What is the Digital Product Passport (DPP)?

The Digital Product Passport is like a digital identity card for textile products. It contains detailed and precise information on every phase of a product’s life, from raw material production to final disposal. This passport collects data on the origin of materials, production processes, working conditions, sustainability certifications, technical specifications, and recycling instructions.

Who is it For?

The DPP is a valuable tool for various actors in the textile sector:

• Consumers: Allows more informed purchasing decisions by guaranteeing transparency about the origin and sustainability of products.
• Companies: Businesses can improve supply chain management, reduce reputational risks, and demonstrate their commitment to sustainable practices.
• Regulators and Certification Organizations: Facilitate the verification of compliance with environmental and social certifications and regulations.
• Recyclers and Waste Managers: Provides critical information to improve recycling efficiency and reduce environmental impact.

How is a DPP Developed?

The creation of a DPP requires collaboration from all actors involved in the supply chain. Key steps include:

1. Data Collection: Every phase of production, from raw material extraction to distribution, must be documented. This includes information on suppliers, production methods, working conditions, and certifications obtained.
2. Digitalization: Collected data is digitalized and organized in a standardized format, often using technologies like blockchain to ensure information security and immutability.
3. Integration: The DPP is integrated into company systems and made accessible through QR codes or RFID, allowing easy consultation by consumers, regulators, and other stakeholders.
4. Continuous Updating: The passport must be continuously updated to reflect any changes in production, certifications, or recycling processes.

Benefits of the DPP in the Textile Sector

• Transparency: Increases transparency along the entire supply chain, reducing the risk of fraud and increasing consumer trust.
• Sustainability: Promotes sustainable practices by facilitating the monitoring of the environmental and social impact of products.
• Efficiency: Improves operational efficiency by enabling more effective supply chain management and reducing waste.
• Compliance: Helps companies comply with international standards and regulations, avoiding sanctions and improving their market reputation.

The Digital Product Passport represents a significant step forward towards a more transparent 🔍 and sustainable 🌱 future for the textile sector. Implementing a DPP not only offers competitive advantages to companies 🏢 but also contributes to a more equitable ⚖️ and responsible economic system. Adopting this technology means committing to positive change 🌟 where traceability and transparency become fundamental pillars of business.

To remain competitive and responsible, it is essential that companies in the textile sector start exploring and implementing the Digital Product Passport. Only in this way can they effectively respond to the growing demands for sustainability 🌍 and transparency 🔍 from consumers 🛍️ and global regulations. 📜

Alessia Biondo

Circular Team

References

• European Commission. (2020). “The European Green Deal.”
• UNECE. (2021). “The Sustainability Pledge: Transparency and Traceability for Sustainable Garment and Footwear.”
• International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF). (2021). “International Textile Machinery Shipment Statistics.”
• European Apparel and Textile Confederation (EURATEX). (2022). “Annual Report 2022: Towards a Circular Economy in the European Textile Industry.”