Manual EPR reporting takes 200+ hours per year
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) compliance is an increasing burden for manufacturers. A 2023 Eurostat survey found that SMEs spend more than 200 hours per year manually compiling EPR data with an error rate of more than 18% due to:
- Disconnected data sources (supplier spreadsheets, paper invoices).
- Complex material recovery calculations (e.g., plastic recycling rates according to EU 2025 targets).
- Frequent regulatory updates in 35+ EU jurisdictions.
For example, a packaging producer that handles 500 SKUs could face a €50,000 fine for late or inaccurate EPR submissions – equivalent to 20% of a small business’ annual profits.
Technology Solution: NFC DPP Automates Data Capture and Reporting
The NFC-enabled Digital Product Passport (DPP) addresses EPR inefficiencies by:
1.Lifecycle Data Automation
Each NFC tag stores:
- Material content: Weight percentage of recycled PET, aluminum, etc. (ISO 14021 compliant).
- Carbon footprint: Scope 3 emissions from raw materials to disposal (GHG Protocol compliant).
- Recycling instructions: Disassembly steps for WEEE (waste electrical and electronic equipment) or packaging.
2.Real-time reporting workflow
- Scanning NFC tags: Workers collect data on returned products using smartphones or handheld readers (e.g. RFIDHY HY-R6100).
- Cloud Sync: Data automatically syncs with the enterprise EPR platform.
- AI Verification: Tools like IBM Envizi flag discrepancies (e.g., plastic weight mismatch).
- Automated Submission: Standardized reports are sent to PROs (Producer Responsibility Organizations).
- Result: Reduce manual data entry by 90%, reduce errors by 95%.
Integration Case: SAP-to-NFC DPP API Implementation
Here’s how to connect NFC DPP with SAP S/4HANA in 4 steps:
Create API endpoint:
Set up a RESTful API for NFC data extraction using SAP Cloud Platform Integration (CPI).
Map fields:
NFC_UID → SAP Material Number, Recycled_Content → SAP EPR module.
Configure Data Triggers:
Automatically generate EPR reports when recycling rate reaches a threshold (e.g., 30% recycled PET).
Enable Blockchain Auditing:
Integrate with SAP Green Token to store hashed DPP data on Hyperledger Fabric.
Case Study: Amcor Saves 65% on EPR Reporting Time
Deployed NFC tags on all EU products.
Integrated with SAP software via Microsoft IoT Hub.
Results:
- 65% faster reporting.
- Zero compliance penalties by 2024.
- 22% higher recycling rates due to NFC-guided consumer disassembly.
Contact us for samples of NFC tags that can be integrated into your ERP software.
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