GLOBAL CIRCULAR NETWORK

GCN B2B RFID App - HOW IT WORKS

Global Circular Network's B2B app is linked to washable RFID tags housed in textile based products creating unique identifiers: Digital Product Passports (DPPs) plus PRODUCT IDs for brands to share with consumers via QR Codes and swing tags.

GCN's DPP data architecture follows the United Nations Transparency Protocol (UNTP) data framework for global data interoperability. Data gets created, accessed and updated as a product travels around a global circular economy — from manufacturing, through to Extended Producer Responsibility (resale, repair, redesign, reuse, rent) and into sorting using verifiable, traceable textile data (plus identify Chemicals of Concern to divert) and finally end-of-ife recycling - plus recycle and reuse the durable, washable RFID tags.

The app is built around the value chain itself: pick the stage that matches where you sit, to access authorised data plus add new "in" and "out" data to follow the lifecycle.

Data is entered and retrieved by scanning GCN's washable RFID tags with a Chafon handheld reader — either one item at a time, or in bulk across an entire batch.

Click through to view the GCN B2B DPP App → plus view additional information below on the six circular stages.

GCN is a Registered Software Vendor for the United Nations Transparency Protocol (UNTP), adopted for global data interoperability.
Learn more about UNTP →

To support engagement from MSMEs and NFP's the first reader connected to the GCN APP is an affordable Chafon handheld reader.

The Chafon H102 Reader

To keep the platform accessible to MSMEs and not-for-profits, the first reader connected to the GCN App is the Chafon H102 — an affordable, portable handheld Bluetooth UHF RFID reader (approx. €97 / USD $110 per reader plus shipping).

The H102 reads and writes EPC Gen2 (ISO/IEC 18000-6C) RFID tags, with anti-collision technology that lets it inventory up to 30 tags per second, single or bulk.

Its read range of roughly 1–3 metres makes it suited to garment handling, stock counts, warehouse operations, product authentication, and DPP scanning.

It connects to the GCN App via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) on iPhone or Android. When it detects a GCN RFID tag, it sends the tag's unique EPC to the app, which retrieves the matching Digital Product Passport — instantly surfacing product identity, manufacturing data, certifications, repair history, ownership and resale records, rental status, sorting data (including any flagged Chemicals of Concern), and recycling instructions.

More devices — fixed readers, robotics, and API links into upstream and downstream business systems — are planned as the platform develops.

The Six Stages

Each stage below is its own screen in the app, built for a specific role in the value chain. You can scan a single item for full on-screen detail, or bulk-scan a batch and download the results as a CSV.

1. Upstream

Where the Digital Product Passport is first populated.

This is where brands, manufacturers, and mills create the product record before it ever reaches a customer. Each scanned RFID tag is linked to a full set of product data: SKU, brand, size, colour, material composition, and product images, alongside the manufacturing facilities involved — mill, trims, and final product assembly — each with their own conformity credentials (GOTS, GRS, Bluesign, ISO standards, and more).

Upstream also captures fibre-level certifications, dye and finishing details, and a tiered chemical disclosure covering EU SVHC compliance, restricted substances, and GCN's voluntary Chemicals of Concern register — information that later helps sorters and recyclers divert items correctly. It closes with the DPP Issuer details (the responsible economic operator), a Circular Performance Profile for durability and recyclability claims, and consumer-facing care, repair, and end-of-life guidance that ultimately appears on the swing tag and QR code.

Brands and manufacturers with high volumes can link their existing systems via API, rather than entering data manually.

2. Authenticate

Verify a product is genuine, instantly.

Scan any item — single or bulk — to pull its traceable Upstream record straight from the DPP: SKU, brand, certifications, fibre conformity credentials, original price, and any flagged Chemicals of Concern. This screen is read-only by design — it confirms what's already been recorded, without adding anything new — making it the fast way for retailers, resellers, repairers, or logistics partners to check a product's authenticity and history before acting on it. From here, you can move straight into Downstream or Sorting.

1. Upstream

Where the Digital Product Passport is first populated.

This is where brands, manufacturers, and mills create the product record before it ever reaches a customer. Each scanned RFID tag is linked to a full set of product data: SKU, brand, size, colour, material composition, and product images, alongside the manufacturing facilities involved — mill, trims, and final product assembly — each with their own conformity credentials (GOTS, GRS, Bluesign, ISO standards, and more).

Upstream also captures fibre-level certifications, dye and finishing details, and a tiered chemical disclosure covering EU SVHC compliance, restricted substances, and GCN's voluntary Chemicals of Concern register — information that later helps sorters and recyclers divert items correctly. It closes with the DPP Issuer details (the responsible economic operator), a Circular Performance Profile for durability and recyclability claims, and consumer-facing care, repair, and end-of-life guidance that ultimately appears on the swing tag and QR code.

Brands and manufacturers with high volumes can link their existing systems via API, rather than entering data manually.

2. Authenticate

Verify a product is genuine, instantly.

