging RAIN to gain more control over product tracking, quality assurance, and recycling processes. Given the durability of RAIN tags, they can withstand extreme conditions, such as temperature fluctuations and physical stress, which is crucial for tyres during their lifecycle.
  3. Industrial Equipment and Pre-Product Manufacturing: Industrial Equipment Manufacturing Companies depend on reliable identification solutions for equipment that experiences harsh operational conditions. RAIN’s resilience and efficiency in data retrieval make it an optimal choice for the DPP in this sector.

Additionally, key product labeling companies and (vehicle) identification specialists are active members of the RAIN Alliance. Their involvement underlines the strategic importance of RAIN as the trusted solution for item-level tracking and lifecycle data management.

Unique Advantages of RAIN for Digital Product Passports

RAIN offers unparalleled advantages for enabling Digital Product Passports, particularly for high-volume industries and products with demanding lifecycle requirements.

Automated Distance Reading: RAIN tags can be read from a distance, facilitating automated logistics and inventory processes. This feature not only optimizes product management but also enhances the efficiency of recycling processes.

Counterfeit Detection: The authentication capabilities of RAIN chips are instrumental in identifying counterfeit products, thus supporting brand protection efforts and ensuring consumers receive genuine products.

Durability: RAIN tags are built to last, even under challenging conditions. They can withstand environmental stresses such as washing cycles for textiles and temperature changes for tyres, proving their effectiveness as a data carrier over a product’s entire lifecycle.

Supporting the Future of Sustainable Product Regulation

By supporting the creation of standards for Digital Product Passports, the RAIN Alliance is helping shape a future where sustainability is embedded in the life cycle of every product. With numerous RAIN members actively engaged in this vision, the potential for digitalized, transparent, and circular product ecosystems is now closer than ever.

For more insights on how RAIN is enabling Digital Product Passports, visit RAIN Alliance – Digital Product Passports Enabled by RAIN and become a member.

Click here for more information about the RAIN Company Identifier.

Visit this site for details about the standardization activity CEN/CENELEC JTC 24.