Blockchain in Supply Chain Management: Where to Start in 2025

A practical, regulator-ready playbook for decision-makers to start, prove, and scale blockchain-enabled traceability in 2025—aligned to EPCIS 2.0, Digital Product Passports, battery passports, FSMA 204, and UFLPA realities.

In this guide, you’ll find concrete patterns, timelines, and examples your team can implement in 90–365 days, with privacy-by-design and measurable ROI.

Why 2025 is different (and actionable)

Digital Product Passports (DPPs) under the EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) became law in 2024; the Commission adopted the first 2025–2030 working plan in April 2025. Product-specific delegated acts start landing in 2026, with first requirements likely applying 2027/2028 (textiles, iron/steel, aluminum, furniture, tyres). Translation: brands need a product identity and data-sharing foundation now. (commission.europa.eu)
EU Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 mandates a Digital Battery Passport from February 18, 2027 for EV, industrial >2kWh, and LMT batteries; access is via QR and includes model-level and per‑battery data tiers. Due‑diligence obligations were postponed to August 18, 2027. (eur-lex.europa.eu)
The U.S. FDA proposed a 30‑month extension for FSMA 204 compliance—moving from January 2026 to July 20, 2028—but retailers like Walmart are still requiring EPCIS/ASN traceability now. (fda.gov)
UFLPA enforcement escalated in 2025, with CBP monthly updates showing thousands of shipments detained and automotive/electronics in the spotlight—raising the bar for upstream traceability evidence. (cbp.gov)
2D barcode “Sunrise 2027”: retailers plan to accept QR/Data Matrix at POS by end of 2027; brands should encode GS1 identifiers (GTIN, lot, expiry) using GS1 Digital Link to unlock DPP/traceability use cases on the same code. (gs1us.org)

Bottom line: regulatory timelines and retailer mandates now align with mature technical standards—making 2025 the right year to start with a standards-first architecture and a thin, interoperable blockchain layer.

Start with standards, not platforms

If you take one thing from this article: choose your data and identity standards first. Your blockchain choices become much easier (and less risky) after.

1) Event data: GS1 EPCIS 2.0 + CBV 2.0

What it is: a shared vocabulary and REST/JSON‑LD API for supply chain events (commission, pack, ship, receive, transform), including IoT sensor telemetry.
Why it matters: delegates bespoke “what data to share” debates to a global standard, accelerates partner onboarding, and interoperates with retailer/regulatory programs.
Practical details: JSON/JSON‑LD, REST OpenAPI, sensor extensions, certification details, and GS1 Digital Link URIs are all part of EPCIS 2.0; normative artefacts and open schemas are publicly available. (gs1.org)

Implementation tip: run an EPCIS repository (commercial or open source like OpenEPCIS CE) as your “source of visibility truth,” then anchor selected evidence on-chain (hashes) to make records tamper-evident. (github.com)

2) Product & location identifiers: GS1 Digital Link + Sunrise 2027

Encode GTIN, lot/serial, expiry into a 2D barcode that resolves to item-specific data and DPP links; plan your POS and packaging updates by 2027. (gs1us.org)

3) Verifiable supplier credentials: W3C VC 2.0 (May 2025 Recommendation)

Use Verifiable Credentials 2.0 for certifications, due‑diligence attestations, or lab test results you must show (or selectively disclose) to auditors and customers without central silos. Revocation/status lists are standardized. (w3.org)

4) Transparency proofs: IETF SCITT (Supply Chain Integrity, Transparency & Trust)

SCITT defines an interoperable “transparency service” for signed statements (e.g., “this lot meets spec X”), enabling cross‑ecosystem verification without forcing everyone on the same chain. The architecture reached IESG processing in 2025. (datatracker.ietf.org)

A modern reference architecture that works

Here’s a minimal, regulator‑ready pattern that avoids lock‑in:

