Digital Product Passport: Your Complete Guide
How PLM systems help fashion brands organize and structure the data required for EU compliance. Everything you need to know about the DPP and how to prepare.
What is the Digital Product Passport?
The Digital Product Passport (DPP) is a digital record accessible via QR codes on product labels that provides comprehensive information about a product's lifecycle. It's part of the EU's Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), which became law in June 2024.
For fashion and textile brands selling in the EU, the DPP will be mandatory starting in 2027. It requires brands to collect, structure, and share detailed information about materials, environmental impact, supply chain, and more.
The goal: enable consumers, recyclers, and regulators to make informed decisions and support the circular economy. The challenge: collecting and organizing 16+ categories of product data across your entire supply chain.
for basic DPP
required per product
after delegated act
product label
Why start now? The data you collect from the start of 2025 is the data you'll report on in 2027. Waiting until late 2025 leaves limited time to gather and clean upstream data—a process that typically takes at least 12 months.
Key Dates & Timeline
The ESPR Working Plan prioritizes textiles and apparel for early implementation. Here's what brands need to know:
| Date | Milestone | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| June 2024 | ESPR Framework Approved | Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation becomes EU law |
| Late 2025 | DPP Registry Regulations | Rules for service providers, product identifiers, and data carriers finalized |
| 2026 | Textiles Delegated Act | Industry-specific requirements for fashion and apparel published |
| 2027 | Textiles DPP Required | Minimal DPP with mandatory product info and environmental impact |
| 2030 | Advanced DPP Required | Comprehensive lifecycle information across all stakeholders |
Note: After the delegated act for textiles is published (expected 2026), fashion brands have at least 18 months to implement. However, this is not the time to start—it's the deadline to finish.
Required Data Categories
The DPP requires comprehensive information across 16+ categories. This data must be transparent for regulators and accessible to consumers via scannable QR codes.
| Category | What's Required | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Product Identification | Name, model, batch number, manufacturing date, warranty details | Required |
| Material Composition | Raw material origins, percentages, treatment details | Required |
| Carbon Footprint | Emissions across production and use phases (Scope 1, 2, 3) | Required |
| Supply Chain Traceability | Supplier information through all production stages | Required |
| Durability Information | Expected lifespan, care instructions, quality grades | Required |
| Repairability Data | Repair events, replacement components, service availability | Required |
| Recycled Content | Percentage of recycled materials used in production | Required |
| Recyclability | End-of-life recycling instructions and material separation | Required |
| Chemical Compliance | REACH compliance, hazardous substance declarations | Required |
| Water Consumption | Water usage across manufacturing processes | Required |
| Social & Labor Conditions | Working conditions, certifications, audit results | Required |
| Animal Welfare | Certifications for leather, wool, down (where applicable) | Conditional |
| Certifications | OEKO-TEX, GOTS, GRS, and other relevant certifications | Required |
| Life Cycle Assessment | Full environmental impact assessment results | Required |
| Transportation Data | Shipping methods, distances, and related emissions | Required |
| Ownership Records | Transfer history for resale and second-hand markets | Required |
The challenge: Most of this data lives in spreadsheets, emails, and supplier folders—not in a structured format that can be shared digitally. This is where PLM becomes essential.
How PLM Systems Enable DPP Compliance
Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software is the operational foundation for DPP compliance. It centralizes the engineering, materials, and supply chain information needed to create verified, shareable product records.
Without a PLM system, brands face manual data collection across dozens of spreadsheets, inconsistent supplier information, and no clear audit trail. With PLM, you have a single source of truth that maps directly to DPP requirements.
Key PLM Capabilities for DPP
Centralized Data Repository
Single source of truth for all product information, eliminating scattered spreadsheets and siloed data.
Material & Supplier Traceability
Track every component from raw material to finished product with full supplier visibility.
BOM Management
Detailed Bills of Materials with composition percentages, origins, and certifications.
Sustainability Integration
Connect to carbon calculators, LCA tools, and ESG reporting platforms.
Automated Data Collection
Workflows that gather required information from suppliers without manual chasing.
Data Carrier Generation
Create QR codes and NFC tags linked to your digital product records.
Supplier Portal
Give suppliers access to submit certifications, test results, and compliance data.
Audit Trail
Complete history of changes for regulatory verification and transparency.
Integration is key: Your PLM should connect to ERP systems for production data, sustainability platforms for carbon calculations, and PIM systems for consumer-facing information. The DPP requires data from across your business—not just product development.
8-Step Preparation Checklist
Use 2025 to build your data infrastructure. Here's how to prepare:
- Step 1: Centralize all product information in your PLM system
- Step 2: Align suppliers on data requirements and collection processes
- Step 3: Run structured data audits to identify information gaps
- Step 4: Upgrade data carriers (QR codes, NFC chips, RFID tags)
- Step 5: Define repair and ownership record processes
- Step 6: Prepare sustainability datasets for carbon and emissions
- Step 7: Pilot the workflow with one product line before scaling
- Step 8: Monitor delegated acts for sector-specific requirement updates
Pro tip: Start with your most complex product category. If you can collect complete data for that line, simpler products will follow the same process.
Common Challenges & Solutions
Preparing for DPP compliance isn't without obstacles. Here's how to address the most common challenges:
Incomplete Supplier Data
Start supplier onboarding now. Use your PLM's supplier portal to standardize data collection with clear templates and deadlines.
System Integration
Choose a PLM that integrates with your existing ERP, sustainability tools, and e-commerce platforms via APIs.
Implementation Cost
Modern cloud PLM solutions start at affordable monthly rates. The cost of non-compliance (fines, market exclusion) far exceeds investment.
Timeline Pressure
Begin data collection in 2025. The data you gather now is what you'll report on in 2027. Don't wait for the delegated act.
The Bottom Line
Start Preparing Now If:
- You sell textiles or apparel in the EU market
- Your supplier data is scattered across spreadsheets
- You don't have a centralized product data system
- You want to avoid rushing implementation in 2026
- You see sustainability as a competitive advantage
Key Takeaways
- 2027 deadline: Textiles DPP becomes mandatory
- 16+ data categories: From materials to carbon to labor
- PLM is essential: No way to comply with spreadsheets
- Start now: Data collection takes 12+ months
- Penalties for non-compliance: Fines and market exclusion
Prepare Your Brand for DPP Compliance
Kobo PLM helps fashion brands centralize product data, track materials and suppliers, and build the data infrastructure needed for Digital Product Passport compliance.
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