UNITED NATIONS TRANPARENCY PROTOCOL (UNTP) FAQs
UNITED NATIONS TRANPARENCY PROTOCOL (UNTP) FAQs
What is UNTP?
The UN Transparency Protocol (UNTP) is a UN/CEFACT Global Standard, developed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. In UNTP's own words, its purpose is "supporting governments and industry on practical measures to counter greenwashing by implementing supply chain traceability and transparency at the scale needed to achieve meaningful impacts on global sustainability outcomes."
In plain terms: UNTP defines a shared way of structuring and discovering supply chain data, so a product's information can be read and trusted across different platforms and jurisdictions -- not locked into one company's proprietary system. It's free to use and openly governed.
Learn more directly from UNTP: untp.unece.org
Is UNTP the same as the EU's Digital Product Passport requirements?
Is UNTP the same as the EU's Digital Product Passport requirements?
No -- related, but distinct. UNTP is a global standard, not EU-specific, and not itself a law. Separately, the EU's ESPR regulation requires Digital Product Passports, and a newer, EU-specific technical standards series (published by CEN/CENELEC in 2026) governs exactly how a DPP must technically work within the EU. GCN tracks both -- UNTP for global interoperability, and the EU's own technical standards for EU market conformance -- since they serve different, complementary purposes.
Is GCN a UNTP Registered Software Vendor?
Is GCN a UNTP Registered Software Vendor?
Yes. GCN is a UNTP Registered Software Vendor and an Expert Working Group Partner for the EU Commission's CIRPASS-2 programme. You can verify GCN's registration directly on UNTP's own public register: untp.unece.org/docs/implementations/swi
What are DPPs, DTEs, and DCCs -- and where is GCN with each?
What are DPPs, DTEs, and DCCs -- and where is GCN with each?
UNTP defines three core credential types, each a separate, independently-signed document in UNTP's model:
DPP -- Digital Product Passport (the product record itself). GCN's DPPs use real UNTP vocabulary in their public JSON-LD output today.
DTE -- Digital Traceability Event (records of what happens to a product over its life -- resale, repair, sorting, recycling). GCN captures this data internally (Downstream, Sorting, End-of-Life), currently kept authenticated-access-only for privacy reasons -- a public DTE output is on our roadmap.
DCC -- Digital Conformity Credential (certifications and audit evidence, issued as its own standalone signed document). GCN's Credential Library captures this evidence today; issuing genuine standalone, signed DCC documents is on our roadmap alongside the cryptographic signing work below.
What does "UNTP-aligned" actually mean for GCN's platform today -- the honest, current picture
What does "UNTP-aligned" actually mean for GCN's platform today -- the honest, current picture
UNTP-aligned JSON-LD structure for our Digital Product Passports, including live use of UNTP's core conformity vocabulary (performanceClaim, conformityTopic) within that output.
GCN's public resolver (the endpoint behind every Product ID and QR code) returns confirmed, real UNTP Core Vocabulary terms in its JSON-LD output. Live today: materialProvenance (fibre and material data), producedAtFacility (facility records), performanceClaim and conformityTopic (certification evidence).
This implementation is built to track UNTP's Core Vocabulary as it evolves, rather than being frozen to one version -- since UNTP's specification is itself still being finalised (targeting v1.0 in 2026).
In UNTP's model, Digital Product Passports (DPP), Digital Traceability Events (DTE), and Digital Conformity Credentials (DCC) are three separate, independently-signed documents, cross-linked by reference -- not one document with three sections. GCN's real UNTP vocabulary usage today sits within the DPP document specifically.
Standalone, signed Digital Conformity Credentials -- and public Digital Traceability Event output -- are on our roadmap as UNTP's specification stabilises toward v1.0, alongside the cryptographic signing (W3C Verifiable Credentials) both require.
We'd rather tell you exactly where we are than overstate it -- this page will be updated as our implementation progresses alongside UNTP's own evolving specification.
Is there a live example I can see?
Is there a live example I can see?
Yes -- https://gcn-dpp-app.s3-website.fr-par.scw.cloud/resolve/GCNDEMO-0000-0000-0000-000000000001 -- showing GCN's actual public JSON-LD output using real UNTP vocabulary terms, on a clearly-labelled demonstration product, not real customer data.
Where can I find UNTP's sector-specific resources for textiles?
Where can I find UNTP's sector-specific resources for textiles?
UNTP maintains a dedicated implementation community for the textiles and fashion sector: textiles.untp.unece.org -- covering pilots, credential structures, and industry-specific guidance relevant to GCN's own work.
Does GCN need to use UNTP identifiers like GTINs?
Does GCN need to use UNTP identifiers like GTINs?
No. UNTP is a data structure standard, not an identifier mandate. GCN supports GS1 Digital Link for brands who already hold GTINs, and provides its own unique product identifier for brands who don't -- every product gets a genuine, working identifier either way.
See our Washable RFIDs page for more on how GCN's identifiers work.
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