Meetings
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Please note that this content is under development and is not ready for implementation. This status message will be updated as content development progresses.
Mailing List
A group mailing list is maintained and can be used by any list member to post messages to the group. The list also maintains an archive of all messages sent to the group.
Meetings
UNTP development team meetings are held fortnightly at alternating times to accomodate participants from different timezones. Use the links below to add the calendar entries to your diary or add the meeting links.
- Thursday 8am UTC Meetings. Every 4 weeks. Next meeting 28th Nov 2024. Invitation Link. Join the meeting
- Thursday 8pm UTC meetings. Every 4 weeks. Next meeeting 12th Dec 2024. Invitation link. Join the meeting
Each meeting will generally work through open issues and pull requests.
Previous meeting dates, recordings, transcripts, and minutes are summarised below with the most recent meeting at the top.
Previous Meetings
2024-11-28 Meeting Summary
Meeting Summary: UNTP Agricultural Extensions and Tools
Date: November 28, 2024
Chair: Zachary
Participants:
- Zachary (Speaker 1): UNTP facilitator, leading discussions.
- Ashley (Speaker 2): Consultant, showcased technical tools and developments.
- Adrian (Speaker 9): Representing the BSF Group, Switzerland, focusing on supply chain transparency.
- Adriana Zacche (Speaker 3): Circular Economy Asia, specializing in resource management.
- Suna (Speaker 10): SME in Brussels, leading EU compliance initiatives for digital product passports.
- Phil (Speaker 4): GS1 advocate for verifiable credentials.
- Michael (Speaker 5): Provided feedback on business case development.
- Stefano (Speaker 7): EU-focused discussions on UNTP implementation.
- Additional Contributors: Marcus, Charles, Brett, and others engaged with questions and insights.
Agenda:
-
Introductions and Updates
- New participants introduced their roles and interests in digital transparency and supply chain management.
- Zachary highlighted the meeting's focus on agricultural traceability protocols and business case discussions.
-
Demonstrations:
- Sample Credentials:
Ashley showcased the development of sample digital product passports and credentials, highlighting user-friendly rendering formats for non-technical stakeholders. - UNTP Playground:
A prototype tool for testing the compliance of digital credentials with UNTP standards was demonstrated, receiving positive feedback from participants.
- Sample Credentials:
-
Australian Agriculture Traceability Protocol (AATP):
- Ashley and Zachary detailed AATP’s role as an extension of UNTP, tailored to livestock and agricultural needs in Australia.
- Examples included livestock passports incorporating biosecurity data and deforestation compliance for feed sources.
- Discussion on the readiness and potential launch timeline, targeting late 2024.
-
Feedback and Questions:
- Phil: Raised concerns about demonstrating the value of technical standards to business users and emphasized practical evidence over technical details.
- Adriana: Discussed resource management challenges and access controls for circular economy-focused businesses.
- Marcus: Advocated for linking traceability tools to complementary systems (e.g., methane reduction from seaweed-based feed).
-
Extensions and Use Cases:
- Discussion on replicability of the AATP model for other sectors, including critical minerals, electronics, and the built environment.
-
Business Case Development:
- Participants sought updates on pending business case materials for the UNTP repository, with action points for follow-up on outstanding documentation.
-
Future Plans:
- Expansion of UNTP applications in agriculture and alignment with global standards.
- Continued refinement of tools like the playground and integration of user feedback.
Next Steps:
- Finalize and publish AATP materials.
- Address pending business case and technical issues.
- Provide demonstrations linking agricultural traceability with broader sustainability objectives.
2024-11-14 Meeting Summary
Meeting Summary:
On November 14, 2024, the UNTP working group convened to review recent updates, discuss business cases, and explore testing strategies for the UN Transparency Protocol (UNTP) implementation. The meeting, hosted by Steve (Speaker 1), began with a brief welcome and a reminder of upcoming meetings that cater to global time zones.
Participant Introductions:
- Adriana Zachary (Speaker 7): CEO of Circular Economy Asia, volunteered on digital product passport initiatives and contributes to user access, data authentication, and standards working groups.
- Pat (Speaker 5): Technical Product Manager from San Francisco with experience in digital product passports for OEMs.
- Nancy (Speaker 3), Luca (Speaker 6), Michael (Speaker 3), and Zach (Speaker 10) also actively contributed to the conversation, particularly regarding business cases and technical support needs.
Key Discussion Points:
-
New Commitments from Industry Sectors:
- The Responsible Business Alliance (RBA), representing major electronics and automotive companies, committed to implementing UNTP extensions for digital product passports and traceability.
- The International Code Council, in collaboration with Standards Australia, aims to create sustainability vocabulary for building codes. This commitment includes alignment with European Union regulations.
-
Business Case Development:
- Michael has been refining the business case templates to differentiate between government and industry needs. Steve reviewed the new layout, adding contextual insights on historical and current trends in corporate sustainability, noting a shift from regulatory compliance toward strategic integration.
- The business case content, which includes value and cost categories for implementing UNTP, is structured to assist organizations in building tailored cases for executives. The group agreed on the necessity of further refinement, with Michael suggesting a follow-up review session.
-
Implementation and Testing:
- To support the various software providers implementing UNTP, Steve proposed creating a community-driven technical support ecosystem. The group discussed leveraging an open-source approach for the test suite, allowing mutual support and continued development.
- Pat and Nis were suggested as potential leaders of this technical support group, which would guide implementers through the UNTP test suite. Testing will include both technical conformance and business use case validations specific to industries.
-
Testing Structure:
- The testing approach includes three layers:
- Technical interoperability for ensuring compliance with W3C standards.
- Schema conformance for validating UNTP’s unique frameworks.
- Industry-specific testing for sectors using custom extensions.
- Jason (Speaker 2) emphasized reporting tools to document testing results, which could serve as valuable evidence of compliance for implementers.
- The testing approach includes three layers:
Closing Remarks:
Steve concluded by celebrating the day’s progress, noting the importance of industry extensions and the growth of the business case documentation. He thanked the team for their collaboration and welcomed further input from new and existing members.
The next steps involve finalizing the business case documentation, establishing a technical testing support group, and resolving any issues with the public release of content updates. The meeting adjourned with gratitude for the participants' contributions and commitments to the UNTP initiative.
2024-10-31 Meeting Summary
Meeting Summary
Participants:
- Steve (Speaker 1): UN Representative, project lead on UNTP.
- Stefano (Speaker 6): Liaison with EU directorates, providing updates on coordination efforts.
- Virginia (Speaker 6): Providing feedback on governance and licensing.
- Phil (Speaker 4): Brief input on registration processes.
- Suzanne (Speaker 2): Contributed insights on standard profiles and security specifications.
- Nis (Speaker 5): Discussed implementation requirements and test cases.
- Luca (Speaker 8), Jordan (Speaker 9), Dr. Wang, and Martina Paul: Various inputs related to standards and technical topics.
Key Topics:
-
UNTP Governance and Extension Methodology:
- Steve introduced the UNTP extension methodology, designed to create industry-specific standards based on UNTP’s core. Discussions focused on extension governance, transparency, and the criteria for official UN endorsement.
-
Digital Product Passport (DPP) Initiatives:
- Updates were provided on new collaborations with ISO TC154, IEC, and other regulatory groups to align DPP standards across industries. Dr. Wang’s potential involvement in the ISO TC154 project was noted.
-
Technical Specifications for Extensions:
- Suzanne and others discussed the need for security profiles and identifier schemes for robust operational implementations. Agreement to add technical profiles, such as encryption and protocol requirements, to the extension methodology.
-
Implementation Registration:
- Nis’s implementation of UNTP was acknowledged as the first to meet compliance requirements, with future test suites planned to verify consistency.
-
Conformity and Visibility:
- Suggestions were made to improve visibility of UNTP implementations and their industry affiliations, enhancing marketing efforts to non-technical audiences.
Next Steps:
- Steve will merge the current extension methodology PR, and the team will refine with specific technical profiles.
- Nis and others will participate in initial test suite trials.
- UNECE will work on promoting UNTP implementation visibility, potentially adding links and marketing content for public accessibility.
2024-10-17 Meeting Summary
Meeting Summary
Participants:
- Steve (Speaker 1): UN Representative and project lead on UNTP standards.
- Phil (Speaker 5): Discussed the registration process for UNTP implementation.
- Virginia (Speaker 6): Provided input on implementation and test suite requirements.
- Gerhard (Speaker 4): Contributed insights on bulk product tracking.
- GS1 Representatives (Speaker 2 and Speaker 3): Discussed identity standards and resolver frameworks.
- Dr Wang Xiang
Key Discussion Points:
-
UNTP Credential Update:
- Version 0.5.0: Released for testing with credentials for digital product passports, conformity, traceability events, and facility records. Around 13-14 software providers and several regulatory bodies have committed to implementation.
- Implementation Registry: A GitHub-hosted registration process guides companies in joining the initiative and tracks active implementers, marking a new approach for the UN in standard adoption tracking.
-
Test Suite and Implementation Process:
- Test Suite: Expected in two weeks. The group recommended that companies wait for the suite to ensure consistent conformance testing.
- First Implementer: Transmute has completed an initial implementation, but the group advised a formalized test to verify compliance.
-
Identity Resolution Process:
- Workflow Diagram: Steve introduced a flowchart detailing steps to resolve, verify, and link identifiers, emphasizing both registered and self-issued identifiers. He highlighted a need to address bulk commodities like minerals.
- Challenges with Bulk Commodities: Bulk products lack unique identifiers, complicating traceability. Suggestions included using shipment or consignment IDs for identification.
-
Trust Anchors and Verification:
- Potential of Trademark Offices: EUIPO is considering involvement, where trademark verification could serve as a trust anchor for product claims.
- Domain and Business Registry Checks: DNS ownership and business registries were discussed as potential trust mechanisms, though complex in some cases.
-
GS1's Approach to Identity Resolution:
- Cataloging Identifier Schemes: Steve suggested a UN-hosted catalog for identifier schemes. Challenges included governance complexities and ensuring neutrality.
-
Future Steps and Closing Remarks:
- Further Asynchronous Feedback: Steve invited ongoing comments on the resolver and bulk tracking processes.
Next Steps:
- Steve to raise a pull request (PR) for further review on the identity resolution process.
- Ongoing exploration of bulk commodity identification and potential collaboration with EUIPO on trademark verification.
This summary captures named participants, key decisions, and next steps discussed in the meeting.
2024-10-03 Meeting Summary
Meeting Summary
Date: October 3, 2024
Attendees: Steve, Stefano, Brett, Virginia, Michael O'Shea, Christoph, Susanne, Peter Carter, Nancy, Luca, Dr Wang Xiang, and others.
Agenda:
-
Zoom Meeting Timing Issues
- Steve mentioned difficulties with Zoom invites. Some participants received only the 8 a.m. invite and not the 8 p.m. one for the next meeting. Steve apologized and promised to resend the correct invites after the meeting.
-
Business Case Content Discussion
- The meeting focused on reviewing the business case content developed by Michael O'Shea and his team. Steve emphasized that the business case section should be clear, simple, and provide value for stakeholders.
-
Digital Product Passport (DPP) Technical Update
- Steve announced the release of version 0.4.1 for the DPP, including core vocabulary, facility records, and conformity credentials. There were a few minor technical bugs identified, which might lead to a version 0.4.2 release.
