Key Takeaways
- Trimco Group has partnered with Retraced to integrate smart labeling and upstream supply chain traceability, enabling brands to meet Digital Product Passport (DPP) and ESPR regulations.
- The partnership with Zappar brings accessible QR codes to the apparel and footwear industry, allowing people who are blind or have low vision to access product information seamlessly.
Trimco Group has entered into separate partnerships to grow its business— Retraced, the AI-first platform for sourcing, product compliance, and supplier network collaboration, and Zappar, that enables inclusive access to product information as apparel brands prepare for Digital Product Passport regulation
By aligning Trimco Group’s expertise in labeling, packaging, RFID and variable data solutions with Retraced’s advanced supply chain intelligence platform, brands gain a fully integrated approach to product and supplier data management. Trimco Group has expanded into traceability and transparency as a value-added digital extension of its core labeling business. By building structured data around the care and content label, Trimco Group occupies a unique position in the product lifecycle.
Retraced, on the other hand, is a SaaS provider focused on upstream supply chain traceability. The platform enables brands to map suppliers, manage sourcing data, validate claims, and collaborate across their supplier network in one connected system, making verified supply chain and product data accessible via QR codes.
Why The Need to Collaborate with Retraced
When regulations require product and packaging traceability, few stakeholders are better positioned than the original holder of the physical product data.
“Transparency only creates value when it is accessible, structured, and connected to the physical product,” said Camilla Mjelde, Sustainability and Compliance Director at Trimco Group, in a statement. “By integrating our ProductDNA platform and labelling expertise with Retraced’s upstream traceability technology, we are making it significantly easier for brands to turn complex supply chain data into clear, credible product information.”
Bridging Digital and Physical
At the core of the partnership the concept of connecting verified upstream data directly to the physical product through smart labelling. When a consumer, retailer, or regulator scans a QR code produced by Trimco Group, they access structured, credible information— either through Trimco Group’s Digital Manager with ProductDNA or through the Retraced interface, depending on the brand’s chosen setup.
The result is a complete transparency package that supports compliance readiness, strengthens trust, and prepares brands for evolving regulatory frameworks, including the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). With increasing regulatory alignment across Europe and beyond, data owners, software providers, and product manufacturers must work together.
“Supply chain data on its own doesn’t create value if it stays in disconnected systems. Brands need to bring that information to the product level in a way that is usable for compliance and communication,” says Roman Houlbreque, Director of Policy Compliance & Patnerships at Retraced. “By partnering with Trimco Group, we are closing that gap— linking upstream data with on-product solutions in a way that is practical and scalable.”
Trimco, Zappar Bring Accessible QR Codes to Apparel, Footwear Sector
Trimco’s partnership with Zappar offers accessible QR codes to the apparel and footwear industry. The collaboration aims to improve access to product information for people who are blind or have low vision, aligning inclusion with the ongoing industry transformation driven by DPP.
While traditional QR codes were designed for sighted users and offer very limited accessibility support, they fo require precise camera alignment and provide no built-in guidance, structured data or audio feedback for people who are blind or have low vision. Zapvision’s Accessible QR codes address these gaps by enabling detection from greater distances and delivering structured product information that works seamlessly with popular accessibility apps like Microsoft Seeing AI and Be My Eyes, providing clear spoken guidance throughout the scanning experience.
“Accessible QR codes are designed to ensure that everyone can independently access information,” Max Dawes, COO at Zappar. “As industries adopt QR-based Digital Product Passports at scale, these experiences must be inclusive by design. Partnering with Trimco Group allows us to bring Zapvision technology directly into apparel and footwear supply chains, making accessibility a practical and scalable reality for global brands.”
Expanding Industry Adoption
Through this partnership, Trimco Group aims to bridge that gap by integrating Accessible QR codes directly into labels and trims, making inclusion a natural extension of existing DPP strategies.
The collaboration operates through a structured technical setup. Zappar generates the Accessible QR code via API integration. Trimco then applies the code onto the physical label solution for the brand. The result is a seamless connection between digital accessibility software and physical product identification.
Trimco Group has developed a series of sample labels featuring Accessible QR codes, with broader availability planned for upcoming collections. The objective is to demonstrate practical implementation and inspire brands to consider accessibility as an integrated component of their compliance and transparency initiatives.
“Digital Product Passports are changing the way brands communicate product information,” commented Mjelde. “As this infrastructure becomes standard, accessibility must be embedded from the beginning. Our partnership with Zappar enables brands to extend their digital strategy to include people who are blind or have low vision—without adding complexity to existing systems. Inclusion and compliance can, and should, move forward together.”