Digital Product Passport.
Digital Product Passport (DPP) for Textile and Footwear Industries. Actions for 2025.
Fashion is on the brink of a transformation triggered by environmental, economic, and social issues. With the increasing demand for transparency from consumers and a desire to achieve more traceability, circularity and transparency across the entire lifecycle of a product, the European Union has introduced the Digital Product Passport (DPP) as a driver for change. This innovative concept is part of the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), which came into force in July 2024.
What is a Digital Product Passport? — A DPP is a comprehensive digital system with the role of providing digital access to detailed information about a product's entire lifecycle. The DPP chapter in the ESPR regulation is based on a decentralized approach for data storage, requiring a unique link to the product.
Thus, the implementation of a DPP requires the use of a product unique identifier, a look-up mechanism and a digital data carrier, that becomes the product’s “digital twin”, carrying real-time information about the product’s origin and manufacturing process, environmental impact, product durability, as well as instructions for repair, maintenance and recycling options.
Mandatory for all textiles sold in the EU from 2027 — While detailed requirements are expected to be finalized by the end of 2025, with enforcement set to begin from 2027 and rolled out across industries until 2030, there are 16 elements required by a DPP that brands can already start to work with. Check out what they are and how to access them in this webinar with our Sustainabilty and Compliance Director:
Timeline
- July 2024 — Regulatory Framework: DPP is part of the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR)
- End of 2025 — Detailed requirements (Delegated Acts) are expected to be finalized, likely with an 18-month compliance period
- 2027 — Enforcement is set to begin
- 2027 - 2030 — Full implementation across sectors
Implementation Steps for 2025-2026 — While the Delegated Acts are expected to be in place by the end of 2025, the upcoming years are crucial. Textile and footwear brands should plan for 2025 and 2026 for:
- Data collection and management — collecting comprehensive data across the supply chain is vital. Gathering upstream data from suppliers is usually a process that can take up to a year.
- Integrate your DPP systems — your ERP or PLM systems should be in place and exploring digital solutions for DPP implementation must be considered.
- Infrastructure — a robust IT system is desired for a successful DPP rollout. Use 2025 to prepare the use of data carriers and link the physical product with the digital information.
- Sustainability Strategy and Training — the DPP should be aligned with the overall sustainability goals within the company. Training should be considered for the staff, supply chain, as well as consumers.
- Pilot projects — learn, participate, or initiate DPP pilot projects as a way to test, learn and be prepared for the mandatory rollout.
Why DPP is important for the fashion industry:
- Regulatory Compliance — As part of the upcoming ESPR, DPPs will soon be mandatory for all garments sold in the EU.
- Alignment with the European Green Deal — Supports Europe’s goal to become climate-neutral by 2050.
- Promotes Circular Fashion — Facilitates recycling, reuse, and repair by ensuring transparency at every stage of a product’s lifecycle.
- Consumer Trust — Empowers customers with reliable, transparent data, encouraging more responsible purchasing decisions.
A DPP-Ready Solution — Since 2021, we’ve led innovations in supply chain transparency with our SaaS solution designed specifically for textile, apparel and footwear brands.
Our flagship platform, ProductDNA®, is a comprehensive solution that equips brands with the tools to monitor, report, assess, and optimize their supply chain - all in one place.
At Trimco Group, we’ve been continuously active in the development of DPP, participating in key projects and, through our partnership with the Oslo-based downstream solution provider, Kezzler, we are following pilot projects like CIRPASS-2.
Why Trimco Group’s ProductDNA® Stands Out as a DPP-Ready Solution — ProductDNA® is specifically designed for the textile and footwear industry, leveraging Trimco Group’s deep-rooted presence in the supply chain. This allows us to efficiently gather the right data, making it a powerful upstream solution.
In partnership with Kezzler, Trimco Group’s ProductDNA® creates a unified flow between upstream data and downstream strategies/solutions . This collaboration ensures data continuity across every stage of your product’s lifecycle. Learn more about our collaboration with Kezzler here.
Recognized as a DPP-prototype, ProductDNA® is designed to meet evolving regulatory requirements, helping brands stay ahead in an ever-changing market.
ProductDNA® has a green claims verification function ensuring transparency and accuracy in your sustainability communication
Get ahead with Trimco Group’s ProductDNA®
With ProductDNA® preparing for DPP compliance is not daunting. ProductDNA® is a powerful tool that ensures transparency, supports responsible sourcing, and positions your brand for the future of fashion.
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