Scan any item — single or bulk — to pull its traceable Upstream record straight from the DPP: SKU, brand, certifications, fibre conformity credentials, original price, and any flagged Chemicals of Concern. This screen is read-only by design — it confirms what's already been recorded, without adding anything new — making it the fast way for retailers, resellers, repairers, or logistics partners to check a product's authenticity and history before acting on it. From here, you can move straight into Downstream or Sorting.

3. Downstream

Track what happens to a product after it's sold.

This is where Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) activity gets logged — resale, repair, redesign, reuse, remanufacture, or rental. Items are scanned in as goods received ("In") and graded on condition using a framework aligned with European Environmental Bureau (EEB), ECOS, and EU Joint Research Centre guidance — from Grade A (resell-ready) through to Grade D (recycling/end-of-life). Each grade triggers its own data requirements, from resale value through to teardown tracking codes for remanufacturing.

Once an action is decided, it's logged as a matching "Out" event — capturing price, date, and next destination. This is also where brands report EPR activity for regulatory purposes, such as the EU's ESPR.

4. Sorting

Separate items by material and chemical content before they move on.

A bulk-scan-only stage built for sorting facilities and recyclers. It surfaces material type and fibre conformity credentials across a whole batch at once, and — critically — flags any item where a Chemicals of Concern presence has been disclosed Upstream, so it can be isolated before continuing to EPR or End-of-Life Recycling. The Issuer isn't required to disclose exact formulas or proprietary detail here — only that a substance of concern exists, with further information available on request and with the Issuer's consent.

5. End-of-Life Recycling

Close the loop — and the record.

When an item reaches the end of its usable life, this stage scans it in to register the recycling event and formally close the DPP. The recycling facility, recycling stream, and output are logged, and the record is retired from active circulation while remaining queryable as a historical record — in line with GCN's role as a Data Service Provider under the EU's ESPR framework.

Because GCN's RFID tags are washable, the physical tag itself can often be recovered, reset, and reissued into a new product with a fresh EPC — while its original identifier stays permanently linked to the closed record it came from.

6. Returns

Bring a product back to its brand or reseller, securely.

A password-protected, owner-linked stage for handling consumer returns back to the originating brand or reseller. It's built to connect with existing Supply Chain Management systems via API, so returns data flows straight into a brand's own logistics and inventory processes rather than sitting in a separate system.

GCN is a B2B platform built around product-only data — at every stage, the app is structurally unable to capture consumer or personal information. It's designed for value chain actors: brands, manufacturers, mills, retailers, resellers, repairers, sorters, recyclers, and logistics providers, working from a single shared, verifiable product record.

Explore the live prototype →

The Six Stages

Each stage below is its own screen in the app, built for a specific role in the value chain. You can scan a single item for full on-screen detail, or bulk-scan a batch and download the results as a CSV.

1. Upstream

Where the Digital Product Passport is first populated.

This is where brands, manufacturers, and mills create the product record before it ever reaches a customer. Each scanned RFID tag is linked to a full set of product data: SKU, brand, size, colour, material composition, and product images, alongside the manufacturing facilities involved — mill, trims, and final product assembly — each with their own conformity credentials (GOTS, GRS, Bluesign, ISO standards, and more).

Upstream also captures fibre-level certifications, dye and finishing details, and a tiered chemical disclosure covering EU SVHC compliance, restricted substances, and GCN's voluntary Chemicals of Concern register — information that later helps sorters and recyclers divert items correctly. It closes with the DPP Issuer details (the responsible economic operator), a Circular Performance Profile for durability and recyclability claims, and consumer-facing care, repair, and end-of-life guidance that ultimately appears on the swing tag and QR code.

Brands and manufacturers with high volumes can link their existing systems via API, rather than entering data manually.

2. Authenticate

Verify a product is genuine, instantly.

Scan any item — single or bulk — to pull its traceable Upstream record straight from the DPP: SKU, brand, certifications, fibre conformity credentials, original price, and any flagged Chemicals of Concern. This screen is read-only by design — it confirms what's already been recorded, without adding anything new — making it the fast way for retailers, resellers, repairers, or logistics partners to check a product's authenticity and history before acting on it. From here, you can move straight into Downstream or Sorting.

3. Downstream

Track what happens to a product after it's sold.

This is where Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) activity gets logged — resale, repair, redesign, reuse, remanufacture, or rental. Items are scanned in as goods received ("In") and graded on condition using a framework aligned with European Environmental Bureau (EEB), ECOS, and EU Joint Research Centre guidance — from Grade A (resell-ready) through to Grade D (recycling/end-of-life). Each grade triggers its own data requirements, from resale value through to teardown tracking codes for remanufacturing.

Once an action is decided, it's logged as a matching "Out" event — capturing price, date, and next destination. This is also where brands report EPR activity for regulatory purposes, such as the EU's ESPR.

4. Sorting

Separate items by material and chemical content before they move on.

A bulk-scan-only stage built for sorting facilities and recyclers. It surfaces material type and fibre conformity credentials across a whole batch at once, and — critically — flags any item where a Chemicals of Concern presence has been disclosed Upstream, so it can be isolated before continuing to EPR or End-of-Life Recycling. The Issuer isn't required to disclose exact formulas or proprietary detail here — only that a substance of concern exists, with further information available on request and with the Issuer's consent.