- Michael also showcased a visualization tool for a lithium-ion battery passport, which was praised by the team.
-
Bug Reports and Typos
- A participant from Canada found several bugs in the latest release, mostly typos and small technical issues like missing terms and empty context files. The team debated whether to fix these before the business case testing.
- Christoph offered to help review the business case documents to ensure the technical and business sides align well.
-
Business Case for Change
- Michael and his team presented their work on the business case for both private sector businesses and regulators. They discussed the need to balance the technical content and value statements in a way that appeals to both.
- Christoph and Susanne provided feedback that the business case should distinguish between benefits for corporations and regulators to avoid confusion. They also suggested adding infrastructure-related benefits, specifically for regulators.
-
Feedback on Business Case Template
- Steve asked for volunteers to review the business case model from a business perspective, ensuring it makes sense to potential adopters, especially in terms of convincing a CFO.
- Christoph volunteered to help review the business case spreadsheet, and Steve proposed sending the document to the wider mailing list for feedback once it has been internally reviewed.
-
Next Steps:
- Finalize version 0.4.2 of the DPP to address minor technical bugs.
- Refine and simplify the business case content and spreadsheet to make it more accessible.
- Collect feedback from the team and mailing list before publishing the business case template publicly.
Next Meeting:
The next meeting will be in two weeks, and Zoom invites for both 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. sessions will be corrected and sent out.
2024-09-19 Meeting Summary
Date: September 19, 2024
- Steve (Speaker 1) - Chairperson
- Stefano (Speaker 4) - Contributor from Reload3P and Morpheus Network
- Nis (Speaker 5) - Presenter of DPP implementation
- John (Speaker 6) - Contributed to the discussion on meeting structure
- Suzanne (Speaker 3) - Discussed the REC 49 policy document and traceability issues
- Sébastien (Speaker 9) - Contributed to the technical discussion on GS1 standards
- Brett (Speaker 7) - Provided insights on the TSM credential issue
- Michael (Speaker 2) - Provided updates on the business case development
Key Discussions and Contributions
-
Registration Requests:
- Steve introduced the agenda, primarily discussing new registration requests.
- Stefano (Speaker 4) spoke about his contributions, including those from Reload3P and Morpheus Network. The work focuses on sustainability and transparency within supply chains.
- Nish (Speaker 5) presented a DPP implementation on his platform, aiming to include UNTP schemas as a template, making it easier to issue credentials.
- Steve also mentioned other registration requests, including those from Viko (not present) and an Australian scheme for structural steel.
-
Pull Requests:
- Nish highlighted a pull request addressing minor syntax bugs. Steve admitted the errors might have occurred during manual editing and promised to check with Alistair.
-
Upcoming Work on REC 49 Policy Document:
- Steve discussed the need to revisit the REC 49 policy document, considering feedback from the July 2024 plenary. The goal is to finalize the document for the next plenary in July 2025.
- Steve proposed alternating fortnightly meetings, separating policy and technical discussions. John and Stefano supported this idea.
-
Human Readability in Traceability Events:
- Steve proposed making traceability events more human-readable, adding optional human-readable properties. Stefano, Suzanne (Speaker 3), and Sébastien (Speaker 9) contributed to the discussion, suggesting using existing GS1 standards to improve readability.
-
TSM Credential Issue:
- The group discussed a pattern where different auditors assess different sections of a standard over time, which leads to multiple assessments. Steve suggested adding an auditor party reference to the conformity credential model to solve the issue. Brett (Speaker 7) agreed with Steve's proposal.
-
Business Case Updates:
- Michael and John provided an update on the business case development, focusing on business and public sector value arguments. Nancy’s input, particularly from the public sector perspective, was highlighted as key.
-
Next Steps:
- Steve planned to raise tickets for various issues discussed and to prepare pull requests based on registration approvals and the business case document.
The meeting ended with a commitment to continue work on registrations, policy revisions, and technical improvements.
2024-09-11 Meeting Summary
Participants:
- Steve Capell
- Virginia Cram-Martos
- Dr. Wang Xiang
- Christophe (Association des Centraliens)
- Joe (last name not mentioned)
- Esther (last name not mentioned)
- Brie (last name not mentioned)
- Patrick (last name not mentioned)
- Todd Taylor
- Nancy (last name not mentioned)
- Phil Archer (not present, mentioned as being on holiday)
1. Opening Remarks:
- Steve Capell welcomed the participants and noted the absence of Phil Archer due to holiday. The meeting started with an agenda to discuss ongoing initiatives and updates on standards and implementations.
2. Discussion on Standards and References:
- Virginia Cram-Martos raised a couple of points regarding typos and clarity in a recently published page on references to standards. Specifically, she suggested improvements to the readability of certain sections, including changes to the terminology around cryptographic links and facility identities.
- There was a discussion on how UNTP should relate to standards like SEND and ISO, with the consensus being that these should focus on complementing existing standards rather than reinventing them.
3. Technical Matrix for Standards:
- Virginia and others provided feedback on a matrix listing standards and their relationship to UNTP components. There were suggestions to improve the readability of this matrix by possibly reformatting it or providing tooltips for acronyms to make it more accessible.
4. Community Implementations:
- Steve Capell reviewed several commitments to UNTP implementation that had been submitted over the past week. Notable entries came from the British Columbia Government and various software vendors.
- Patrick highlighted that BC's open-source governmental software could be leveraged by other provinces, emphasizing collaboration between BC, Ontario, and Quebec in developing tools like mobile wallets and identity solutions.
5. Business Case and Metrics:
- The discussion shifted to how UNTP would gather metrics on its implementation, with a consensus that any reporting should only include information that the implementing parties would be willing to publish publicly.
- Brie pointed out the importance of linking corporate-level and site/facility-level data, particularly for standards like TSM (Towards Sustainable Mining), which have different levels of granularity.
6. Stability and Version Freezing for Pilots:
- The group discussed freezing the UNTP version at 0.4.0 to stabilize the implementation for the next round of pilots. The goal is to ensure technical consistency while allowing further refinements based on pilot feedback.
7. Next Steps:
- Steve Capell proposed continuing discussions on identifying which remaining tickets need to be resolved before version 0.4.0 is finalized.
- There was also a brief discussion about cross-referencing implementations between UNTP and other projects, such as the Critical Raw Materials (CRM) project, to avoid duplication while maintaining transparency.
2024-09-05 Meeting Summary
Meeting Participants:
- Dr. Wang - Provided an update on the UNTP presentation translation into Chinese
- Steve - Discussed the TC154 project and provided updates
- Michael - Business case development lead
- Phil - Provided comments on vocabulary management
- Gerhard - Commented on testing and evidence for implementations
- Nis - Raised concerns about versioning and semantic context
Key Discussion Points:
-
Translation and Feedback:
- Dr. Wang translated the UNTP (United Nations Trade Procedure) presentation into Chinese and received positive feedback during a workshop. This sparked further discussion on expanding outreach and engagement.
-
TC154 Digital Product Passport Project:
- Steve provided updates on the ongoing work related to the TC154 Digital Product Passport. He mentioned that the ISO meeting, likely to occur in Korea in October, would decide whether to launch the project.
- There was a one-on-one discussion with the project lead, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive program rather than a single standard, drawing parallels to existing multiple specifications.
- Steve encouraged Dr. Wang to join future collaborations under TC154.
-
Business Case Development:
- Michael shared that the team is working on a model to help businesses understand the impact of implementing UNTP and developing a business case around it.
- Examples like the EU's Battery Pass Project and Surpass were discussed as templates for businesses to build their justification for implementation.
-
Community Activation:
- There was a discussion on how community-level adoption of standards could enhance business cases, particularly in scenarios where multiple actors (e.g., farmers or manufacturers) use shared tools or processes, reducing costs and increasing benefits.
-
Technical Infrastructure and Versioning:
- Several participants discussed the challenges related to managing vocabulary, version control, and ensuring consistency in the digital product passport pipeline.
- A solution involving vocabulary sites, schema versioning, and simplified context files was introduced by Steve, while Nis raised concerns about frequent updates to context files and their potential to disrupt system setups.
-
Implementation and Testing:
- The team discussed creating a register of implementations, inviting stakeholders to express their intent to implement UNTP standards. This will help assess the adoption of these standards.
- The importance of evidence for successful implementation, such as test results, was emphasized by Gerhard and others.
-
Next Steps:
- The pull request related to implementation registers and vocabulary updates was approved.
- The meeting ended with a reminder to continue working on the pull requests and to solicit early expressions of interest from potential implementers.
2024-08-28 Meeting Summary
Participants:
- Steve Capell
- Virginia Cram-Martos
- Dr Wang Xiang
- Ester Cunha
- Nancy (last name not mentioned)
- Michael O'Shea
- Anne (last name not mentioned)
- Joe (last name not mentioned)
- John Phillips
- Guy (last name not mentioned)
- Marcus (last name not mentioned)
1. Opening Remarks:
- The meeting started with greetings from Steve Capell. Steve mentioned that the meeting might be brief due to a smaller group and the absence of full requests to review. The agenda was to share thoughts and discuss ongoing ideas.
2. Project Updates:
-
Steve Capell provided an update on a meeting with ISO TC154 regarding a potential new project for a global digital product passport. This project is being pushed by the China National Institute of Standards and is in the early proposal stages. The project will be a joint collaboration with UNECE.
-
Nancy discussed updates related to the UNTP extension site, focusing on the critical raw materials extension. She suggested creating a one-page value proposition template to assist early adopters, particularly mining companies, in implementing the UNTP.
3. Business Case Development:
-
Nancy emphasized the importance of developing a business case framework that can evolve with more data during the pilot phases. She highlighted the need for a robust business case to secure funding for post-pilot projects.
-
Anne and Joe provided updates on a spreadsheet they developed to guide participants through creating a value case or business case for UNTP implementation. The focus is on calculating ROI over a 10-year period.
4. Community Activation:
- Steve Capell discussed the necessity of community activation before moving into full implementation phases. He cited examples from Australian agriculture, where community activation was crucial for project success.
5. Technical and Regulatory Challenges:
-
Guy raised challenges regarding the allocation of emissions to products, especially in critical minerals sectors. There was consensus that allocation rules are often unclear, and industry-specific guidance might be necessary.
-
Virginia Cram-Martos asked about the conflict between counterfeit issues and the right to repair, leading to a discussion on the regulatory landscape and its impact on standards.
6. Next Steps:
-
Steve Capell mentioned plans to establish a structure for registering commitment to implementation by different categories. There was also a focus on developing content for community activation and the business case guide.
-
The meeting concluded with Steve Capell inviting participants to continue their contributions and to attend future meetings.
This summary includes the names of the participants and captures the key points discussed during the meeting. If you need further adjustments or more details on any section, please let me know!
2024-08-22 Meeting Summary
Date: August 22, 2024
Speakers:
- Steve (Host)
- Michael O'Shea (Speaker 4)
- Phil (Speaker 3)
- Zach (Speaker 2)
- Nis (Speaker 6)
- Brett (Speaker 7)
Key Points:
-
Business Case Content Development:
- Steve introduced the development of business case content led by Michael O'Shea and his team.
- The team has begun working on creating a table that outlines the business case by identifying stakeholders and categorizing value points.