Off‑chain visibility layer: EPCIS 2.0 repository and APIs for event capture/queries across suppliers. (ref.gs1.org)
Digital identity layer: W3C VC 2.0 credentials for supplier audits, certificates (e.g., ISO, organic), UFLPA evidence packets, and lab reports; status lists for revocation. (w3.org)
On‑chain integrity layer:
- Option A (permissioned): Hyperledger Fabric/Besu for private consortia needing strict data locality and custom governance.
- Option B (public + privacy): Ethereum mainnet anchoring with a ZK privacy rollup (e.g., EY Nightfall_4) to prove claims privately while keeping public integrity anchors. EY’s 2025 update moved Nightfall fully to ZK for near‑instant finality. (ey.com)
Transparency service: publish signed “conformance statements” into a SCITT log for independent verification, even by parties outside your primary network. (ietf.org)
Edge capture: GS1 2D codes on items/cases/pallets; optional IoT telemetry attached to events (temperature, shock) via EPCIS sensor extensions. (gs1.org)

Data flow (simplified):

Partners emit EPCIS events with GS1 IDs.
Credentials (VCs) are attached to lots/batches and suppliers.
A hash of each event bundle and credential is anchored to a blockchain (public or permissioned).
A SCITT service publishes signed transparency statements (e.g., “battery passport for serial X,” “leafy greens lot Y meets FSMA KDEs”).
Auditors, customs, or retailers verify via the SCITT log and hash proofs, then fetch details through EPCIS/VC APIs based on authorization.

This balances confidentiality (EPCIS + VCs off-chain) with immutability and independent verifiability (on-chain proofs + SCITT), and it plugs cleanly into DPP and 2D barcode programs.

Regulatory playbooks you can run now

A) EU Digital Battery Passport (Reg. 2023/1542) MVP

Scope: EV, industrial >2kWh, LMT batteries placed on EU market from Feb 18, 2027, with QR‑linked passports and tiered access. (eur-lex.europa.eu)

Minimum data set: model specs, per‑battery data (composition, dismantling info, safety), lifecycle KPIs, access tiers (public, authorities, “legitimate interest”). (eur-lex.europa.eu)
Architecture:
- EPCIS 2.0 for lifecycle and chain‑of‑custody events.
- VC 2.0 credentials for material origin, recycled content, and carbon footprint declarations. (w3.org)
- QR using GS1 Digital Link resolving to a DPP record and verification endpoints. (gs1.org)
- On-chain anchors and SCITT statements for regulator‑verifiable integrity. (ietf.org)
Real‑world signal: Volvo launched an EV battery passport with Circulor in 2024; reported per‑vehicle passport cost ≈ $10, demonstrating viable unit economics. (reuters.com)
Timeline tips: design now; pilot on 1–2 battery models in 2025/early‑2026; scale across portfolio by late 2026 to meet 2027 go‑live.

Note: supply chain due‑diligence for raw materials under the battery regulation is postponed to Aug 18, 2027—still within your scale‑out window. (en.gdestl.com)

B) ESPR Digital Product Passport (DPP) for apparel/textiles

Policy reality: ESPR entered into force July 18, 2024; 2025–2030 working plan adopted in 2025; first delegated acts in 2026; earliest product obligations likely 2027/2028. Prioritized sectors include textiles, iron/steel, aluminum, furniture, tyres. (commission.europa.eu)
Technical spine:
- Serialised product IDs in 2D barcodes with GS1 Digital Link; one code serves POS, consumer info, DPP retrieval. (gs1.org)
- EPCIS 2.0 for manufacturing/transform events and sustainability data attachments. (gs1.org)
- VC 2.0 for certifications (chemicals compliance, labor, recycled content). (w3.org)
- SCITT statements to attest to DPP completeness and versioning. (ietf.org)
Market cue: GS1 UK warns firms risk losing EU trade if they ignore DPP prep; only 16% of surveyed UK leaders felt ready in 2025. (thetimes.co.uk)

C) U.S. food traceability (FSMA 204) under retailer mandates

Even with FDA’s proposed extension to July 20, 2028, major retailers (e.g., Walmart) are enforcing ASN + EPCIS onboarding now, across all food categories (not just the FDA’s FTL list). EPCIS via API is supported. (fda.gov)
Practical pattern: map Critical Tracking Events (CTEs) and Key Data Elements (KDEs) to GS1 identifiers (GTIN, GLN) and EPCIS event fields using GS1 US guidance; emit EPCIS events and share via API. (supplychain.gs1us.org)

