Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The RBTP Knowledge Base is evolving weekly as part of our pilot programs with RBA members. We’d love your input — submit feedback or help shape the protocol in real time by joining a pilot.
What is UNTP?
The UNTP provides a solution to the transparency challenges facing the world's supply chains. By implementing a simple protocol that can be supported by existing business systems, stakeholders will realise immediate benefits and will become visible contributors to the sustainability of global supply chains.
The RBTP leverages the UNTP as a foundation for establishing global transparency standards and facilitates n-tier traceability through secure and verifiable credential exchanges.
What is Responsible Business Transparency - RBTP?
The Responsible Business Transparency Protocol is an initiative being implemented by RBA to improve n-tier traceability and simplify supply chain compliance for its members. Based on the United Nations Transparency Protocol (UNTP), the RBTP facilitates secure and verifiable credential exchange across global supply chains.
What is Digital Product Passport - DPP?
The Digital Product Passport is a document issued by the producer of goods that carries essential product and sustainability information for each serialised product item (or batch) shipped through the value chain. Designed to be simple and lightweight, the DPP holds the minimum necessary data at the level of detail required by the receiver of goods. It also contains links to conformity credentials that provides validation of the claims made in the passport. Additionally, the DPP can include links to traceability events, allowing for a connected data trail (subject to confidentiality restrictions) from the finished product back to its raw material.
What is Digital Traceability Event - DTE?
The Digital traceability Events are collections of identifiers that specify the “what, when, where, why and how” of the products and facilities that constitute a value chain.
What is Digital Conformity Credential - DCC?
The Digital Conformity Credential is a digital document that verifies a product's or facility's conformity to certain standards or regulations.
What is Digital Identity Anchor - DIA?
The Digital Identity Anchor provides a simple means to verify the identity of UNTP credential issuers. The Digital Identity Anchor is a credential that is issued by a trusted authority and asserts an equivalence between a member identity as known to the authority and one or more decentralised identifiers (DIDs) held by the member.
What is Digital Facility Record - DFR?
The Digital Facility Record is issued by the owner or operator of a production or manufacturing facility and is the carrier of facility data and sustainability information for an identified facility in the value chain.
What is a Reference Implementation - RI?
A Reference Implementation is a suite of tools used to simulate how a UNTP solution would work in the supply chain of a given industry. It is used to demonstrate traceability, interoperability and scalability using the specifications of the United Nations Transparency Protocol.
What is a Verifiable Credential - VC?
A Verifiable Credential is a tamper-evident credential whose authorship can be cryptographically verified. Verifiable credentials can be used to build verifiable presentations, which can also be cryptographically verifiable.
What are Conformity Credentials?
Conformity credentials are usually issued by independent parties and provide a trusted assessment of product ESG performance against credible standards or regulations.
What is Responsible Minerals Initiative Credential - RMIC?
The RMIC is a reference implementation component that demonstrates how the Responsible Minerals Initiative credentials are mapped to UNTP as part of the RBTP.
What is Responsible Factory Initiative Credential - RFIC?
The RFIC is a reference implementation component that demonstrates how the Responsible Factories Initiative credentials are mapped to UNTP as part of the RBTP.
What is Responsible Environment Initiative Credential - REIC?
The REIC is a reference implementation component that demonstrates how the Responsible Environment Initiative credentials are mapped to UNTP as part of the RBTP.
What is Responsible Labor Initiative Credential - RLIC?
The RLIC is a reference implementation component that demonstrates how the Responsible Labor Initiative credentials are mapped to UNTP as part of the RBTP.
What is Responsible Business Alliance - RBA?
Responsible Business Alliance is the world's largest industry coalition dedicated to responsible business conduct in global supply chains. The RBA works to drive sustainable value for workers, the environment and business throughout the global supply chain. Through its Code of Conduct, members commit to upholding high standards in labor rights, health and safety, environmental responsibility, ethics, and management systems.
What is Digital Battery Passport - DBP?
Digital Battery Passport is designed to meet RBA members' needs and comply with emerging EU standards.
What is Electrical Facility Record - EFR?
Electrical Facility Record is a digital record detailing the sustainability performance of manufacturing facilities in the electrical and electronic sectors.
What is Responsible Minerals Assurance Process - RMAP?
Responsible Minerals Assurance Process is a program that helps companies to make informed choices about responsibly sourced minerals in their supply chains.
What is Responsible Business Transparency Protocol - RBTP?
Responsible Business Transparency Protocol is a set of guidelines or standards that promote transparency in business operations, particularly concerning how companies disclose their practices and impact on various stakeholders. This can include environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors, as well as financial transparency, labor practices, and sustainability efforts.
What is Open Supply Hub - OSH?
Open Supply Hub is a global platform dedicated to enhancing transparency and sustainability in supply chains, especially within industries such as apparel, textiles, and manufacturing. The platform acts as a resource for businesses and organizations to exchange supply chain data, with a strong focus on encouraging ethical sourcing and social responsibility.
What is ESG?
Environmental, Social, and Governance, is a framework used to assess a company's sustainability and ethical impact, including its environmental impact, social responsibility, and governance practices.
What is Validated Assessment Program - VAP?
Validated Assessment Program is the leading standard for onsite compliance verification and effective, shareable assessments conducted by independent, third-party firms.