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SaaS Platform for Traceability and Circular Economy in Retail

The Challenge

The retail and fashion industry faces an unprecedented regulatory transformation with the imminent application of the EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). The regulation will require, by 2027, the mandatory implementation of the Digital Product Passport (DPP), obliging brands to offer unit-level traceability and transparency for every item, from manufacture to end of life.

The main challenge was not purely technical, but one of scale and business model. Brands need a solution capable of generating and managing millions of unique digital identities without driving up operational costs. They also seek to convert this legal obligation into an opportunity to unlock new revenue models based on circularity (resale, repair) and protect their brand against counterfeiting — all while guaranteeing interoperability with global standards such as GS1.

The Solution

GALEO, in collaboration with Cycle — acting jointly as an expert industry partner and co-innovating client — has designed Cycle Platform, a comprehensive platform for the creation and mass management of Digital Product Passports (DPPs) at global scale:

  • Unique Digital Identity (Serialized ID): Each physical garment or item is linked to a digital twin via intelligent physical media such as NFC tags or QR codes. The platform generates a dynamic URL and a unique identifier (UUID) compatible with global GS1 standards for every manufactured item. This ensures unit-level traceability throughout the entire supply chain, enabling unambiguous product authentication.
  • Lifecycle Management (SaaS): Supported by a highly scalable, cloud-native Serverless architecture, the platform centralises the creation and updating of DPPs. The system ensures that brands comply with the stringent European sustainability and circularity regulations. It also enables automated workflows for authentication, second-hand market processes, and repair management.
  • Connected Consumer Experience: By scanning the product, users access a web interface displaying verified sustainability information and care manuals. Cycle transforms the label into a direct and transparent post-purchase communication channel with the brand, while also unlocking new commercial interaction models and revenue streams.
SaaS Platform for Traceability and Circular Economy in Retail,

Business Impact

This project transforms regulatory compliance into a tangible competitive advantage for the sector.

  • Compliance and Trust: Guarantees adherence to EU ESPR/DPP regulation, mitigating legal risks and reinforcing consumer trust through radical transparency that combats greenwashing.
  • Circular Economy and New Revenue: The infrastructure facilitates the implementation of second-hand business models and repair services, opening new recurring revenue streams beyond the initial sale.
  • Brand Protection: Linking digital identity with NFC technologies protects against counterfeiting — a critical asset for luxury and fashion segments.
  • Scalability and Cost: The architecture is designed to support the issuance of hundreds of millions of passports with an optimised cost model, essential for mass consumer products.

Architecture & Technology

The solution is built on a serverless architecture on AWS, designed for global scale, data security, and AI integration.

  • Core Cloud & Compute: AWS Lambda (Serverless) and AWS Step Functions for the orchestration of complex lifecycle workflows.
  • Data & Search: Amazon DynamoDB for high concurrency, Amazon RDS (PostgreSQL) for structured data, and Amazon OpenSearch for advanced queries.
  • Integration & Security: Amazon API Gateway, Amazon EventBridge for an event-driven architecture, and AWS KMS for cryptographic key management.
  • AI & Validation: Integration of Amazon Bedrock/SageMaker for automatic validation of sustainability content and product descriptions.

Customer Review

“Facing the new EU Ecodesign Regulation was a colossal challenge, but GALEO’s SaaS platform has allowed us to equip each garment with a Digital Product Passport at massive scale. This protects our brand and opens new revenue channels in the repair and resale market.”