Apr 7, 2025
Digital Product Passport and fashion: a new tool for transparency and sustainability that enhances traceability and environmental responsibility.
In recent years, the European Union has launched a series of initiatives aimed at strengthening sustainability and responsible production. In March 2020, the European Commission introduced an extensive package of measures for the revision of the product ecodesign framework, placing emphasis on durability, reparability, and recyclability. The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) entered into force on 18 July 2024 and constitutes a legislative instrument for the transition to a market based on circularity and transparency. Within this framework, the Digital Product Passport (DPP) is also included.
The DPP functions as a digital twin of the physical product, designed to enhance transparency by providing a wide range of data, including technical specifications and information relating to: (a) the origin of the product, (b) the materials used, (c) the presence of hazardous substances, (d) compliance certifications, and (e) the environmental impact, as well as disposal instructions. The digital twin is linked to the physical product through technologies such as QR codes, RFID, or even NFC.
Access to the data contained in the Digital Product Passport is granted to consumers, market operators, and competent supervisory authorities, contributing to enhanced transparency throughout the entire supply chain. At the same time, it facilitates compliance with key regulatory requirements, such as those set out in the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR).
The objective of the DPP is to promote sustainability and innovation by reducing resource waste and supporting the recycling and reuse of materials. In fact, its adoption constitutes a strategic choice for addressing the phenomenon of «greenwashing»* and facilitating the transition to an economy in which consumers have full and well-documented information about the products they purchase.
The implementation of the DPP will begin in 2026, with a gradual expansion across all sectors by 2030, as provided for in the ESPR. Specific requirements and deadlines will vary depending on the product category.
In the initial phase, the DPP will be mandatory for product categories with the highest environmental impact, including fashion products, particularly those falling under the textile industry.
The fashion sector has already begun to adopt the DPP model as a means of ensuring traceability throughout the supply chain and demonstrating both social and environmental responsibility. It also serves as a tool for strengthening consumer trust, particularly among a public that is increasingly environmentally aware and conscientious and which is steadily turning toward choices that align with the principles of sustainable fashion.
Labelling of clothing and textile products is already mandatory under various European and international legal frameworks. In fact, the physical label remains the most direct and effective means by which the consumer can receive concise and essential information regarding the key characteristics of the product.
In conclusion, the Digital Product Passport (DPP) constitutes a significant step towards the integration of sustainability with technological advancement and legal compliance in the European market. It represents an innovation that extends beyond technical or environmental dimensions, contributing also to the enhancement of trust among producers, consumers, and institutional stakeholders.
The gradual implementation of the DPP is expected to transform key sectors of the market — with fashion and textile products being among the first and most environmentally sensitive industries to be incorporated into this new framework.
Adapting to this new reality is not merely a legal obligation, but also an opportunity to promote responsible business practices, reinforce transparency, and establish long-term relationships of trust in the market — particularly in the fashion industry, which is and remains one of the most significant industrial sectors.
Greenwashing: the practice whereby a business falsely or misleadingly presents its products, services, or overall operations as environmentally friendly, sustainable, or ecologically responsible, without such claims being substantiated in practice.
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