- The objective is to have a shareable document by mid-September, aiming to refine and organize the content for clarity.
-
Digital Product Passport (DPP) Updates:
- Steve discussed updates to the digital product passport, including the inclusion of context and schema files to support future implementation.
- Emphasis was placed on making the DPP consistent with existing standards and ensuring it is easy to implement while valuable for verification.
-
Vocabulary and Schema Mapping:
- The team discussed the challenges of mapping data to established vocabularies such as schema.org and GS1.
- The focus is on maintaining consistency and preventing issues like breaking proofs during versioning.
-
Implementation Interest:
- There was discussion on the timing of soliciting commitments from organizations to implement the UNTP standard.
- It was agreed that the right time is approaching, and efforts to socialize the project and secure interest should begin.
-
Next Steps:
- Steve and the team will work on refining the business case and moving towards creating a stable 1.0 release by Christmas.
- A call for implementers will be prepared to start gathering interest and commitments from potential adopters.
Action Items:
- Michael and his team will continue refining the business case content with the goal of having a draft ready by mid-September.
- Steve will work on fixing identified bugs and preparing materials to solicit implementation commitments.
Next Meeting:
- Focus will continue on the business case, schema updates, and gathering implementer commitments.
Conclusion:
The meeting ended on a positive note, with everyone feeling that significant progress is being made towards finalizing the UNTP standard and building momentum for broader adoption.
2024-08-15 Meeting Summary
Date: August 14, 2024
Attendees:
- Steve (Speaker 1)
- Phil (Speaker 2)
- Virginia (Speaker 4)
- Zach (Speaker 5)
- Patrick (Speaker 3)
- Harley (Speaker 13)
- Todd Taylor (Speaker 7)
- Bree (Speaker 8)
Key Discussion Points:
-
Pull Request Review (Phil's Updates):
- Phil discussed the simplification of terminology in the pull request. His changes primarily involved correcting typos and substituting GS1 references with corresponding ISO/IEC standards for event tracking and business vocabularies. This was done to align politically and avoid implying that GS1 identifiers are mandatory for using EPCIS.
- Steve and others approved the pull request, agreeing to merge it as it was a simple update.
-
ISO and UN Involvement in Global Digital Passport Standards:
- Steve mentioned an upcoming meeting at ISO to review a candidate project proposed by a Chinese standards authority to develop a global digital passport standard. He was invited to co-chair this initiative, potentially representing both the UN and ISO. The group discussed the significance of this project and the potential implications of having a UN co-chair involved.
- Phil provided additional context, mentioning the Vienna Memorandum, an agreement between ISO and CEN-CENELEC to avoid duplication of efforts in standard development. He also noted GS1’s interest in participating in the project.
-
New Digital Facility Record Proposal:
- Steve introduced the idea of adding a new credential type, a Digital Facility Record (DFR), to the UN Transparency Protocol (UNTP). This record would focus on the facility itself rather than the product and could be used to track sustainability assessments at the facility level.
- Virginia and Phil supported the idea, with Virginia suggesting the term "Facility Profile" to better represent the data. The group discussed how this could streamline sustainability reporting by making facilities first-order objects rather than secondary attributes of products.
-
Challenges with Product Passport Updates:
- Zach raised concerns about updating digital product passports (DPPs) after they have been issued, such as adding post-sale repair events or certifications. The group acknowledged that while updates are crucial, there are challenges with ensuring that only authorized entities can modify the passport.
- Steve proposed the idea of allowing certain events to be added to a product passport by authorized third parties, like certified repairers or recycling plants, using a delegated authority model.
-
Formation of a Working Group:
- A new working group was formed, led by Zach, to explore solutions for managing updates to digital product passports. The group will work on defining the conditions under which updates can be made and will consider different approaches to identity resolution and authorization.
-
Conformity Assessment Scheme Clarification:
- Bree raised a question regarding the linkage between conformity assessment schemes and regulations within the digital product passport framework. Steve clarified that in the context of product conformity, an assessment can reference multiple standards or regulations, bundled together in a scheme.
- The group discussed how this framework might need to be adapted for regulatory permits and other credentials outside of product conformity.
Action Items:
- Phil and Zach to collaborate on a working group to explore digital product passport updates.
- Steve to create a proposal for the Digital Facility Record and present it for further review.
- Bree and Patrick to revisit the mapping of assessment schemes to regulations for conformity credentials and report back on potential updates to the framework.
Conclusion: The meeting focused on refining standards around digital product passports, facility records, and conformity assessment schemes. The formation of a working group will drive further exploration of issues related to product passport updates and maintaining data integrity across complex supply chains.
2024-08-01 Meeting Summary
Date: August 1, 2024
Speakers:
- Steve (Host)
- Martin Pompery (Speaker 2)
- Zach (Speaker 3)
- Christophe (Speaker 4)
- Virginia (Speaker 5)
- Nancy (Speaker 6)
- Phil (Speaker 7)
- Juliet (Speaker 8)
Key Points:
-
Introduction and Attendance:
- Steve began the meeting, noting the recording and summary availability.
- Martin Pompery introduced himself as a co-founder of the SINA Foundation, focusing on carbon transparency protocols with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.
-
Business Case for the UNTP:
- Steve presented an initial contribution to the business case for the UNTP, highlighting the costs and benefits for potential implementers.
- The business case was divided into three parts:
- Costs and benefits for individual supply chain actors or regulators.
- Costs and benefits for communities.
- Reporting the value and cost of implementations for benchmarking.
-
Feedback on Business Case:
- Christophe agreed with the categories but questioned the final product's specificity.
- Virginia emphasized the need for cost-benefit arguments for public authorities and not-for-profits.
- Nancy noted the importance of differentiating between pilot and long-term participation.
-
Emissions and Circularity Performance in Digital Product Passports:
- Steve discussed adding emissions and circularity performance to digital product passports.
- Emissions performance would include high-level carbon footprint data with scope and reference standards.
- Circularity performance would measure linear flow index and utility, reflecting recycled content and product durability.
-
Challenges and Considerations:
- Martin and Christophe highlighted the complexity and variability in measuring carbon footprints.
- Zach questioned the governance structure for adding summary boxes and emphasized aligning with sustainable development goals.
- The balance between simplicity for ease of implementation and the need for detailed, reliable data was a recurring theme.
-
Future Steps:
- Agreement to merge the initial business case content and continue refining it.
- Continued deliberation on representing frameworks like the Pathfinder Framework in digital product passports.
- Emphasis on simplicity to encourage voluntary adoption while ensuring reliable and comparable data.
Action Items:
- Steve to merge the initial business case contribution and iterate based on feedback.
- Further discussion on the appropriate level of detail for emissions and circularity performance in digital product passports.
- Consideration of additional examples and practical applications to test the proposed structures.
Next Meeting:
- Focus on refining the business case and exploring practical examples of implementing the digital product passport framework.
Conclusion: The meeting concluded with acknowledgment of valuable feedback and a commitment to ongoing collaboration to achieve a balanced and implementable framework.
2024-07-25 Meeting Summary
Attendees:
- Steve (Speaker 1)
- Phil (Speaker 2)
- Luis (Speaker 3)
- Suzanne (Speaker 4)
- Michael (Speaker 7)
- Virginia (Speaker 8)
- Zach (Speaker 5)
- Brett (Speaker 6)
- Marcus (Speaker 10)
- Vinayak (Speaker 9)
- Chris (mentioned)
- Gerhard (mentioned)
- Vladimir (mentioned)
Agenda:
- Review of Previous Meetings and Updates
- Discussion on TrustGraphs Demo
- Pull Requests Review
- Issues Discussion
Key Points:
1. Review of Previous Meetings and Updates:
- Steve: Recapped the presentations given at the recent forum and plenary sessions, highlighting the positive reception and support received, except for a minor objection from the European standards organization.
- Discussed expanding the group to include more people from non-technical backgrounds in sustainability and the potential for collaboration with CEN and ISO on new projects.
2. Discussion on TrustGraphs Demo:
- Nis: Inquired about a planned demo on TrustGraphs.
- Steve: Mentioned that Harley, who was supposed to present, is preparing a more refined demo incorporating recent standards, scheduled for two weeks later.
3. Pull Requests Review:
- Suzanne's Pull Request:
- Steve: Suggested Suzanne review the latest content and update her pull request accordingly.
- Suzanne: Agreed, mentioning she is still learning and appreciated the feedback.
- Phil's Pull Requests:
- Phil: Made minor corrections to the naming of the W3C standard and clarified the terms VC and VCDM.
- Phil: Added substantial content on global uniqueness and resolvability, including some necessary corrections.
- Steve's Pull Request:
- Steve: Presented updates to the digital product passport page, making it more implementer-friendly with examples and snippets.
- Discussions were held on further improvements, including explaining color codes in diagrams and fixing URLs and date formats.
4. Issues Discussion:
- Sustainability Vocabulary Design: Ongoing discussions on how to represent various standards and regulations meaningfully.
- Units of Measure: Phil confirmed that the current use of UN Rec20 codes is satisfactory.
- Reference Standards Page: Discussion on creating a separate page for reference standards and acronyms.
- Human Observations as Valid Sensors: Zach discussed the need for guidance on incorporating human observations in low digital maturity environments.
- General Issues: Several older issues raised by Gerhard and Vladimir were reviewed for potential closure.
Next Steps:
- Steve: Will address the feedback received on the digital product passport page and update the conformity credential page similarly.
- Vinayak: Volunteered to map the GBA's digital product passport data model to the UNTP framework.
Action Items:
- Suzanne: To review steve's updates to her proposed changes
- Steve: To fix issues on the digital product passport page and update conformity credentials.
- All: To create a glossary page for standards and acronyms.
- Zach: To incorporate feedback into discussions on human observations as sensors.
- Vinayak: To map the GBA digital product passport data model to UNTP.
Conclusion: The meeting concluded with thanks to all participants and a note that the next meeting will focus on further pull requests and issues.
2024-07-17 Meeting Summary
Attendees:
- Steve (Speaker 1)
- Jason (Speaker 2)
- Virginia (Speaker 2)
- Phil (Speaker 2)
- Zack (Speaker 2)
- Other unidentified speakers
Key Points Discussed:
-
Meeting Logistics and Technical Issues:
- Steve welcomed participants and acknowledged technical issues faced by Virginia.
- Virginia requested a list of acronyms to better understand emails and documents.
-
Review of Recent Forum and Plenary Sessions:
- Steve reviewed the recent UNTP forum and plenary sessions, highlighting the presentations on VCs, security, language vocabularies, and business models.
- Positive feedback and increased volunteer participation were noted.
- Discussions on separating technical work from business use cases and engaging business experts from the UNECE Team of Specialists on Sustainable Value Chains.
-
Concerns from CENELEC and Collaboration Opportunities:
- CENELEC, the European Standards Body, expressed concerns about potential duplication of work with the UNTP.
- Robust discussion ensued, with other member states (USA, Canada, Australia, Singapore) supporting a global standard.
- Proposal to collaborate with CENELEC to ensure interoperability and avoid duplication.
- Discussion on lobbying the European Commission to support the UNTP's global standard approach.
-
Integrating Business Experts into Technical Sessions:
- Suggestions on how to integrate business experts into technical sessions, either by inviting them to specific meetings or having dedicated sessions for business input.