Public vs. permissioned: choosing your blockchain

Permissioned (e.g., Hyperledger Fabric/Besu): best for closed groups with strict data locality, contractual governance, and predictable cost. Pros: fine-grained ACLs, performance; cons: limited external verifiability unless you publish hashes elsewhere.
Public + privacy (e.g., Ethereum + Nightfall_4): keep sensitive payloads off‑chain; publish proofs; use zero‑knowledge to transact privately on a public network, gaining auditability and longevity with near‑instant finality per EY’s 2025 upgrade. (ey.com)
Domain-specific ledgers (e.g., Hedera via atma.io): proven at scale for item‑level identities and carbon accounting with tokenization/guardian frameworks; integrates as an optional immutability layer behind your APIs. (rfid.averydennison.com)

Decision rule: prioritize standards compliance and verifiability; treat chains as an integrity layer you can swap without breaking EPCIS/VC/SCITT interfaces.

Privacy, IP, and selective disclosure (without hand‑waving)

Use VCs for supplier documents; share only required fields via Verifiable Presentations; revoke via status lists. (w3.org)
Keep operational data in EPCIS; anchor tamper‑evident hashes on-chain (not the data). (ref.gs1.org)
For public networks, add a ZK rollup (e.g., Nightfall_4) to support private asset movements, attestations, and mass‑balance proofs while retaining auditability. (ey.com)

Implementation roadmaps you can copy

90 days — Discovery to demo

Pick one regulatory driver and one product family (e.g., EV battery pack, leafy greens, or a flagship apparel line).
Stand up an EPCIS 2.0 repository; model 6–10 core event types; capture sensor telemetry if relevant. (ref.gs1.org)
Issue 2–3 Verifiable Credentials (e.g., supplier audit, recycled content, lab test). (w3.org)
Print GS1 Digital Link 2D codes on pilot SKUs. (gs1.org)
Publish SCITT‑style signed statements for auditor replay; anchor event bundle hashes weekly on your chosen chain. (ietf.org)

Success metric: end‑to‑end trace in <3 seconds for a pilot item; QR resolves to a live product dossier; independent verification of statements succeeds.

180 days — Pilot to production

Expand to 25–50 suppliers; automate mappings from ERP/MES/WMS to EPCIS.
Integrate retailer requirements (e.g., EPCIS API or ASN EDI 856 for Walmart) and run recall simulations. (public.walmart.com)
Add privacy: move integrity anchors to a ZK rollup if using public chains. (ey.com)
Start DPP-grade records (textiles/steel) or battery passport fields; validate QR flows. (hoganlovells.com)

365 days — Scale and governance

Formalize consortium governance (access policies, dispute resolution, node ops).
Connect customs/auditors to your verification endpoints (SCITT log + VC verifiers). (ietf.org)
Prepare for Sunrise 2027: certify POS scanners, packaging art, and resolver services for 2D codes. (gs1us.org)

Concrete examples to model

Battery passport unit economics: Reuters reported ~$10 per vehicle to generate the passport for Volvo’s EX90—useful for early cost modeling across a 250k‑unit line. (reuters.com)
Food traceability: Walmart requires EPCIS or ASN data sharing and label standards (SSCC‑18 on pallets, GS1‑128 on cases). If you’re FSMA‑covered, your EPCIS mapping to KDEs/CTEs is largely reusable for retailer programs. (public.walmart.com)
Zero‑knowledge in production: EY OpsChain Traceability on Nightfall uses ZK to keep enterprise data private while transacting and anchoring on Ethereum—an approach that satisfies public verifiability with enterprise confidentiality. (ey.com)

KPIs that matter (tie them to ROI)

Trace time: time to identify origin/transformations for a serial/lot.
Coverage: % of SKUs with EPCIS event chains and 2D codes.
Verification success: % of shipments with valid SCITT statements + VC proofs. (ietf.org)
Detention/release outcomes: for UFLPA‑exposed goods, % of shipments cleared vs. detained; target documented uptick in clearance with stronger upstream evidence. (cbp.gov)
Recall scope reduction: % reduction in units recalled due to lot‑level precision.

