On April 10, Teijin Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan) announced that it has started rolling out initiatives to enable aramid fibers and carbon fibers to be accompanied by digital product passport (DPP) technology, which enhances supply chain transparency by verifying the origins of materials and supporting sustainability claims.

The company is using the supply chain traceability system from Circularise B.V. (The Hague, The Netherlands) in which Teijin has invested since November 2024, to develop DPPs for each product. Implementation of DPPs is being mandated by Europe’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). 

Source | Teijin Ltd.

The ESPR, which came into force in July 2024, “aims to significantly improve the sustainability of products placed on the EU market by improving their circularity, energy performance, recyclability and durability,” according to the European Commission. Implementation of DPPs will follow a phased approach, with full adoption expected by 2030. From 2027, a DPP will be mandatory for all industrial and electric vehicle batteries. In the future, it is expected that a basic DPP will also be mandatory for textiles and other products.

Through this strategic collaboration with Circularise, Teijin says it will gradually launch DPP-compliant products, beginning with carbon fiber materials. The initiative enables Teijin to comply with evolving sustainability regulations while addressing consumer demands for greater transparency.

At JEC World 2025, Teijin presented two proof-of-concept applications highlighting how DPPs enhance traceability and circularity in recycled materials use.

The first demonstration focused on Teijin aramid pulp made by grinding aramid fibers from recycled materials. The DPP shows a (potential) pathway of the aramid fibers from its origin to customer Hampidjan, producer of the Terra Sling. “From the application we are able to follow the discarded slings back to Teijin Aramid where the end-of-life material can be used for the production of aramid pulp,” says Hampidjan personnel. “This way we are able to illustrate a transparent and verifiable recycling process”

The second proof of concept showcased the traceability of Tenax Next R2S P513 6mm, a short carbon fiber product. This material is produced using post-production waste from carbon fiber filament yarn manufacturing. The DPP demonstrated how specific waste streams were reintegrated into the product.