-
Pull Request Review and Data Model Updates:
- Steve presented a significant pull request addressing multiple issues and reorganizing business objects into a separate vocabulary for better consistency and reuse.
- Discussion on the importance of proper data structure for creating transparency graphs in supply chains.
- Request for a detailed walkthrough of the data model to help team members understand the changes and contribute effectively.
-
Tooling and Versioning for Context Files and Vocabularies:
- Introduction of a deployment pipeline for versioned vocabularies and context files to ensure stable and robust implementations.
- Emphasis on the need for good governance and tooling to maintain consistency and prevent breaking changes in issued credentials.
-
Next Steps and Action Items:
- Plan to write a response to the German delegation, engaging with the European Commission for support.
- Agreement to focus the next meeting on a deep dive into the data model and its associations.
- Encouragement for team members to review the merged pull request and provide feedback.
Meeting Conclusion:
- Steve thanked everyone for their participation and contributions.
- The meeting concluded with a positive note on the ongoing implementations and the significant progress being made.
2024-07-04 Meeting Summary
Participants:
- Speaker 1 (Steve)
- Speaker 2 (Patrick)
- Speaker 3 (Joe)
- Speaker 4 (Marcus)
- Speaker 5 (Anne)
- Speaker 6 (Mark)
- Speaker 7 (Other Participants)
Key Points Discussed:
-
Introduction and Agenda:
- Steve welcomed participants and reiterated the meeting recording policy and IP contributions disclaimer.
- Mentioned the upcoming UNCFACT forum and plenary, highlighting sessions involving UNTP.
-
New Participants:
- Mark, Rocky, and Tomas from Canada introduced themselves as potential implementers in the plastics value chain.
- Anne and Dow from Canada also introduced themselves, working on digital product passports.
-
Pull Request Reviews:
- Digital Product Passport Update:
- Suzanne's PR suggesting a single unique identifier for products instead of an array was discussed.
- Agreement to merge after minor adjustments (e.g., removing the 's' from identifiers).
- Trust Graphs and Wallets:
- Suzanne's PR on trust graphs and wallet presentations was not merged.
- The team agreed to avoid technical dependencies on wallets, focusing instead on a publish and discover architecture.
- Digital Product Passport Update:
-
Discussion on JSON-LD and JSON Schema:
- Steve shared insights on the use of JSON-LD and JSON Schema for managing vocabularies and credentials.
- Emphasis on making life easier for implementers by providing clear schemas and context files.
- The goal is to construct meaningful transparency graphs for verifiers.
-
Conceptual Model and Transparency Graph:
- Discussion on the conceptual model showing relationships between entities like products, organizations, and facilities.
- The importance of identifiers and the relationship between entities was emphasized.
- The aim is to create a transparency graph that can be easily consumed and interpreted.
-
Future Steps:
- Plans to finalize and publish updated models for digital product passports, conformity credentials, and traceability events.
- Encouragement for participants to review and provide feedback on the proposed changes.
Action Items:
- Steve: Finalize and merge the PR for the single unique identifier and update the digital product passport model.
- Team: Review and provide feedback on the proposed updates to the models and context files.
- Steve: Prepare pull requests to align models with the discussed conceptual framework.
Next Steps:
- Continue refining the models and schemas to ensure they are implementable and interoperable.
- Prepare for testing the models with various extensions and real-world use cases.
2024-06-27 Meeting Summary
Date: June 27, 2024
Participants:
- Steve
- Gerhard
- Zach
- Susanne
- Harley
- NIS
- Virginia
Agenda:
- Review of Public Comments on Recommendation 49
- Timeline and Plan for Addressing Comments
- Discussion on Specific Comments
- Digital Identity Anchor Credential
- Governance and Versioning of Standards
Key Points:
-
Introduction and General Updates:
- Steve welcomed everyone and emphasized the importance of contributions to the project.
- The public review period for Recommendation 49 has concluded, and comments have been circulated via email.
-
Review of Comments on Recommendation 49:
- Comments varied from editorial to substantive, with significant input from Gerhard.
- The team has a weekend to draft responses and update the document before the plenary meeting in two weeks.
- Steve asked for volunteers to help review and respond to the comments. Zach and Speaker 2 offered assistance.
-
Discussion on Specific Comments:
- Gerhard suggested prioritizing substantive comments over editorial ones.
- Some comments highlighted confusion between transparency and traceability in the document's title and content.
- The team plans to consolidate and prioritize comments, creating a response log for internal review over the weekend.
-
Digital Identity Anchor Credential:
- Introduction of a new credential to link digital identities with authorized registers (e.g., Australian business number).
- Discussion on aligning with verifiable legal entity identifiers (VLEI) and ensuring compatibility with existing standards.
-
Governance and Versioning of Standards:
- Presentation of a diagram to illustrate the governance and extension of digital product passports and related credentials.
- Agreement to maintain long-term versions and ensure stability of standards and references.
- Discussion on the inclusion of external vocabularies (e.g., schema.org) alongside UN-specific vocabularies.
-
Issues and Actions:
- Several tickets and issues were reviewed, including automated policy execution and maintaining versions of standards.
- Harley volunteered to present a demo on trust graphs and shackle rule validation in four weeks.
Next Steps:
- Address and finalize responses to public comments on Recommendation 49 by Monday.
- Update and publish the digital identity anchor credential after resolving outstanding issues.
- Continue discussions on governance and versioning, incorporating feedback from the broader standards community.
- Prepare for the next meeting, focusing on traceability events and further issues.
Action Items:
- Zach and Steve to create an integrated comments log for Recommendation 49.
- Steve to update the project page with relevant links and descriptions.
- Harley to prepare a demo on trust graphs for the meeting in four weeks.
- Team to review and provide feedback on the governance diagram and proposed standards extension approach.
This summary captures the main points and action items from the meeting. If any participant has additional comments or corrections, please share them before the next meeting.
2024-06-19 Meeting Summary
Participants:
- Speaker 1 (Chair)
- Speaker 2 (Patrick)
- Speaker 3 (Zach)
- Speaker 4 (Phil)
- Speaker 5 (Steve)
- Speaker 6 (Nis)
- Speaker 7 (Juliet)
- Speaker 8 (Dr. Wang)
Key Points Discussed:
-
Implementation Tools and Reference Implementations:
- Discussed the distinction between implementation tools and reference implementations.
- Emphasis on the need for a toolkit to help implementers test and ensure interoperability with UNTP.
- Concerns about long-term funding for test suites and the potential for community contributions.
-
Rendering Methods for Verifiable Credentials:
- Debate on whether to mandate a specific rendering method.
- Agreement to use a “should” directive for rendering methods, specifying HTML as the primary method but allowing for additional methods.
- Adjustments to the wording to reflect this approach.
-
Conformity Credential Alignment:
- Discussion on aligning conformity credentials with the VCDM (Verifiable Credential Data Model).
- Decision to manage status externally rather than within the credential to avoid reissuing credentials for status changes.
- Agreement on using existing VCDM fields where applicable and not duplicating fields within the credential.
-
Identity Resolver Naming:
- Phil suggested renaming “digital link resolver” to “identity resolver” to avoid confusion and potential trademark issues.
- Agreement to adopt “identity resolver” as it better describes the function.
-
Site Restructure and Business Case Promotion:
- Site restructuring to align with the five-pillar architecture model and updated component names.
- Elevated the business case section to highlight the importance of commercial incentives and funding for sustainable supply chains.
-
Versioning of Context Files:
- Discussion on the appropriate granularity for context files.
- Consensus on having separate context files for each core data credential type to simplify management and maintainability.
- Emphasis on aligning versioning of data models, schemas, and context files.
-
Use of Jargon Tool for Model Generation:
- Overview of the Jargon tool used for generating schemas and context files.
- Acknowledgment of the need for high-quality outputs and flexibility in tool usage.
- Open to reassessing the tool’s use based on implementation feedback.
Action Items:
- Patrick and Nis: Update the conformity credential model to align with VCDM fields and manage status externally.
- Zach: Update the wording for rendering methods to reflect the new “should” directive.
- Steve: Finalize and merge the PR for identity resolver renaming and site restructuring.
- Team: Review and experiment with the Jargon tool to ensure it meets quality expectations for generating context files.
Next Steps:
- Finalize the updates to data models and context files before the next meeting.
- Prepare for discussions on the content of digital product passports and business content in upcoming calls.
2024-06-13 Meeting Summary
Participants:
- Steve (Speaker 1)
- Nis (Speaker 2)
- Zach (Speaker 6)
- Cliff (Speaker 2)
- Patrick (Speaker 3)
- Ksenia (Mentioned)
- John (Speaker 5)
- Suzanne (Speaker 3)
Key Points Discussed:
-
Pull Requests Review:
-
Testing Architecture PR by Zach:
- Discussion on merging Zach's updated testing architecture, which simplifies the previous bullet-heavy document.
- Consensus to merge despite it being in draft to move forward.
-
Mill Test Report PR by Nis:
- Addressed issue 19 regarding steel mill test reports conforming to schema.
- Decision to close and start fresh aligning with the layered architecture approach.
-
Digital Livestock Passport:
- A practical extension example for the Australian digital livestock passport project.
- Closed PR without merging, left a comment on the required alignment.
-
Context and Schema Files by Nis:
- Added basic context and schema definitions to aid in linked data implementation.
- Agreement on merging the PR despite the incomplete schema, with an action to improve alignment.
-
Reference Implementations by Zach:
- Deferred merging Zach’s reference implementations pending more complete content.
-
-
Architecture Overview Discussion:
- Presented a diagram outlining the components of the UNTP specifications.
- Discussed sections including Digital Identity Anchor, Decentralized Access and Control (DAC), and semantic understanding of data.
- Emphasis on practical guidance using existing technologies like GLEIF’s Verifiable Legal Entity Identifier and Trust Over IP’s Trust Registry Protocol.
-
Methodology for Model and Schema:
- Addressed the collision of top-down (model-driven) and bottom-up (instance-driven) methodologies.
- Decision to use Nis’s practical instances to guide model updates and schema generation for alignment.
-
Additional Business:
- Agreement on renaming “trust graph” to “transparency graph” to avoid confusion.
- Planned actions to update documentation, align naming conventions, and ensure completeness of the context and schema files.
Action Items:
- Steve: Update the jargon generator to produce schema and context files that align with Nis’s examples.
- Nis: Assist with reviewing and validating the updated model-generated artifacts.
- Steve: Merge the updated architecture overview and realign website content accordingly.
- John and Suzanne: Continue contributions to decentralized access control and digital identity anchor discussions.
- Team: Prepare for testing the digital product passport model in various industry contexts.
The next meeting is scheduled in two weeks for further technical reviews and business discussions on the practical implementation of the digital product passport.
2024-06-05 Meeting Summary
Attendees:
- Steve (Speaker 1)
- Virginia (Speaker 3)
- Jason (Speaker 5)
- Patrick (Speaker 2)
- Marcus (Speaker 4)
- Other unidentified speakers
Key Points Discussed:
-
Meeting Organization and Participation:
- Steve acknowledged the need to increase participation in meetings through better marketing.
- Reminded attendees that this is a UN meeting and contributions are considered UN IP.