Emerging best practices for 2025

Standards-first data model: EPCIS 2.0 + VC 2.0 + GS1 Digital Link; avoid bespoke schemas. (gs1.org)
Thin‑ledger pattern: hashes on-chain, data off‑chain; SCITT transparency for cross‑network verification. (ietf.org)
2D barcode readiness: begin packaging/line trials now to meet the 2027 retail acceptance milestone. (gs1us.org)
Align pilots to near‑term mandates: battery passports (2027), ESPR DPP waves (2027/28), retailer traceability requirements (now), not just the deferred FSMA date (2028). (eur-lex.europa.eu)
Privacy by design: adopt zero‑knowledge rollups (e.g., Nightfall_4) where public verifiability is strategic but confidentiality is mandatory. (ey.com)

Build vs. buy: tools worth evaluating

EPCIS: commercial EPCIS repos or OpenEPCIS CE for a fast start; leverage GS1 artefacts and schemas. (github.com)
Retailer/food: IBM Food Trust modules are still documented and in use; align them (or equivalents) to EPCIS and retailer programs. (ibm.com)
Public+privacy: EY OpsChain Traceability on Nightfall_4 for tokenized assets and private proofs on Ethereum. (ey.com)
Item identity & carbon accounting: atma.io with Hedera anchoring for large‑scale item‑level graphs and emissions. (rfid.averydennison.com)
Materials mass‑balance: SAP GreenToken for tokenization of attributes (ISCC/EUDR/CBAM contexts) with open APIs. (sap.com)

Pick components that natively speak EPCIS/VC/GS1 Digital Link and expose APIs you can test in days, not months.

Common pitfalls (and how to avoid them)

Starting with a “blockchain first” vendor, then discovering partners and regulators require EPCIS/GS1/VC interoperability: lock your data standards first. (gs1.org)
Over‑sharing sensitive data on-chain: keep payloads off‑chain; publish proofs; adopt ZK where needed. (ey.com)
Ignoring 2D barcode packaging/POS impacts until too late: begin line trials and POS scanner upgrades now. (gs1us.org)
Waiting for FSMA 204 final dates: retailers won’t wait; onboarding to EPCIS/ASN flows is already active. (public.walmart.com)

Your first 3 decisions

Choose your primary driver (Battery Passport, ESPR DPP for textiles, UFLPA defense pack, retailer traceability).
Lock your standards (EPCIS 2.0 + GS1 Digital Link + VC 2.0 + SCITT). (gs1.org)
Select a privacy‑appropriate integrity layer (permissioned vs. public+ZK), keeping hash anchoring and SCITT publishing in scope from day one. (ey.com)

How 7Block Labs can help

6–8 week EPCIS/VC blueprint: data model, APIs, and partner onboarding kit.
Pilot accelerators: battery passport and DPP kits (QR/GS1 Digital Link, VC schemas, SCITT statements) aligned to 2027 timelines. (eur-lex.europa.eu)
Privacy overlay: Nightfall‑based anchoring patterns and verification portals for auditors and customs. (ey.com)

If you want a one‑pager plan for your sector, we’ll draft a 90/180/365‑day roadmap with specific KPIs, data sources, and partner asks.

Sources (selected)

EU Battery Regulation 2023/1542 and passport scope/timing. (eur-lex.europa.eu)
ESPR/DPP timelines and 2025 working plan. (commission.europa.eu)
W3C Verifiable Credentials 2.0 (May 15, 2025 Recommendations). (w3.org)
IETF SCITT architecture status (2025). (datatracker.ietf.org)
GS1 EPCIS 2.0 artefacts; GS1 Digital Link; Sunrise 2027. (ref.gs1.org)
FSMA 204 extension proposal and retailer requirements (Walmart). (fda.gov)
UFLPA enforcement trend signals (2025). (cbp.gov)
EY Nightfall_4 (ZK) for enterprise privacy. (ey.com)
Volvo battery passport (cost/timeline). (reuters.com)