PwC, Merck, and Hashgraph Group Pilot Cocoa Traceability System

The Hashgraph Group, together with Merck and supported by PwC Germany’s consulting and implementation services, is piloting a cocoa traceability solution. The solution combines Merck’s M-Trust physical authentication technology with a TrackTrace digital product passport platform built on the Hedera network, aiming to verify cocoa’s origin, authenticity, quality, recall needs, and compliance data from farm to consumer. Cocoa is one of seven commodities covered by the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). Following a further deferral agreed in December 2025, large operators and traders must comply by December 30, 2026, while micro and small operators have until June 30, 2027. The initiative also aligns with the direction of digital product passports under the EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), although food and feed are currently explicitly excluded from ESPR’s scope; for cocoa, EUDR due diligence remains the near-term binding requirement. Partners say the architecture is not limited to cocoa and could be expanded in the future to pharmaceuticals, luxury goods, and industrial components. Husen Kapasi, head of enterprise blockchain at PwC Germany, noted that the solution offers verifiability and can play a key role in food recalls and compliance investigations.