FAQ
This FAQ addresses common questions specific to the Textiles Extension of the United Nations Transparency Protocol (UNTTP). For general questions about the UNTP framework, governance, development process, and core concepts, please refer to the main UNTP FAQ.
General Questions About the Textiles Extension
What is the Textiles Extension?
The Textiles Extension is a sector-specific application of the United Nations Transparency Protocol (UNTP) designed to address the unique challenges of traceability, transparency, and sustainability in global textile and apparel value chains. It builds upon the core UNTP specification while introducing data structures, processes, and guidance specific to textile supply chains.
How does the Textiles Extension relate to the core UNTP?
The Textiles Extension follows the UNTP extension methodology, maintaining compatibility with the core protocol while adding textiles-specific data models, vocabularies, and guidance. This ensures that textile traceability data can interoperate with other UNTP extensions (e.g., agriculture, food, or plastics) for multi-sector traceability.
Is the Textiles Extension free to use?
Yes. Like the core UNTP, the Textiles Extension is owned by the United Nations and provided free of charge for use by anyone. Any party may modify it for their own purposes, though formal extensions must follow the extension methodology and governance rules.
What makes the Textiles Extension different from other textile traceability initiatives?
The Textiles Extension provides a neutral, UN-governed technical framework that can coexist alongside and interoperate with existing textile traceability initiatives. Rather than replacing other systems, it offers a common reference point for interoperability, reducing fragmentation while preserving institutional neutrality.
Textiles-Specific Capabilities
What types of textile processes does the extension support?
The Textiles Extension supports tracking across the full textile value chain, including:
- Raw material traceability (e.g., cotton, wool, recycled fibers, synthetic materials)
- Transformation processes (spinning, weaving, knitting, dyeing, finishing, and garment manufacturing)
- Sustainability indicators (chemical use, water consumption, labor and social compliance, certifications)
- Circularity practices (reuse, recycling, and disposal pathways)
Can the Textiles Extension handle complex supply chains with multiple transformation steps?
Yes. The extension is designed to track products through multiple transformation stages, from raw materials through intermediate products (yarn, fabric) to finished goods. It supports batch-level and item-level traceability, allowing for granular tracking of materials as they move through complex supply chains.
How does the extension handle mixed materials (e.g., cotton-polyester blends)?
The Textiles Extension supports products containing multiple materials by allowing each component to be tracked separately with its own traceability data. This enables accurate representation of material composition and origin claims for blended products.
Does the extension support recycled and circular materials?
Yes. The extension includes specific support for circularity practices, including tracking of recycled content, material recovery processes, and end-of-life pathways. This enables credible claims about recycled materials and supports circular economy initiatives.
Regulatory Compliance and Digital Product Passports
How does the Textiles Extension support EU Digital Product Passports (DPP)?
The Textiles Extension is designed to align with emerging regulatory requirements, including EU Digital Product Passport frameworks. Its data structures and vocabularies can be applied in multiple regulatory contexts without being specific to any single jurisdiction, making it suitable for compliance with EU DPP requirements while remaining adaptable to other regulatory frameworks.
Can I use the Textiles Extension to comply with due diligence regulations?
Yes. The extension supports due diligence requirements by enabling verifiable tracking of products through supply chains, documenting production practices, labor conditions, and environmental impacts. Its credential-based architecture ensures that claims can be independently validated, supporting compliance with due diligence obligations.
Integration and Implementation
Can I integrate the Textiles Extension with my existing traceability system?
Yes. The extension is designed for interoperability with existing systems. It provides standardized data models and APIs that can be integrated into existing traceability platforms, allowing organizations to adopt the extension incrementally without replacing their current infrastructure.
What if I'm already using another textile traceability standard or certification scheme?
The Textiles Extension is designed to work alongside existing standards and certification schemes. It provides a neutral framework for interoperability, allowing different systems to exchange data while maintaining their own governance and certification processes. You can map your existing data structures to the extension's models without changing your current practices.
How do I get started implementing the Textiles Extension?
Implementation typically involves:
- Reviewing the Specification to understand the data models and requirements
- Exploring the Use Cases section to see how the Textiles Extension addresses real-world scenarios, including chain-of-custody tracking and interoperability with different identifier schemes
- Examining the Guidance sections for textiles-specific implementation details
- Mapping your existing data structures to the extension's models
- Implementing the necessary APIs and data exchange mechanisms
- Testing interoperability with other systems
For detailed technical guidance, refer to the Specification section. The Use Cases section provides practical examples of how UNTP constructs are used to solve common supply chain challenges.
What software tools support the Textiles Extension?
A registry of software tools and systems that support or are compatible with the Textiles Extension is maintained. Check the Register section for current listings of software providers, identity resolvers, and trust anchors.
Sustainability and Claims
How does the Textiles Extension help prevent greenwashing in the textile industry?
The extension includes safeguards to ensure sustainability claims are verifiable, traceable, and backed by trusted sources. It uses standardized vocabularies (aligned with the UNTP Sustainability Vocabulary Catalogue) and digital credentials to ensure claims are specific, comparable, and independently verifiable. This reduces the risk of vague or unsubstantiated environmental claims.
Can I make claims about organic, recycled, or sustainable materials using the extension?
Yes. The extension supports various sustainability claims, including organic certification, recycled content, and other environmental attributes. These claims are linked to verifiable credentials and traceability data, ensuring they can be independently validated. The extension uses standardized vocabularies to ensure consistency and comparability across different schemes.
How does the extension handle social compliance and labor claims?
The Textiles Extension supports tracking of social compliance indicators, including labor conditions, certifications, and audit results. This data can be linked to products through the traceability chain, enabling verifiable claims about social responsibility and labor practices.
Participation and Contribution
How can I contribute to the development of the Textiles Extension?
Organizations can contribute by:
- Participating in field testing and pilots
- Providing feedback on the specification and guidance
- Proposing extensions or new vocabulary terms
- Contributing to implementation examples and case studies
For information on becoming a UN/CEFACT expert or observer, see the main UNTP FAQ.
Are there pilot programs I can join?
Yes. The Textiles Extension will be piloted in real-world textile supply chains. Information about current and upcoming pilots is typically shared through UN/CEFACT channels and the project's communication platforms. Check the Participation page for more details on how to get involved.
Technical Questions
What data formats does the Textiles Extension use?
The extension uses JSON-based data structures aligned with the core UNTP specification. Schema definitions are available in the Schema section, and example implementations can be found in the Use Cases section.
Does the extension require specific technologies or platforms?
No. The Textiles Extension is technology-neutral and can be implemented using various technologies and platforms. It focuses on data models and exchange patterns rather than prescribing specific implementation technologies.
How does the extension handle data privacy and security?
The extension follows the core UNTP's decentralized, credential-based architecture, which allows data to be shared selectively and verified without requiring centralized storage. Organizations maintain control over their data while enabling verifiable claims through digital credentials.
For additional questions about the core UNTP framework, governance, or general implementation guidance, please refer to the main UNTP FAQ.