- Steve mentioned that meetings are recorded and transcriptions are published.
-
Meeting Transcription and Summary Process:
- Steve shared updates on how meeting transcriptions and summaries are managed.
- Introduced a table format for meeting summaries with video transcripts, text transcripts, GPT summaries, and one-sentence summaries for quick reference.
-
Pull Requests and JSON Schema vs. JSON-LD Context:
- Discussion on handling pull requests and differences between JSON schema (structure) and JSON-LD context (meaning).
- Steve shared a detailed explanation and a diagram to clarify these differences, using examples like a verifiable credential describing a traceability event for a bale of cotton.
-
Challenges with JSON-LD Context and Semantic Interoperability:
- Steve highlighted the challenges in mapping complex, abstracted data models to meaningful terms in a consistent way.
- Illustrated the difficulty with an example involving transport means and IMO numbers, emphasizing the problem with abstract structures in JSON-LD context files.
-
Discussion on Governance and Granularity:
- Patrick and Marcus contributed to the discussion on how to manage the complexity and granularity of context files.
- Marcus suggested using catalog entries to manage multiple schemas and context files, which could help in maintaining semantic integrity and version control.
- The need for proper governance to ensure correct mappings and avoid wrong semantic interpretations was emphasized.
-
Principles for Managing Context Files:
- Agreement on keeping context files small, semantically correct, and aligned with specific use cases.
- Steve proposed focusing on manageable granularity for context files, suggesting one context file per credential schema to simplify governance and changes.
-
Future Steps:
- Plan to open an issue for further discussion on mapping complexity and balance.
- Aim to document guiding principles for UNTP governance and implementers.
- Acknowledgment that more discussion and iteration are needed to refine the approach.
Action Items:
- Steve to draft guiding principles for context file management.
- Open an issue for further discussion on mapping complexity and balance.
- Follow-up discussions to refine the approach based on feedback and further exploration.
Meeting Conclusion:
- Steve thanked everyone for their participation and contributions.
- The meeting ended with an acknowledgment of the need for ongoing collaboration to address the challenges discussed.
2024-05-30 Meeting Summary
Attendees:
- Zachary
- Stefano
- Michael
- Joe
- Bill
- Peter
- Various team members
Key Points Discussed:
-
Pull Requests:
- Zachary presented his closed pull request related to test architecture. He acknowledged the need to update it based on Steve's feedback and plans to do so by next week.
- Discussion on merging half-baked pull requests to ensure progress and avoid stagnation.
-
Issues:
- The team has 50 open issues, with a tendency to create more than they resolve.
- Selective Disclosure Use Cases and Requirements: This issue is on hold, with a potential demo for the UN forum being considered.
- PDF Generator Issue: Assigned to three people, none of whom were present. It was suggested to put a note for easy conversion of GitHub sites to PDF documents and possibly mark the issue as pending close.
- Right to Repair Regulations: Stefano highlighted the importance of aligning with EU regulations on this matter to enhance document alignment. He volunteered to draft relevant verbiage.
- Depth of Product Information: The team discussed the necessity of tracking both upstream and downstream information, debating the practical limits and methods for maintaining depth without overcomplicating the process.
- Discovery Mechanism: Discussion on the challenge of linking product information if the physical identifier is lost. No immediate solution was found, and the issue might be closed without action or tagged for future consideration.
-
Technical Discussions:
- The challenge of maintaining a dynamic and evolving digital product passport was discussed, with considerations on how to append information without altering the original document.
- There was a consensus on the importance of linked product passports, with each tier in the supply chain responsible for creating and maintaining their own passports and linking them appropriately.
- Verification and validation processes for credentials were discussed, with the need to detail steps for verifying issuers, data, schema, and status.
- Discussion on certificates of conformity and the need for a practical way to refer to specific sections within a comprehensive conformity document.
-
Future Actions:
- Explore solutions for appending information to digital product passports without compromising the original data.
- Open new tickets to address specific downstream right-to-repair solutions.
- Investigate the potential need for a central registry or blockchain solution to ensure the longevity and accessibility of digital product passports.
- Ensure alignment with existing standards and leverage the work done by related bodies.
Conclusion: The meeting covered a range of issues from pull requests to regulatory alignment and the technical challenges of digital product passports. The team agreed on the need for continued exploration and development in these areas, with specific action items identified for follow-up. The meeting ended with the decision to be more aggressive in closing unresolved issues to maintain a manageable list.
2024-05-23 Meeting Summary
Participants: Virginia, Steve, Patrick, Zach, Gerhard, Marcus, John, Virginia, Joe, Phil, Harley, Juliet, and others.
Key Points Discussed:
-
Attendance and Meeting Logistics:
- Various participants joined from different locations, including Steve on a yacht in Corfu.
- Technical difficulties were experienced by some participants with the meeting link.
-
Meeting Overview:
- The meeting was recorded and contributions are governed by a UN project.
- The agenda focused on pull requests, updates to tickets, and related discussions.
-
Pull Requests and Sample File Updates:
- A pull request discussed was about updating a sample file for the digital product passport.
- The sample file was initially populated with real data from a participant's wife's company, which was then genericized.
- Agreement to merge the pull request after making it align better with the VC data model.
-
Discussion on Naming and Structuring Digital Product Passports:
- Debate on the appropriate terminology for types of credentials and subjects within the digital product passport.
- Suggestions included keeping terms like "product passport" consistent and aligned with the data model.
- The group discussed the implications of using terms like "digital" in various contexts.
-
Alignment with the VC Data Model:
- Agreement that the digital product passport should not compete with but rather use the VC data model.
- Proposed changes include aligning the example data and the data model, and updating the website accordingly.
-
Trust Graph vs. Transparency Graph:
- Extensive discussion on the terminology to describe the assessment of linked data within digital product passports.
- Alternatives considered included "trust graph," "provenance graph," "evidence graph," and "transparency graph."
- Consensus leaned towards using "transparency graph" to avoid confusion and to better align with the project's goals.
-
Reference to W3C Provenance Model:
- Marcus suggested using the W3C Provo ontology as a framework for describing the evidence or transparency graph.
- This approach would help in structuring and querying the data to provide a clear lineage and validation of the information.
-
Action Items:
- Steve to make the discussed changes to the pull request and update the data model and website.
- Participants to review the W3C Provenance Model and consider its integration into the project specifications.
- Further refinement and alignment of terminology and models in future discussions.
Next Steps:
- Follow-up on the discussed changes and updates.
- Continued refinement of terminology and alignment with established data models.
- Ongoing review and merging of pull requests as per the consensus reached.
Closing:
- The meeting concluded with an acknowledgment of the productive discussion and the clarity gained on several topics. Participants were thanked for their contributions.
For more detailed information, the full meeting recording and notes are available for review.
2024-05-16 Meeting Summary
Date: May 16, 2024
Participants: Various speakers including Steve, Phil Archer, Nis, Suzanne, and others.
Key Points Discussed:
-
Introduction and IP Reminder:
- Contributions to the project are under the UNIP framework.
- Agenda includes discussing outstanding pull requests, ongoing tickets, and the relationship between schema, context files, and vocabularies.
-
Pull Requests Review:
- Minor Typo Fix: A simple typo correction was merged without objections.
- Example Update: An update to the example in the passport and conformity credential sections was discussed. Concerns about using a real company's product (buyacre.com) were raised, suggesting a switch to imaginary examples to avoid IP issues.
-
Test Architecture Proposal:
- Introduction of a three-tier conformance testing model: technical interoperability, schema testing, and business workflow testing.
- Emphasis on ensuring must/should requirements are testable.
- Discussion on using existing W3C test suites for core elements and defining additional tests for extensions.
-
Linked Data and JSON-LD Context Files:
- Importance of linked data for ensuring consistent meaning across multiple instances.
- Strategy to keep JSON-LD context files light and map only necessary elements to avoid complexity and incorrect mappings.
- Agreement to develop the data model first and then map to established vocabularies.
-
Issues and Tickets:
- Several issues tagged as pending closure after aligning models with VCDM.
- Ongoing discussions on specific issues, with updates and resolutions expected in future meetings.
-
External Collaborations and Standards:
- Steve presented at the Surpass kickoff, discussing alignment with the European Commission's efforts on product passports.
- Suzanne highlighted the need to align with JTC 24 standards, focusing on product passport issuance and upstream supply chain data integration.
- Proposal to establish a formal liaison with JTC 24 through the UN.
Actions and Next Steps:
-
Steve:
- Work with Nis to update example models with non-proprietary products.
- Align data models with VCDM and prepare for pilot implementations.
- Follow up on establishing a formal liaison with JTC 24 through the UN.
-
Phil Archer:
- Review any references to secure QR codes and update the test suite as needed.
- Monitor and update the alignment with JTC 24 standards.
-
Suzanne:
- Provide guidance on establishing a liaison with JTC 24.
- Monitor JTC 24 activities and report back on potential divergences or necessary alignments.
-
All Participants:
- Review the updated data models and provide feedback in the next meeting.
- Engage in discussions on trust graphs and interoperability in upcoming calls.
Closing Remarks:
- Meeting ended 15 minutes early, with participants appreciating the extra time. The next meeting will focus on updates to the data models and further discussions on trust graphs.
2024-05-09 Meeting Summary
Attendees:
- Speaker 1 (Steve)
- Speaker 2 (Patrick)
- Speaker 3 (Virginia)
- Speaker 4 (John)
- Speaker 5 (Marcus)
- Speaker 6 (Unidentified)
- Speaker 7 (Unidentified)
Agenda:
- Review of Outstanding PRs
- Discussion on Key Tickets
- Assignment Updates
Key Points:
-
General Updates:
- Steve is currently anchored in Hvar, Croatia.
- Meeting participants are from various time zones, with some joining late at night.
-
Recording and Contributions:
- Meeting is recorded and contributions are for UNIP.
- Participants are reminded that if they do not wish to contribute to UNIP, they should refrain from sharing ideas.
-
Review of PRs:
- Only one pull request was discussed, which focused on enriching the content for conformity credentials.
- The PR aims to align with existing business requirement specifications and the logical model of digital product conformity certificates.
- Discussion about aligning fields with the VC (Verifiable Credentials) data model, particularly the "issuer" field.
-
Feedback on PRs:
- Nis provided feedback on the PR, suggesting alignment with the VC data model.
- Discussion on avoiding duplication of information and using complex objects in the VC issuer field.
- Decision to merge the current PR and address alignment in subsequent revisions.
-
Trust Graphs:
- Discussion led by John on the concept of trust graphs and the complexity of defining absolute measures of trustworthiness.
- Agreement that trust decisions should be subjective and context-dependent, rather than protocol-defined scores.
-
Rendering Methods:
- Patrick discussed the use of OCA (Overlays Capture Architecture) for rendering credentials, supporting multiple languages and additional metadata.
- Emphasis on separating rendering logic from the data integrity of credentials.
-
Multilingual Support:
- Debate on whether multilingual support should be embedded within the credential or handled through external overlays.
- Consensus on using governed presentation layers for multilingual support to keep credentials simple and maintainable.
-
Action Items:
- Align digital product passport models with the VC data model.
- Remove the scoring elements from the digital product passport to avoid complications and ensure clarity.
- Write a ticket to formally propose the removal of scoring from the digital product passport (John).
