Peer Ledger on “tipping point” of great things
Technology that takes supply chain tracking to another level
It was an unexpected early-stage breast cancer diagnosis that reshaped Dawn Jutla’s perspective as a business owner.
The CEO of Peer Ledger, incorporated in 2016, is dedicated to providing a comprehensive Digital Product Passport (DPP) software platform. This software enables businesses to track, trace, and add transparency about the sustainability of materials used in their products throughout the supply chain, including carbon footprints, recyclability, and concentrations of substances of concern used in products. The ability of the software to protect human and environmental health is important to Dr. Jutla.
She had just approached the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) with a funding application when she learned of her diagnosis in 2018. Speculating this may undermine her entrepreneurial journey, what she received instead was belief in her company’s potential, and an offer to fund a co-CEO who could continue her company’s growth while she underwent successful treatment.
BUSINESS THAT MATTERS
Candidly, the CEO shared the experience increased her resiliency as a leader. Additionally, she hoped to demonstrate to women and others that a daunting medical situation doesn’t have to shatter their aspirations. To the contrary, Dr. Jutla’s experiences have intensified her commitment to ethical and environmental supply chain solutions, aiming to empower consumers with the product information they need to make safe purchasing decisions.
“Our company is driven by a big, shared vision for a healthier population and environment through safer products with low emission supply chains,” explained Dr. Jutla. “Digital Product Passports help obtain and combine product information in one place, a digital label accessible via QR code scans, for businesses to revolutionize communication with customers, suppliers, recyclers, waste disposers, and regulators. Additionally, our platform’s patented process controls assure high accuracy of the data on products’ digital labels.”
The company has worked with several well-known corporations, including Apple and the Merck Group in Germany, as well as Government of Canada departments and small and medium enterprises.
Through this growth process, Dr. Jutla says ACOA, which she referred to as an “Agency with heart and soul,” provided expertise and funding that have been instrumental in the company’s product improvements, marketing, and business planning.
Now Peer Ledger, which currently employs 20 people, is positioned to take advantage of increasing market shares in the European Union (EU) and United States. The US Food and Drug Administration has a rule requiring additional traceability records for certain foods, which goes into effect in January 2026. The EU will mandate digital product passports for products shipped to and within the EU as early as 2026 as part of its European Green Deal.
“I believe we’ve thrived because we are strong collaborative innovators. For years industry was not ready for extended supply chain traceability and transparency, but that is changing rapidly. For the first time, companies get an effective approach to obtain and share accurate and near-real-time sustainability data on their products. Our hard work is starting to pay off.”