key global regulations mapped across the TrusTrace“ compliance canvas” framework
AI IN SUPPLY CHAIN
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key global regulations mapped across the TrusTrace“ compliance canvas” framework
The story behind the story must be just as carefully documented.
The pressure of regulatory deadlines The timing of the partnership is far from coincidental. A February 2026 report from KPMG, the European DPP Readiness Survey, paints a sobering picture of corporate preparedness for the Digital Product Passport( DPP), a key part of the EU’ s push toward circular economy principles. While awareness of the DPP is high – more than 70 % amongst the 70 European organisations surveyed – KPMG found that most companies remain“ stuck in the pilot phase.”
The survey identified textiles and footwear as the“ front line” sectors, with 44 % of respondents operating in these categories.
This is particularly relevant for Rights & Brands, as the majority of licensed character products – including apparel, plush toys and home textiles – fall into these categories. These are the very items that populate children’ s bedrooms and play spaces, becoming the tangible companions to storytime rituals. The report emphasises that for a licensing agency managing 900-plus clients and thousands of manufacturers,“ centralised data governance” is the only viable path to meet the EU’ s requirement for a digital of every product.
Perhaps most tellingly, KPMG identifies Tier 2 and Tier 3 visibility – knowing not just who made the final product, but where the fabric came from, which farm produced the cotton and which factory dyed the materials – as the biggest hurdle facing companies. This multilevel challenge is precisely what makes licensing relationships so complex and what makes Rights & Brands’ proactive approach admirable.
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