Background: Filtration and nonwoven value chains are moving toward circular materials and reliable sustainability reporting. Industry discussions now treat CSRD/ESRS and product metrics (PCF/LCA/EPD) as management tools, while maintaining strict safety and performance standards for technical uses.

Aim & Method: The objective is to develop a traceability and data-assurance system that links circularity strategies for filtration media to verifiable, audit-proof sustainability data by leveraging SMX’s molecular marker, reader, and secure digital record platform. This methodology integrates policy, data, and performance requirements with evidentiary needs, such as claim-to-proof registers, batch traceability, and chain-of-custody controls, establishing a robust physical–digital workflow. An invisible chemical marker is introduced upstream, detected non-destructively, and securely logged, ensuring comprehensive provenance and transformation history. CETI serves as an independent partner, evaluating marker compatibility, verifying post-processing detectability, and developing measurement protocols that bolster downstream claims within a strong data governance structure.

Main results: The framework addresses issues in sustainability claims for nonwovens and filtration—such as vague definitions, traceability gaps, and weak evidence—by linking materials to reported information using product-embedded identifiers...