Digital Product Passport arrives: we show you how it will be applied in the fashion industry
Did you know that only in Europe, each person generates an average of almost 20 kilos of textile waste per year? This figure shows that it is essential to commit to a circular and sustainable model. And the European Union has already taken action.
We show you what the Digital Product Passport is and how it will help the fashion and textile industry.

Sustainability in the fashion sector
Fashion industry is booming. And it has become one of the most prosperous sectors of the economic fabric. In fact, in Spain, it accounts for 2.8% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and currently employs more than 150.000 people. These figures make fashion one of the most important economic and business axes in our country.
But what is beyond that, and what are the medium and, above all, long-term prospects?
The answers to these questions are conditioned by care for the environment. A commitment with which more and more people feel identified and are looking for ways to do their bit to create a more sustainable planet. And fashion has joined this cause.
More and more companies are moving away from low-quality products with a short life span, from the use of chemical products that are harmful to the environment, from long-distance transport and, in short, from all those activities that have a devastating impact on our planet.
This is why the European Union has taken a decision that is in line with the ethical principles of sustainability. Introducing the Digital Product Passport.
The Digital Product Passport, the circularity revolution.
With the aim of combating pollution and creating a more sustainable world, in December 2019 the European Commission launched the European Green Pact. This agreement consists of a package of policy initiatives whose main objective is to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 through a series of measures aimed at the ecological transition.
One of these measures is the ESPR Proposal, which defines the concept of the Digital Product Passport (DDP) as a digital tool that will allow tracking throughout the life cycle of a product. The DDP will store information about a product such as its origin, the materials used in its manufacture, its possible repairs and, finally, whether it is recycled or disposed of.
This new tool will be seen mainly in several key sectors, such as electronics, vehicles, plastics, construction, furniture, chemicals and, of course, textiles.
But how is this Digital Product Passport going to work? The whole process may seem very complex, but here we will show you the key aspects of how it will be developed:
- It will use a digital infrastructure, such as blockchain technology, which will make it possible to securely record all relevant information about a product throughout its life.
- It will have an identifier, which will be used to individually track which process the product is in.
- It will update product information, such as its origin, manufacturing materials, maintenance, repair or recycling.
- It will allow access to its information to all those involved in the product's life cycle, such as consumers or manufacturers, through a QR code or barcode.
In the fashion world, having a tool such as the Digital Product Passport can be the key to a sustainable world. And we are going to show you how.
The application of the Digital Product Passport in the fashion sector.
According to a study, an estimated 80.ooo to 150.000 million of new items of clothing are produced each year. This information shows that as the number of textile products in the world increases, the potential for creating waste also increases, causing serious damage to our environment and making this sector the second most polluting industry in the world, behind only the oil industry.
The Digital Product Passport is a digital tool that will allow tracking throughout the life cycle of a product.
Therefore, incorporating the Digital Product Passport in this sector can mean a wide range of opportunities for the fashion industry, such as:
- Optimising the supply chain, knowing how the manufacturing and logistics process of a product has been, thus facilitating its maintenance.
- Protecting consumers by providing clear information on the origin of products and combating counterfeiting to reinforce consumer confidence.
- Promote sustainability by providing consumers with the necessary information to identify these products and contributing to the development of these practices.
- Promote new business opportunities, such as the circular economy to give products a new life in a responsible and safe way for all involved.
At the moment, no exact date has been specified for the entry into force of this tool, although it is estimated that it will start to be used in 2026. This new regulation will apply to products circulating in the European Union, both manufactured within its borders and imported from other regions and will be an opportunity to promote sustainability and continue to make our world a better place.
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