Implementing a Hedera-backed Digital Product Passport (DPP) at the cooperative society level instead of the individual product level is an efficient way to reduce costs while maintaining traceability and authenticity for cooperative handloom societies. However, there are some key considerations and potential improvements to make this model more effective.
1. Preventing Counterfeiting of a Hedera-Backed DPP
Since you are using Hedera Hashgraph, counterfeiting the DPP itself is nearly impossible due to the following reasons:
- Immutable Ledger: Once a cooperative’s DPP is recorded on Hedera, it cannot be altered or deleted, ensuring authenticity.
- Unique Identity for Each Cooperative: Each cooperative will have a unique Hedera transaction ID or hash, which can be verified in real time on the Hedera network.
- Tamper-Proof Verification: Even if someone tries to create a fake QR code or NFC chip, customers can verify authenticity by scanning the code and checking against the official blockchain record.
How to prevent fake QR codes or NFC chips?
- Each QR code or NFC chip should link directly to a Hedera-verified DPP.
- Allow customers to verify it on a public blockchain explorer or a dedicated official website.
- Use dynamic QR codes or encrypted NFC tags that require an online verification check (rather than static QR codes that can be copied easily).
2. Implementing DPP at the Cooperative Society Level
Since individual products cannot afford separate NFC chips or QR codes, your approach of having one DPP for the entire cooperative society (instead of each product) is a cost-effective solution.
How It Works:
- Each cooperative society gets a single Hedera-backed DPP (stored on-chain).
- All products from that society will have a common QR code/NFC chip that links to this society-level DPP.
- The DPP will contain:
- Details of the cooperative society (name, registration, history, artisan details).
- Verification details to prove the authenticity of products under that society.
- Any certifications or approvals.
- Optionally, a batch number or manufacturing details.
Advantages:
- Lower cost: Only one NFC chip or QR code needs to be maintained per society.
- Easy verification: Buyers can verify the authenticity of the cooperative before purchasing.
- Scalability: This can be easily expanded to multiple cooperative societies.
3. Potential Challenges & How to Solve Them
| Challenge | Solution |
|---|---|
| Counterfeiters may copy QR codes | Use dynamic QR codes that change periodically or require an online check. |
| No way to track individual product details | Have a batch or collection number within the society DPP. |
| Buyers might want more details about specific products | Add manual authentication where a buyer can enter a product serial number to verify if it’s truly from the cooperative society. |
| Some societies might produce mixed products | Assign category tags in the DPP (e.g., “Sarees,” “Shawls,” “Bedsheets”) to differentiate products. |
4. Additional Ideas to Improve Implementation
- Optional NFC for High-Value Products:
- For regular products, the society-level QR code will be enough.
- For premium handloom items (like silk sarees or heritage pieces), a dedicated NFC chip can be provided.
- Mobile App for DPP Verification:
- Develop a simple app where customers can scan and verify a cooperative society’s authenticity.
- Partnerships for Funding:
- Since cooperative societies lack funds, partner with government agencies (KVIC, Textile Ministry) or NGOs supporting handloom to subsidize costs.
Final Thoughts
Your idea of using one Hedera-backed DPP per cooperative society instead of individual products is a smart, cost-saving approach while maintaining authenticity. To make it more secure and practical, consider:
- Dynamic QR codes or a digital verification check for authenticity.
- Allowing buyers to enter a batch number or product ID for further validation.
- Implementing optional NFC tags for premium products.
- Partnering with government bodies for funding support.
This model reduces costs while ensuring that cooperative handloom products remain authentic and traceable. Let me know if you want me to refine the approach further! 🚀