TrackTrace has announced a significant development in supply chain transparency with the integration of its Digital Product Passport (DPP) platform and Merck’s M-Trust authentication technology. This innovative solution is specifically designed to help manufacturers and suppliers meet the stringent new requirements set forth by the European Union regarding supply chain documentation and compliance.
The collaboration, which brings together Swiss Web3 software developer The Hashgraph Group (THG) and Merck, leverages the capabilities of the Hedera blockchain network to create a robust digital product identification ecosystem. The combination of the TrackTrace DPP system and M-Trust’s physical authentication technology aims to empower companies to verify key aspects of their products—including origin, authenticity, quality, and movement—across the supply chain, ultimately generating a comprehensive digital product passport that is rooted in verifiable data.
At the core of this new framework is the ability of the TrackTrace DPP platform to produce immutable digital records depicting a product’s journey from inception to market. In conjunction, M-Trust enhances security through the use of invisible security markers embedded in products and their packaging. When scanned with a specialized device, the authentication data is recorded on the blockchain and incorporated into the product’s digital passport, thereby establishing a reliable and verifiable chain of evidence that traces each phase of the supply chain.
In addition to tracking product provenance, TrackTrace’s system gathers extensive data regarding product quality, the origin of raw materials, carbon emissions, and responsible sourcing practices. Each asset or process is allocated a decentralized identifier that holds associated data, ensuring independent auditors can examine records without needing a centralized intermediary.
This groundbreaking solution is particularly geared toward industries with strict provenance requirements such as food production, pharmaceuticals, electronics manufacturing, luxury goods, and industrial components. Stefan Deiss, CEO and Co-Founder of The Hashgraph Group, emphasized that this platform is a proactive approach to helping businesses align with anticipated EU mandates regarding Digital Product Passports and supply chain traceability.
The European Union has set forth its Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), mandating the introduction of Digital Product Passports featuring QR codes for most physical products sold in the EU by 2030. Concurrently, the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) necessitates that importers of commodities like cocoa, coffee, and timber provide verified traceability data on the origin of their raw materials.
Highlighting the urgency of these solutions, Thomas Endress, Executive Director and Head of M-Trust within Merck’s Group Science & Technology Office, noted a rising demand for traceability technologies as global supply chains experience increased risks of fraud. For instance, he pointed out the cocoa market’s growing challenges with falsified certificates of origin and forged compliance documents, particularly evident in 2026.
Besides TrackTrace, The Hashgraph Group’s Hedera-based ecosystem encompasses various platforms such as IDTrust for digital identity management, EcoGuard for carbon tracking, and BrandBoost, a software-as-a-service platform focused on tokenized loyalty programs. The organization has also established a private blockchain network tailored for enterprise clients, enabling compliant distributed ledger technology (DLT) solutions. Meanwhile, the Hedera network is increasingly recognized for its application in stablecoin issuance, cross-border transactions, and micropayments, further supporting a transparent and accountable marketplace.