-
Other Discussions:
- Mention of the Australian Agriculture Traceability Protocol as a model for implementing similar initiatives.
- Steve highlighted a new publication from the Australian Government on agricultural traceability, noting the influence of UNTP.
-
Closing Remarks:
- Steve thanked participants and emphasized the importance of aligning with the VC data model.
- Next steps include continuing work on assigned tickets and discussing progress in the next meeting.
Next Meeting:
- Participants will continue with their assigned tasks and discuss further progress in the following week.
This summary captures the main points and action items from the meeting, ensuring clarity on the next steps and ongoing discussions.
2024-04-25 Meeting Summary
Meeting Start and Introductions:
- The meeting was initiated by Speaker 1, who took over the role of Master of Ceremony due to Steve being on a flight.
- Attendance included a significant Australian contingent despite it being a public holiday in Australia.
- Steve is traveling to China to coordinate supply chain pilot projects in the battery and critical mineral manufacturing process.
Agenda and Objectives:
- Review and process of open pull requests.
- Assignment and movement of stale issues.
- Emphasis on facilitating broader collaboration within the group.
- Encouragement for discussions to be taken offline or into Slack channels unless mission-critical.
Key Points Discussed:
-
Pull Requests:
- Three pull requests were reviewed.
- Major update to the traceability event schema by Steve was discussed, aligning more closely with the GS1 EPCIS standard.
- Gerhard suggested creating an issue to compare the current model with the existing data models used in other sectors like animal track and trace and textiles.
- Another pull request involved adding a governance section to describe the collaboration process.
- A minor but potentially controversial pull request to remove an "out of place header" was discussed. The group decided to create a ticket to further explore the verifiability of identifiers before merging the pull request.
-
Issues:
- Several issues were discussed, including the addition of page listing referenced standards, digital product passport sample files, and UNTP extensions methodology.
- Gerhard highlighted the importance of maintaining interoperability by having a concise data model applicable across different industries.
- Marcus and Virginia emphasized the need for clear guidance on how extensions fit within the core data structures and the governance process for managing these extensions.
Action Items:
- Creation of issues for comparing data models and verifying identifiers.
- Assignment of tasks to specific individuals, including Zach taking on the task of providing a digital product passport sample file.
- Further discussion on trust graph validation and the relationship between extensions and the core UNTP specifications.
Closing Remarks:
- The meeting concluded with thanks to Zach for leading the session in Steve's absence.
- A reminder for continuous collaboration and the importance of adhering to the process for pull requests and issue discussions.
This summary captures the main points and action items from the meeting, providing a concise overview for those who were unable to attend.
2024-04-18 Meeting Summary
Participants:
- Speaker 1
- Nis (Master of Ceremonies)
- Phil
- Susanne
- Steve
- Zach
- Michael
- Gerhard
Key Points Discussed:
-
Reminder on Contributions:
- Contributions made to the GitHub repository are contributions to United Nations Intellectual Property (UN IP).
- External specifications like GS1 and W3C can be referred to, but unique content belongs to UN IP.
-
Streamlining Specification Sections:
- Discussion on the need to streamline the specification sections due to too many headings.
- Proposal to handle this later in the normal order of pull requests and issues.
-
Pull Requests:
- Pull Request 57 by Phil:
- Focused on identifying discoverability and the pervasiveness of scanners and software.
- Positive feedback and agreement to build incrementally on the contributions.
- Pull Request 59 by Zach:
- Simplified goals based on previous discussions, addressing issue 53.
- Merged with no objections.
- Pull Request by Steve:
- Added verifiable credentials section, discussing business requirements and existing technical specifications.
- Emphasis on conservative issuance and flexible verification.
- Merged with no objections.
- Pull Request 57 by Phil:
-
Issues Discussion:
- Issue 9 (Verification and Trust Graphs):
- Proposal to use business-friendly examples and diagrams to explain trust graphs.
- Three common patterns identified:
- Same identity across different credentials.
- Conformity credential linked to claim.
- Certifier accredited by a trusted third party.
- Commitment to create a PR with these examples for further discussion.
- Issue 9 (Verification and Trust Graphs):
-
General Agreement:
- Need for more use cases to test the scenarios and specification.
- Encouragement for more participants to lean in and help move forward with the tasks.
- Importance of balancing detailed discussions with progress on issues.
Actions and Assignments:
- Steve and Suzanne: Collaborate on creating examples and diagrams for the trust graph patterns.
- Phil: To work on aligning terminologies (must, should, may) with IETF standards.
- All participants: Add comments on issues directly in GitHub for better tracking and follow-up.
Next Steps:
- Assign issues before discussions in the next meeting.
- Ensure more focused discussions to cover more issues efficiently.
Closing Remarks:
- Commitment to improving the pace of progress while bringing everyone along on the journey.
- Meeting adjourned with a plan to implement better structure in future meetings.
This summary captures the essence of the meeting, the key decisions made, and the next steps agreed upon. If you need any specific details from the transcript, please let me know!
2024-04-11 Meeting Summary
Attendees:
- Steve
- Patrick
- Susanna
- Virginia
- Susan
- Becky
- Nancy
- Zach
- Carolyn
- Joe
- Stephen
- Other Participants
Main Discussion Points:
-
Introduction and Setup:
- Initial greetings and setting up systems.
- Discussion on the global timing of the meeting to accommodate different time zones, primarily focusing on American and Canadian colleagues.
-
Podcast Mention:
- Mention of a podcast with Darrell O'Donnell and the suggestion to share the link in the Slack channel.
-
Meeting Formalities:
- Reminder that contributions are for U.N. IP and that the meeting is recorded.
- Standard procedure involves reviewing open pull requests and discussing issues.
-
Digital Product Passport (DPP) Development:
- Emphasis on the need to start looking at industry use cases.
- Discussion on the GBA digital product battery passport and ISO standard for digital product circularity.
- Agreement to merge changes related to the product passport data model.
-
Use Cases and Industry Pilots:
- Discussion on industry-specific pilots for testing the feasibility and value of the DPP.
- Mention of upcoming pilots in agriculture and critical raw materials.
- Carolyn shared a slide explaining the value chain and the application of the UNTP framework.
-
Trust and Credential Verification:
- Discussion on trust registries and methods for verifying the trustworthiness of credential issuers.
- Different approaches were considered, including the use of DID (Decentralized Identifiers) and linked credentials.
- Example of the Australian Business Register and how it could issue credentials to businesses.
-
Verifiable Credentials and Exchange Models:
- Debate on the best practices for exchanging verifiable credentials, whether wallet-to-wallet or through a publish and discover model.
- Reference to a project that involved publicly discoverable credentials and lessons that could be relevant for UNTP.
-
Technical Infrastructure and DID Methods:
- Concerns about the infrastructure for DID web and potential lock-in with service providers.
- Suggestion to develop recommendations for DID methods suitable for different use cases, such as small businesses and product identifiers.
-
Upcoming Tasks and Assignments:
- Agreement to work on a prototype for linked credentials and identity verification.
- Decision to use Slack more actively for offline discussions to expedite progress.
Action Items:
- Patrick to write a summary of lessons from the discussed project and how they might impact UNTP.
- Stephen Curran to work on a prototype for verifying linked credentials.
- Create a ticket for recommending DID methods for different use cases.
- More active use of Slack for ongoing discussions and resolving tickets.
Next Meeting:
- The next meeting will be held at a time more convenient for European participants.
Additional Notes:
- Suzanne from the World Economic Forum and the Global Battery Alliance participated for the first time.
- Stephen Curran introduced a new DID method called Trusted Web, which could be relevant for the project's needs.
This summary captures the key points and discussions from the meeting on April 10, 2024.
2024-04-04 Meeting Summary
Attendees:
- Steve (Speaker 1)
- Nisht (Speaker 2)
- SAC Representative (Speaker 8)
- Michael Shea (Speaker 9)
- Virginia (Speaker 5)
- Brett (Speaker 7)
- Gerhard (Speaker 3)
- Joe (Speaker 4)
- Ashley (Speaker 6)
Key Points Discussed:
-
Recording and IP Contribution:
- Steve reminded everyone that contributions are voluntary, and IP is contributed to the UN.
- A recording will be posted for those who couldn't attend.
-
Digital Product Passport (DPP):
- Steve requested additional discussion time on DPP updates.
- Issues with pull requests (PR) were discussed, particularly around supply chain depth clarification.
- Agreement to merge a PR and address depth in a subsequent PR.
-
Pull Requests and Issues:
- A PR from SAC Representative was discussed. It was agreed to merge it with follow-up clarifications.
- Discussion on identifiers for entities and products, emphasizing the need for multiple identifiers (e.g., GLN, ABN, DID) and the ability to verify them.
- Importance of having robust claims for product categories and items, considering changes over time.
-
Granularity in Product Claims:
- Virginia and Gerhard led a detailed discussion on handling product claims at different levels (e.g., product class vs. individual items).
- Emphasized the necessity of batch numbers and serialized identifiers for traceability and integrity.
-
Verifiable Credentials and Technical Specifications:
- Debate on the approach for verifiable credentials and the need for implementation guidelines.
- Discussion on interoperability, technical recommendations, and the balance between specificity and flexibility.
- Agreement to draft business requirements to guide technical recommendations.
-
Rendering Templates for Verifiable Credentials:
- Ashley presented on using rendering templates within credentials.
- Discussion on embedding templates vs. linking to external sources, considering privacy, performance, and integrity.
-
Next Steps and Actions:
- Steve to draft business requirements for verifiable credentials.
- Nis and others to provide feedback and draft a pull request based on these requirements.
- Further discussion on specific technical choices and their rationale.
Action Items:
- Steve to draft and post business requirements for verifiable credentials.
- All relevant parties to prepare and review pull requests related to DPP updates and verifiable credentials.
- Continue discussions on granularity of product claims and implementation guidelines.
Conclusion: The meeting focused on refining the process for handling digital product passports and verifiable credentials, ensuring robust and interoperable solutions. The importance of clear business requirements to guide technical decisions was emphasized, and specific actions were assigned to move forward with these discussions.
2024-03-28 Meeting Summary
Attendees:
- Stephen (Speaker 1)
- Kevin (Speaker 13)
- Nancy Norris (Speaker 5)
- Stephen Curran (Speaker 14)
- Jason (Speaker 7)
- Phil (Speaker 2)
- Virginia (Speaker 3)
- Christophe (Speaker 12)
- Michael (Speaker 10)
- Zach (Speaker 12)
- John (Speaker 9)
- Peter (Speaker 8)
Key Points Discussed:
-
Meeting Timing Adjustments:
- Adjusted to accommodate participants from different time zones, especially from Canada and the U.S.
- Noted appreciation for the flexibility, despite it being late for some European participants.
-
Welcome and Introductions:
- Introduction of new participants from North America.
- Brief introductions by Nancy Norris and Stephen Curran highlighting their roles and work on verifiable credentials.
-
Recording and Standards Development:
- Meeting is being recorded.
- Emphasis on the focus on standards development rather than commercial products.
- Contributions to the meeting are considered as contributions to the United Nations Intellectual Property Library.
-
Digital Product Passport (DPP):
- Discussion on the importance of focusing on the DPP due to upcoming pilots in Australia and the EU.
- Emphasis on business attention needed for the DPP structure.
