I was at the European Union (EU) Cotton Alliance informational lunch this spring, trying to neatly nibble on European cheeses when I was passed a plain brown Pima Cotton shirt with a QR code brandished on its tag. Within seconds of scanning I was directed to a website:
"You know what you choose! From farm to end product, EU Cotton ensures full transparency and responsibility at every stage of production."
I was able to access information about farms, suppliers, and production facilities. What I couldn't find was the people behind it. That gap stayed with me.
The QR code was an introduction to the EU's new mandated Digital Product Passports (DPP), an addition to global pushes for 'Extended Producer Responsibility' intended to increase transparency and enable sustainability measures.