UN/CEFACT’s Recommendation No. 49 on “Transparency at Scale – Fostering Sustainable Value Chains” was formally tabled for adoption at the thirty‑first Plenary in July 2025, following two rounds of public review.

It establishes a global framework for Digital Product Passports (DPPs) and the United Nations Transparency Protocol (UNTP), aiming to combat greenwashing and ensure interoperable, verifiable sustainability data across supply chains.

Purpose of Recommendation No. 49

1. For regulators: Provides a framework to verify sustainability claims and enforce due diligence legislation (e.g., EU deforestation and green claims laws).
2. For industry: Helps companies meet supply chain disclosure obligations and improve market access.
3. For certifiers: Enables digitally verifiable ESG compliance.
4. For digital solution providers: Offers technical standards for interoperability and trust.

Core Features of UNTP for DPPs

1. Digital Product Passport (DPP): Carries conformity credentials, sustainability data, and traceability events.
2. Specifications & schema: Standardized data architecture for global interoperability.
3. Conformity tests: Ensure compliance with sustainability and transparency requirements.
4. Digital sustainability vocabulary: Common language for disclosures across jurisdictions.

Risks & Opportunities

Opportunities:

• Reduces greenwashing by requiring verifiable digital credentials.
• Enhances market access for exporters meeting sustainability standards.
• Supports SMEs and developing economies by lowering compliance costs.

Risks/Challenges:

• Fragmentation risk if jurisdictions adopt divergent standards.
• Implementation costs for smaller firms, though minimized by automation.
• Data governance issues (privacy, interoperability) requiring strong oversight.

Why This Matters for Business

1. Compliance made easier: With EU due diligence, deforestation, and green claims legislation tightening, companies face mounting disclosure requirements. Recommendation No. 49 provides a standardized way to meet them.
2. Market access: Exporters can demonstrate conformity credentials and sustainability data digitally, reducing barriers to entry in regulated markets.
3. Brand protection: By reducing greenwashing, genuinely sustainable products retain their value and credibility.
4. Operational efficiency: Automated, interoperable digital tools lower compliance costs and streamline reporting.

What’s Inside the UNTP for DPPs

The UNTP is more than policy—it’s a business standard. It includes:

1. Digital Product Passport schema carrying sustainability, traceability, and conformity data.
2. Implementation guidelines for integrating into existing supply chain systems.
3. Conformity tests to ensure ESG compliance is verifiable.
4. Digital sustainability vocabulary to harmonize disclosures across jurisdictions.

Pilot Projects and Sector Focus

Throughout 2024–2025, pilot projects have tested the UNTP in three critical sectors:

1. Agrifood supply chains (traceability from farm to fork).
2. Critical raw materials (responsible sourcing for minerals and metals).
3. Textiles and clothing (sustainability in fashion and apparel).

Lessons learned from these pilots are being integrated into the final business standard, paving the way for wide‑scale adoption in 2026.

Opportunities for Industry Players

1. Manufacturers & retailers: Build consumer trust with verifiable sustainability credentials.
2. Logistics providers: Offer transparency services as a competitive differentiator.
3. Tech companies: Develop solutions aligned with UNTP standards to capture new markets.
4. SMEs: Access simplified compliance tools that reduce reporting burdens.

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