-
Claims and Evidence:
- Discussion on how to handle claims at the SKU, batch, and facility levels.
- Recognition of the need to differentiate between product-level and batch-level claims.
- Debate on the inclusion of benchmark values and references in the claims.
- Some participants argued for the inclusion to provide context and comparability.
- Others suggested it could be out of scope and should be handled by third-party verifiers.
-
Granularity of Claims and Evidence:
- Addressed the challenge of reconciling claims at the shipment level with evidence at the facility level.
- Discussed the potential for greenwashing if facility-level evidence is used to support product-level claims without proper verification.
-
Product vs. Batch Passports:
- Consideration of whether to maintain separate passports for products and batches.
- Discussed the possibility of inheriting claims from product to batch levels.
- Agreed on the need for optional structures to support different use cases.
-
Vocabulary and Ontology:
- Suggested a need for rigorous definition and management of the taxonomy and ontology of claims.
- Potential overlap between the data model and the vocabulary of sustainability claims.
-
Next Steps:
- Stephen to update the ticket with the consensus from the discussion.
- Further review and testing of the data model with real use cases to ensure its implementability.
Action Items:
- Stephen to update the data model and ticket based on the discussion.
- Participants to review the updated model and provide feedback.
- Plan to test the model with sample certificates and real-world scenarios.
Closing:
- Meeting concluded with a reminder to stick to time limits for the benefit of all participants.
Please let me know if there are any specific details or additional information you would like to include in the summary.
2024-03-15 Meeting Summary
Participants:
- Steve
- Phil
- Nis
- Other unnamed speakers
Key Points Discussed:
-
Policy Document Submission:
- The policy document was successfully submitted to the Secretariat and forwarded to the Bureau.
- Approval from Bureau members is in progress, with public release anticipated soon.
-
Meeting Frequency:
- Discussion on whether to hold meetings weekly or fortnightly.
- Consensus leaned towards weekly half-hour meetings to ensure consistent progress and accountability.
-
Tech Specifications and PRs:
- Focus to shift to tech specifications following the policy document submission.
- Nis discussed several pull requests (PRs) for practice and refinement.
- Agreed on a structured approach to reviewing and merging PRs.
-
GS1 Standards and UNTP:
- Debate on the inclusion of GS1 standards and the relationship with UNTP.
- Decision to potentially host information on GS1’s own page and link it from the UNTP site.
-
Editing and Contributing via GitHub:
- Demonstration on how to edit pages, create issues, and make pull requests on GitHub.
- Emphasis on using the "Edit this page" feature for ease of contribution.
-
Action Items:
- Participants to self-assign tickets on GitHub and contribute to issues and pull requests.
- Continuous monitoring and support via Slack for any technical issues.
-
Miscellaneous:
- Acknowledgment of contributions to the policy document.
- Future meetings to follow a structured process focusing on PRs and issues.
Next Steps:
- Weekly meetings to continue with a focus on technical specifications.
- Participants to actively engage in GitHub for issue tracking and pull requests.
- Continued collaboration and support to ensure progress on project goals.
2024-02-29 Meeting Summary
Date: February 29, 2024
Participants:
- Speaker 1 (Steve)
- Speaker 2 (Virginia)
- Speaker 3 (Christophe)
- Speaker 4 (Nes)
- Speaker 5 (Brett)
- Speaker 6 (Jerry)
- Speaker 7 (Rakesh)
- Speaker 8 (Peter)
- Speaker 9 (Unnamed participants)
Key Points Discussed:
-
Introduction and Updates:
- Steve (Speaker 1) is still in Europe and provided an update on his encounters in Europe, including attending the GS1 Global Forum and OECD Textile and Leather Due Diligence Forum. He emphasized the alignment of GS1’s initiatives with the group’s goals and the opportunities for collaboration.
-
European Meetings:
- GS1 Global Forum: Discussed their customers' challenges and the potential for cooperation in the use of resolvable identifiers and digital product passports.
- OECD Forum: Major brands like Adidas are struggling with due diligence requirements and need a standard to push through their supply chain.
- Surpass Program: EU’s initiative for pilot projects in various sectors, which is seen as complementary to UNDP.
- DG Grow: European Commission's interest in complementary end-to-end pilots.
-
Feedback on Europe Meetings:
- The feedback received from meetings in Europe was generally positive, indicating a good alignment with the group's objectives and a strong appetite for collaboration on digital product passports and related initiatives.
-
Discussion on UNDP and EU DPP:
- Virginia highlighted the need to base the cross-border environmental passport on UNDP and mentioned that UNEP is interested in cooperating but prefers to base their work on UNDP.
-
Recommendations Structure:
- The group discussed the structure of the recommendations in their document, deciding on having recommendations after the challenges section, aligning with standard UN document structures.
- Emphasized the importance of making digital product passports resolvable and verifiable and the role of identifier schemes.
-
Challenges Section:
- Agreement to shorten the challenges section to make the document more readable and concise, aiming for about two pages.
-
Next Steps:
- Steve will rework Section 1 based on the feedback, shorten the challenges, and send out the updated version by Monday for final review before submission to the Secretariat by the end of the week.
Action Items:
- Steve to revise Section 1 and shorten the challenges section.
- Send the revised document to the team by Monday.
- Team to review and provide feedback before the next meeting on Thursday.
- Finalize the document for submission by Friday.
Meeting Adjourned:
- Meeting concluded with a plan to reconvene on Thursday for final review.
This summary captures the key points and actions from the meeting, ensuring that all participants are aligned on the next steps and responsibilities.
2024-02-15 Meeting Summary
Participants:
- Speaker 1 (Chair)
- Speaker 2 (Virginia)
- Speaker 3 (Gerhard)
- Speaker 4 (Rakesh)
- Speaker 5 (Stefano)
- Speaker 6
- Speaker 7 (Joe)
- Speaker 8
- Speaker 9
- Speaker 10
Agenda:
- Review and focus on the policy document draft.
- Discuss feedback and make necessary adjustments.
- Prepare for final iteration of sections before the public review.
Key Points Discussed:
-
Policy Document Review:
- The meeting primarily focused on the policy document draft instead of GitHub issues.
- The urgency to finalize REC 49 for the UN plenary in July was emphasized. The document needs to complete a two-month public review starting early March.
-
Feedback and Structural Changes:
- Feedback from UN Secretariat suggested separating recommendations to member states (Section 1) from those to industry actors (Section 2).
- Virginia's recent edits include:
- An introduction explaining the purpose of Recommendation 49.
- A section detailing the UNTP and its challenges in a table format.
- Clarification on roles and opportunities in Section 2.
-
Content Adjustments:
- Speaker 2 pointed out the need for an explanatory section on UNTP.
- Speaker 1 shared insights from discussions with WTO member state delegates, highlighting the importance of simplifying the document’s language and message.
- Stakeholder mapping and visual aids were suggested to clarify the focus on different audiences.
-
Technical and Terminological Clarifications:
- Debate on the term "protocol" concluded with keeping the term but clarifying its meaning in the context of the document.
- Replace "ESG" with "sustainability" to avoid political connotations and ensure clarity.
-
Strategic Alignment:
- Rakesh emphasized aligning the document with existing multilateral frameworks (G20, OECD) and strategic objectives of countries.
- Highlighting benefits such as harmonization and reduction of industry burden to appeal to policymakers.
-
Final Edits and Testing:
- The need for another draft incorporating feedback was agreed upon.
- Testing the revised document on external policymakers for readability and impact before the final iteration.
Action Items:
- Virginia to integrate feedback and refine the document.
- Rakesh to draft paragraphs on aligning with global initiatives and specifying relevant government departments.
- Joe and Gerhard to provide additional input on technical simplifications and stakeholder visual aids.
- Speaker 1 to circulate an updated draft by Monday for final review and feedback.
Closing Remarks:
- Appreciation for the hard work and contributions from all team members.
- Next steps include refining the document based on today’s discussions and preparing for final testing with policymakers.
Next Meeting:
- Date to be determined, expected early next week to review the updated document.
2024-02-01 Meeting Summary
Date: January 25, 2024
Participants:
- Speaker 1 (Steve)
- Virginia
- Peter
- John
- Zach
- Olivia
- Ash
- Kevin
- Nancy
- Brett
- Others
Agenda:
- Welcome and Introduction
- Review of Document and GitHub Issues
- Discussion on Sustainability Pledge and Challenges
- Collaboration and Coordination in Value Chains
- Summary of Business Drivers and Technical Challenges
- Overview of the UNTP Protocol and Design Principles
- Stakeholder-Specific Challenges and Recommendations
- Next Steps and Action Items
Key Points:
-
Welcome and Introduction:
- Steve acknowledged participants and outlined the meeting's agenda.
- Mention of ongoing work on the document and the need to populate it further.
-
Review of Document and GitHub Issues:
- A walkthrough of the newly created website for technical information.
- Encouragement to read specific sections of the website for better alignment with the policy document.
- Discussion on the inclusion of contributing experts in the document.
-
Discussion on Sustainability Pledge and Challenges:
- Debate on the name for the sustainability pledge to avoid confusion with the existing textiles and garments pledge.
- Importance of making a pledge that is meaningful and not industry-specific.
-
Collaboration and Coordination in Value Chains:
- Emphasis on the need for tier-one collaboration without imposing technical solutions.
- Highlighting the importance of individual actor implementation for global traceability.
-
Summary of Business Drivers and Technical Challenges:
- Simplification of business drivers to focus on fear of non-compliance and opportunities for market access and price uplift.
- Technical challenges to be detailed in a section correlating with business challenges and confidentiality concerns.
-
Overview of the UNTP Protocol and Design Principles:
- Discussion on the necessity of a new protocol and why existing solutions may not suffice.
- Suggestion to keep technical diagrams and detailed protocol descriptions on the website, not in the policy document.
-
Stakeholder-Specific Challenges and Recommendations:
- Identification of challenges specific to government, industry, and consumers.
- Importance of highlighting regulatory challenges and benefits for governments to ensure relevance and adoption.
-
Next Steps and Action Items:
- Steve and Virginia to act as master editors to streamline the document.
- Focus on creating a draft ready for review and public consultation.
- Continued contributions to the technical website for long-term improvements.
Action Items:
- Steve and Virginia to edit and refine the document based on the discussion.
- Participants to review and comment on the GitHub issues and website content.
- Schedule next meeting for further review and finalization of the draft document.
Closing Remarks:
- Agreement on a two-week period for Steve and Virginia to finalize the draft.
- Next meeting to review the draft and gather final feedback before public consultation.
2024-01-25 Meeting Summary
Date: January 25, 2024
Participants:
- Speaker 1 (Steve)
- Virginia
- Peter
- John
- Zach
- Olivia
- Ash
- Kevin
- Nancy
- Brett
- Others
Agenda:
- Welcome and Introduction
- Review of Document and GitHub Issues
- Discussion on Sustainability Pledge and Challenges
- Collaboration and Coordination in Value Chains
- Summary of Business Drivers and Technical Challenges
- Overview of the UNTP Protocol and Design Principles
- Stakeholder-Specific Challenges and Recommendations
- Next Steps and Action Items
Key Points:
-
Welcome and Introduction:
- Steve acknowledged participants and outlined the meeting's agenda.
- Mention of ongoing work on the document and the need to populate it further.
