RFID technology is a promising technology currently finding its way into the field of customer interaction strategy, supply chain accuracy and inventory management. Primarily, RFID tags are seen as substitutes of traditional barcodes, yet they can add a lot of value and functionality. Where barcodes require a scanning device to be placed directly in front of the tag to be read, RFID tag readers are able to scan all tags that are in the proximity of the scanner . The next difference is that whereas barcodes usually are the same for all articles of the of the same type (i.e. a jar of peanut butter of brand x), RFID tags will be unique for each individual product occurrence. This opens up the possibility of tracking the entire history of a specific occurrence of a product. Moreover, due to the nature of the scanning technology, it suddenly becomes achievable for manufacturers to track individual products through all stages of production and base inventory management and front office planning on real-time data at item level from production facilities.
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We laten steeds meer sporen na: door op internet te surfen, door onze mobiele telefoon te gebruiken, door RFID-labels bij ons te dragen of door ons binnen het blikveld van camera’s te bewegen. Door de contextuele informatie die dit genereert te gebruiken als aanvulling op de ‘klassieke’ methode van gezichtsherkenning kunnen we de identificatie van personen sterk verbeteren. Bob Hulsebosch en Wouter Teeuw van het Telematica-instituut leggen uit hoe. Identificatie is het herkennen van een specifiek persoon – van wie de identiteit bekend is – in de menigte. Gezichtsherkenning speelt hierbij een grote rol. Uit camerabeelden leiden we een aantal gelaatskenmerken af, die we vergelijken met profielen in een database. Een match is mede afhankelijk van de tolerantie die we instellen. Bij een strenge instelling, met weinig ruimte voor onnauwkeurigheid, is de kans klein dat iemand ten onrechte wordt herkend (een lage false acceptance rate, of FAR), maar wordt de kans groter dat iemand uit de database ten onrechte niet wordt herkend (hogere false rejection rate, of FRR).
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To enable circularity new tools are needed. Regulatory compliance with the European Commission has introduced the Digital Product Passport (DPP) as part of the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). This framework requires traceability across all production tiers, including Tier 4, which covers raw material origins. The textile clothing leather and footwear (TCLF) sector has been identified as priority categories for DPP adoption, with mandatory compliance set between 2027 and 2030. DPP system standardizes lifecycle value chain data and includes information on material origin, manufacturing, assembly, and end-of-life handling. For the Dutch textile sector, comprising of almost 11,000 companies, DPP implementation presents significant challenges due to fragmented data infrastructure and long product lifecycles. Traditional identifiers (e.g., QR-codes, RFID) are often damaged or removed, limiting their effectiveness. Molecular characterization—using established techniques like spectral and chemical analysis—is emerging as the only reliable long-term solution for persistent, product-embedded identification. These molecular methods allow precise validation of fiber content, wear analysis, and recyclability, addressing compliance and end-of-life traceability issues. The Molecular Digital Physical Digital Product Passport (M-DPP) initiative demonstrates a practical application of these techniques for wool and cotton. It employs co-design to ensure regulatory alignment and develops an open-source API to support automated validation, extended producer responsibility (EPR), return and reuse (RE), textile lifecycle recovery (TLR), and material sorting and recycling (MSR). Smart contract functionality enables automated execution within deposit-refund systems, improving traceability and circularity. An iterative, design-thinking methodology underpins system development, ensuring adaptability to evolving standards. Pilot testing in collaboration with fashion and interior partners will validate the molecular sensing and data integration approach. Dissemination and scaling will occur through partnerships with NewTexEco, Circolab, DCTV, and TNO’s Center of Excellence for DPPs, aligning with European standardization efforts and enabling sector-wide adoption.