5. End-of-Life Recycling

Close the loop — and the record.

When an item reaches the end of its usable life, this stage scans it in to register the recycling event and formally close the DPP. The recycling facility, recycling stream, and output are logged, and the record is retired from active circulation while remaining queryable as a historical record — in line with GCN's role as a Data Service Provider under the EU's ESPR framework.

Because GCN's RFID tags are washable, the physical tag itself can often be recovered, reset, and reissued into a new product with a fresh EPC — while its original identifier stays permanently linked to the closed record it came from.

6. Returns

Bring a product back to its brand or reseller, securely.

A password-protected, owner-linked stage for handling consumer returns back to the originating brand or reseller. It's built to connect with existing Supply Chain Management systems via API, so returns data flows straight into a brand's own logistics and inventory processes rather than sitting in a separate system.

GCN is a B2B platform built around product-only data — at every stage, the app is structurally unable to capture consumer or personal information. It's designed for value chain actors: brands, manufacturers, mills, retailers, resellers, repairers, sorters, recyclers, and logistics providers, working from a single shared, verifiable product record.

Explore the live prototype →

The Six Stages

Each stage below is its own screen in the app, built for a specific role in the value chain. You can scan a single item for full on-screen detail, or bulk-scan a batch and download the results as a CSV.

1. Upstream

Where the Digital Product Passport is first populated.

This is where brands, manufacturers, and mills create the product record before it ever reaches a customer. Each scanned RFID tag is linked to a full set of product data: SKU, brand, size, colour, material composition, and product images, alongside the manufacturing facilities involved — mill, trims, and final product assembly — each with their own conformity credentials (GOTS, GRS, Bluesign, ISO standards, and more).

Upstream also captures fibre-level certifications, dye and finishing details, and a tiered chemical disclosure covering EU SVHC compliance, restricted substances, and GCN's voluntary Chemicals of Concern register — information that later helps sorters and recyclers divert items correctly. It closes with the DPP Issuer details (the responsible economic operator), a Circular Performance Profile for durability and recyclability claims, and consumer-facing care, repair, and end-of-life guidance that ultimately appears on the swing tag and QR code.

Brands and manufacturers with high volumes can link their existing systems via API, rather than entering data manually.

2. Authenticate

Verify a product is genuine, instantly.

Scan any item — single or bulk — to pull its traceable Upstream record straight from the DPP: SKU, brand, certifications, fibre conformity credentials, original price, and any flagged Chemicals of Concern. This screen is read-only by design — it confirms what's already been recorded, without adding anything new — making it the fast way for retailers, resellers, repairers, or logistics partners to check a product's authenticity and history before acting on it. From here, you can move straight into Downstream or Sorting.

3. Downstream

Track what happens to a product after it's sold.

This is where Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) activity gets logged — resale, repair, redesign, reuse, remanufacture, or rental. Items are scanned in as goods received ("In") and graded on condition using a framework aligned with European Environmental Bureau (EEB), ECOS, and EU Joint Research Centre guidance — from Grade A (resell-ready) through to Grade D (recycling/end-of-life). Each grade triggers its own data requirements, from resale value through to teardown tracking codes for remanufacturing.

Once an action is decided, it's logged as a matching "Out" event — capturing price, date, and next destination. This is also where brands report EPR activity for regulatory purposes, such as the EU's ESPR.

4. Sorting

Separate items by material and chemical content before they move on.

A bulk-scan-only stage built for sorting facilities and recyclers. It surfaces material type and fibre conformity credentials across a whole batch at once, and — critically — flags any item where a Chemicals of Concern presence has been disclosed Upstream, so it can be isolated before continuing to EPR or End-of-Life Recycling. The Issuer isn't required to disclose exact formulas or proprietary detail here — only that a substance of concern exists, with further information available on request and with the Issuer's consent.

5. End-of-Life Recycling

Close the loop — and the record.

When an item reaches the end of its usable life, this stage scans it in to register the recycling event and formally close the DPP. The recycling facility, recycling stream, and output are logged, and the record is retired from active circulation while remaining queryable as a historical record — in line with GCN's role as a Data Service Provider under the EU's ESPR framework.

Because GCN's RFID tags are washable, the physical tag itself can often be recovered, reset, and reissued into a new product with a fresh EPC — while its original identifier stays permanently linked to the closed record it came from.

6. Returns

Bring a product back to its brand or reseller, securely.

A password-protected, owner-linked stage for handling consumer returns back to the originating brand or reseller. It's built to connect with existing Supply Chain Management systems via API, so returns data flows straight into a brand's own logistics and inventory processes rather than sitting in a separate system.

GCN is a B2B platform built around product-only data — at every stage, the app is structurally unable to capture consumer or personal information. It's designed for value chain actors: brands, manufacturers, mills, retailers, resellers, repairers, sorters, recyclers, and logistics providers, working from a single shared, verifiable product record.

Explore the live prototype →