The ongoing Interreg "ECHT" is a transdisciplinary research project to enable Digital Product Passports (DPP) with chemicals traceability for a Circular Economy in the textile industry. The goal of ECHT will empower actors of the textile circular value networks to implement chemical traceability, thereby increasing networks, innovation and competitiveness. Many textile firms are micros (89%) and SMEs. The project highlights the opportunities that a coordinated and cross-border implementation of the DPP brings which supports SME and micros in depth. In thus the traceability is to enhance the competitiveness of European companies.
The project, launched in 2023, runs until 2026. Next steps are: 
- Implementation of “Training Schemes”; capacity building workshops for value chain actors - Q1 and Q2 in 2025
- Development and continuous expansion of a knowledge platform; online database and trainings tool - beyond project duration 2026
- User Test of the knowledge platform - pilot actions planned for 2025
- Development of action plans for policy, carpets sector and approval sector - by the end of 2026