-
Review of Document and GitHub Issues:
- A walkthrough of the newly created website for technical information.
- Encouragement to read specific sections of the website for better alignment with the policy document.
- Discussion on the inclusion of contributing experts in the document.
-
Discussion on Sustainability Pledge and Challenges:
- Debate on the name for the sustainability pledge to avoid confusion with the existing textiles and garments pledge.
- Importance of making a pledge that is meaningful and not industry-specific.
-
Collaboration and Coordination in Value Chains:
- Emphasis on the need for tier-one collaboration without imposing technical solutions.
- Highlighting the importance of individual actor implementation for global traceability.
-
Summary of Business Drivers and Technical Challenges:
- Simplification of business drivers to focus on fear of non-compliance and opportunities for market access and price uplift.
- Technical challenges to be detailed in a section correlating with business challenges and confidentiality concerns.
-
Overview of the UNTP Protocol and Design Principles:
- Discussion on the necessity of a new protocol and why existing solutions may not suffice.
- Suggestion to keep technical diagrams and detailed protocol descriptions on the website, not in the policy document.
-
Stakeholder-Specific Challenges and Recommendations:
- Identification of challenges specific to government, industry, and consumers.
- Importance of highlighting regulatory challenges and benefits for governments to ensure relevance and adoption.
-
Next Steps and Action Items:
- Steve and Virginia to act as master editors to streamline the document.
- Focus on creating a draft ready for review and public consultation.
- Continued contributions to the technical website for long-term improvements.
Action Items:
- Steve and Virginia to edit and refine the document based on the discussion.
- Participants to review and comment on the GitHub issues and website content.
- Schedule next meeting for further review and finalization of the draft document.
Closing Remarks:
- Agreement on a two-week period for Steve and Virginia to finalize the draft.
- Next meeting to review the draft and gather final feedback before public consultation.
2024-01-18 Meeting Summary
Date: January 18, 2024
Participants:
- Speaker 1 (Steve)
- Virginia
- Nis
- Nancy
- Benjamin
- Dr. Wang
- Gregory
- Others
Agenda:
- Welcome and Introduction
- Review of GitHub Issues and Editorial Process
- Verifier Experience and Trust Graph
- Schema Context and Verifiable Documents
- Vocabulary and Standards Mapping
- Versioning and Implementation Profiles
- Extension Methodology for UNTP
- Next Steps and Action Items
Key Points:
-
Welcome and Introduction:
- Participants greeted each other and the meeting was recorded.
- Steve reminded everyone about the fortnightly meeting schedule alternating between technical and policy-focused sessions.
-
Review of GitHub Issues and Editorial Process:
- The editorial process involves raising GitHub issues, discussing them, reaching conclusions, and submitting pull requests for review.
- Nis has volunteered as an editor with maintained rights on the repository.
-
Verifier Experience and Trust Graph:
- Nis demonstrated a verifier experience showcasing the traversal and validation of a trust graph.
- Discussion on how to ensure the contextual validity of linked credentials and automating due diligence for various sectors.
-
Schema Context and Verifiable Documents:
- Discussion on the need to align schema context for digital product passports and verifiable credentials.
- Emphasis on pointing to existing interoperability profiles rather than reinventing them.
-
Vocabulary and Standards Mapping:
- Steve proposed creating a sustainability vocabulary to categorize ESG claims in digital product passports.
- Dr. Wang and Gregory highlighted existing work and offered contributions to the vocabulary design.
-
Versioning and Implementation Profiles:
- Discussion on how to handle versioning of specifications and implementation profiles.
- Proposal to group specifications into core and trust-related categories with implementation profiles reflecting different levels of conformity.
-
Extension Methodology for UNTP:
- The principle of defining a simple common core for UNTP and allowing industry-specific or geographic extensions.
- Need for a rule set to ensure non-breaking extensions.
-
Next Steps and Action Items:
- Participants to use GitHub tickets for further discussions and provide feedback.
- Steve to initiate discussions on specific issues and encourage the development of consensus on key points.
Action Items:
- Participants to review and comment on GitHub issues.
- Steve to publish a draft sustainability vocabulary.
- Nis to work on automated policy execution and verifier experiences.
- Follow-up discussions on extension methodologies and implementation profiles.
Closing Remarks:
- Agreement to use GitHub issues as discussion forums to reach consensus and develop content.
- Next meeting to focus on merging pull requests and further refining the specifications.
2024-01-11 Meeting Summary
Date: January 11, 2024
Participants:
- Steve
- Christian
- Peter
- Zach
- Kay
- Benjamin
- Nis
- Maria Teresa
- Kevin
- Brett
- Anil John
- Others
Agenda:
- Welcome and Introduction
- Review of Registration and Participation
- Overview of GitHub Repository and Structure
- Discussion on Key Sections and Specifications
- Splitting into Technical and Policy Teams
- Next Steps and Action Items
Key Points:
-
Welcome and Introduction:
- Participants greeted each other and wished a Happy New Year.
- The meeting was recorded for future reference.
-
Review of Registration and Participation:
- Steve reviewed the list of participants who had registered and noted the status of their registration.
- Participants were encouraged to complete their registration if not already done.
-
Overview of GitHub Repository and Structure:
- Steve shared the structure of the GitHub repository for the technical specifications of Recommendation 49.
- The repository includes sections on architecture, digital product passports, conformity credentials, traceability events, identifiers, vocabularies, verifiable credentials, data carriers, trust anchors, trust graphs, confidentiality, anti-counterfeiting, mass balance, ESG rules, GS1 usage, business cases, tools and support, extensions register, and implementation register.
-
Discussion on Key Sections and Specifications:
- Emphasis on the need to align digital product passports with existing standards, including those from the EU.
- Discussion on the importance of identifiers and the gap between current identifier systems and the needs of a digital trust architecture.
- The role of vocabularies in ensuring consistent categorization and reporting of ESG criteria.
- The significance of verifiable credentials and leveraging existing profiles from other initiatives.
- The need for clear governance and best practices for confidentiality and anti-counterfeiting.
-
Splitting into Technical and Policy Teams:
- Proposal to split the group into two teams: one focused on the technical specifications in the GitHub repository and the other on the policy recommendation document.
- Meetings will be held weekly, alternating between technical and policy discussions.
-
Next Steps and Action Items:
- Participants to review the GitHub repository and provide feedback via tickets.
- Steve to send out invitations for separate technical and policy meetings.
- Follow-up on registration for those who have not yet completed the process.
Action Items:
- Steve to set up a spreadsheet for tracking participant roles and contributions.
- Participants to raise issues and provide feedback on the GitHub repository.
- Schedule and conduct separate meetings for technical and policy teams.
Closing Remarks:
- Recognition of the interest and engagement from various stakeholders, including presentations to the OECD, GS1 Global Forum, and the European Commission.
- Encouragement for continued collaboration and contributions to ensure the success of Recommendation 49.
2023-12-14 Meeting Summary
Date: December 14, 2023
Participants:
- Steve
- Virginia Cram Martos
- Rakesh
- Franziska
- Mathieu
- Charles Arden-Clark
- Others
Agenda:
- Introductions
- Overview and Communication of Recommendation 49
- Revised Document Structure
- Call for Contributors and Next Steps
Key Points:
-
Introductions:
- New participants, including Virginia, Rakesh, Franziska, Mathieu, and Charles, introduced themselves and shared their backgrounds and expertise.
-
Overview and Communication:
- Steve shared a video explaining Recommendation 49 and its goals, emphasizing anti-greenwashing through supply chain transparency.
- Participants were encouraged to watch and share the video for better understanding and feedback.
-
Revised Document Structure:
- The document is divided into three sections: a high-level executive summary, detailed guidelines for implementation, and an annex for additional information.
- The executive summary will cover the introduction, scope, target audience, purpose and benefits, challenges, recommendations, and an opportunity for implementers to make a pledge.
- The guidelines section will detail business drivers, design principles, technical challenges, and the actual protocol, including costs, incentives, and implementation guidance.
- A GitHub repository has been created for detailed technical information and specifications to support the policy document.
-
Call for Contributors:
- Participants were invited to volunteer for writing different sections of the document.
- Emphasis on involving both business-oriented and technical experts to ensure the document is comprehensive and implementable.
- A spreadsheet will be set up to track potential stakeholders and contributors, distinguishing between observers and active contributors.
-
Next Steps:
- Spreadsheet to track participant roles and contributions will be created and shared.
- UNECE to confirm the revised structure of the document.
- Separate technical meetings to be scheduled after Christmas to focus on detailed content development for the GitHub repository.
Action Items:
- Steve to create and share a spreadsheet for tracking participants and their roles.
- UNECE to review and confirm the revised document structure.
- Participants to indicate their interest in contributing to specific sections.
- Technical meetings to be scheduled for post-Christmas to progress GitHub content.
Closing Remarks:
- Agreement to skip the meeting scheduled for December 28 due to the holiday season.
- Next group meeting to be held in a month, with parallel technical meetings starting after Christmas.
2023-11-30 Meeting Summary
Date: November 30, 2023
Participants:
- Steve
- Brett
- Kevin
- Benjamin
- Corey
- Felix
- Xinyang
- Nis
- Maria Teresa
- Stefano
Agenda:
- Communication Strategies and Updates
- Refactoring Recommendation 49 Document
Key Points:
-
Introduction and General Updates:
- Steve welcomed participants and highlighted the importance of communication.
- A project in Australia on agricultural traceability has successfully demonstrated the concepts in Recommendation 49, showing quick vendor adoption and implementation.
-
Communication Strategies:
- Emphasis on the importance of effectively communicating the project to various stakeholders.
- Discussion on creating sector-specific versions of the communication video (e.g., for critical raw materials, textiles).
- Participants encouraged to share the existing video and provide feedback.
- Maria Teresa agreed to post the video on official UN channels once updates are made.
-
Feedback on Communication:
- Participants agreed on the need for various media to reach different audiences.
- Suggestions included creating a range of materials from short soundbites to longer, detailed videos.
- Brett and others emphasized focusing on the flexibility and scalability of the protocol.
-
Refactoring Recommendation 49 Document:
- Discussion on aligning the structure of Recommendation 49 with previous UN recommendations.
- Agreement on including sections like scope, purpose, benefits, and a high-level summary.
- Inclusion of a cost-benefit analysis and discussion on inclusivity (small businesses, developing economies).
- Emphasis on providing a flexible yet implementable framework that can be adapted for different sectors.
-
Implementation Guidance:
- Importance of providing clear, implementable guidelines and schemas.
- Agreement on using projects like critical raw materials and agriculture as examples.
- Discussion on maintaining flexibility while ensuring interoperability and testability.
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Next Steps:
- Steve to restructure the document based on the discussed framework.
- Participants to review and provide feedback on the restructured document.
- Plan to engage with policy makers for informal reviews before formal public review.
Action Items:
- Steve to complete the restructuring of the Recommendation 49 document within the next week.
- Participants to share the communication video and provide feedback.
- Maria Teresa to post the updated video on UN channels.
- Team to engage with policy makers for informal reviews of the draft document before the end of January.
Closing Remarks:
- Agreement on the next meeting to review the restructured document and continue content development.
- Maria Teresa emphasized the importance of involving policy makers early in the review process to ensure the document meets their needs and gains their support.