Can businesses apply blockchain technology or QR codes to enhance the transparency of the MRV process?

Businesses can leverage blockchain technology and QR codes to significantly enhance the transparency, accuracy, and efficiency of the MRV (Measurement, Reporting, and Verification) process. These technologies are increasingly being applied to build trust and automate data management in the field of sustainable development.

Blockchain for data integrity and automation

Blockchain technology offers immense potential for digitizing and securing climate-related data. As highlighted in reports by the World Bank and academic research, blockchain enables the creation of a distributed, immutable ledger.102 103 This system allows MRV data to be recorded, verified, and shared in near real-time with high security, making it resistant to tampering.

Key applications include:

Automated MRV

When integrated with Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, smart contracts on a blockchain can automatically trigger data recording. For instance, a sensor detecting that an emission reduction activity has met a pre-defined standard could automatically execute a transaction to log the corresponding carbon data.

Transparent carbon markets

Blockchain is being used to build more transparent carbon credit markets. Each carbon credit can be "tokenized" as a unique digital asset, with its entire lifecycle from issuance to retirement, publicly recorded and auditable on the blockchain. This minimizes the risk of double-counting and enhances the credibility of carbon claims. A notable example is the Open Forest Protocol, an on-chain MRV platform for forestry projects.104

QR Codes for consumer-facing transparency

While blockchain secures back-end data, QR codes serve as a powerful bridge connecting that data to end-users and consumers. By scanning a QR code on a product's packaging, consumers can instantly access information about its production process, carbon footprint, and supply chain journey.

Prominent initiatives include:

Supply chain traceability

The OpenSC platform, co-founded by WWF and Boston Consulting Group, combines blockchain with QR codes to bring transparency to food supply chains, allowing consumers to trace a product's journey from origin to retail.105 In Vietnam, a UNDP-supported project has applied QR codes to agricultural products like mangoes and dragon fruits to display traceability information and carbon footprint data.106

Circular economy

Research has demonstrated how combining QR codes and blockchain can track the entire lifecycle of products like PET plastic bottles, providing verifiable data on production dates and recycling rates.107

Digital Product Passports (DPP)

The European Union is implementing the DPP, which will require products in certain sectors (like textiles and electronics) to feature a QR code or similar data carrier. This will provide consumers with detailed information on materials, origin, repairability, and recycling, with brands like Kappahl and Marimekko already piloting solutions.108

By integrating blockchain and QR codes, businesses can not only improve their internal GHG management efficiency but also build significant trust with partners, customers, and regulators. This technological adoption is a strategic step toward preparing for modern carbon market mechanisms and demonstrating a credible commitment to sustainability.

References

102. Dong, X., et al. (2018). Blockchain and emerging digital technologies for enhancing post-2020 climate markets (English). World Bank Group. http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/942981521464296927
103. Woo, J., et al. (2021). Applying blockchain technology for building energy performance measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) and the carbon credit market: A review of the literature*. Building and Environment*, 205, 108199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2021.108199
104. Open Forest Protocol. (n.d.). How blockchain will open a new standard for carbon credits. Open Forest Protocol. https://www.openforestprotocol.org/blog/how-blockchain-will-open-a-new-standard-for-carbon-credits
105. OpenSC - Home. (n.d.). OpenSC. https://opensc.org/
106. UNDP. (n.d.). E-Traceability: A transformative step towards climate-responsible agriculture. UNDP. https://www.undp.org/vietnam/news/e-traceability-transformative-step-towards-climate-responsible-agriculture
107. Gazeau, B., Zaman, A., Minunno, R., & Shaikh, F. (2024). Developing Traceability Systems for Effective Circular Economy of Plastic: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Sustainability, 16(22), 9973. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16229973
108. Data.Europa.Eu. (2025, February 13). EU’s Digital Product Passport: Advancing transparency and sustainability. data.europa.eu. https://data.europa.eu/en/news-events/news/eus-digital-product-passport-advancing-transparency-and-sustainability