World Collective and Kinset published a joint position paper on Digital Product Passports (DPP), confirming that DPP compliance will not scale as a brand-only reporting exercise because the most critical product evidence and data originate upstream across mills, processors, and manufacturers.
The paper introduces a practical model for distributed accountability, aligning responsibility with where data is generated and controlled. It also outlines the infrastructure needed to exchange verifiable information across tiers and systems.
This work is grounded in ongoing pilot activities, testing how distributed accountability functions in real production environments, with early results to be released soon. World Collective and Kinset are operationalizing the model through supplier-enabled DPP data capture and structured compilation workflows, laying the groundwork for the launch of a scalable model.
What’s distinct about this perspective
As DPP discussions intensify, much of the focus remains on regulatory requirements and downstream brand obligations.
This position paper shifts the lens to operational reality: without a unified global infrastructure, governance, and interoperable data exchange across the value chain, DPP risks becoming a post-hoc reconstruction exercise rather than a proactive and reliable record of real data.
Key takeaways from the position paper
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DPP implementation is an infrastructure challenge as much as a compliance requirement.
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Accountability must be distributed across the value chain because data is created upstream.
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Interoperability and hybrid workflows (manual + digital) are essential to include suppliers and SMEs without reducing integrity.
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DPP credibility depends on auditability and governance, not disclosure alone.
“Digital Product Passports won’t succeed as a brand-side reporting project,” said Jeanine Ballone, Founder and CEO of World Collective. “The data that makes a passport credible is created upstream, and unless we build workflows and accountability where that data lives, we’ll end up with passports assembled after the fact, not passports that reflect what actually happened.”
“Digital Product Passports are ultimately a systems problem, not just a reporting problem,” said Katelyn O’Riordan, Co-Founder and CEO of Kinset. “If data can’t move cleanly between suppliers, brands, and regulators, compliance will break down under its own complexity. Interoperability and automation are what make distributed accountability workable and DPPs scalable in practice.”
The position paper is available now: Click here to access the full document!
About World Collective
World Collective is building the digital infrastructure for next-generation material sourcing. A global, supplier-first B2B platform, World Collective connects brands with strategic supplier network, traceability tools, and sourcing solutions designed to simplify compliance and scale innovation.
The ecosystem equips suppliers and brands with the data and workflows needed to build efficient, transparent supply chains, including Digital Product Passport (DPP) readiness and structured traceability at the fabric level. Through demand aggregation and supplier enablement, World Collective helps buyers discover next-gen materials while supporting suppliers with qualified brand visibility and tools to digitize catalogs and compliance documentation. World Collective operates across Portugal, Ireland, and the United States, with a global network supporting responsible sourcing across fashion and lifestyle categories.
About Kinset
Kinset is a SaaS platform that helps brands and suppliers build Digital Product Passports and manage product-level compliance data across complex supply chains. The platform enables standardized data capture, interoperability between systems, and audit-ready product records that can be compiled into DPPs for regulated consumer goods sectors. Kinset works with industry partners to make product compliance practical, verifiable, and scalable in real-world operations.
