The European Union (EU) has entered a new phase in the implementation of the Digital Product Passport (DPP), one of the key elements of its sustainable product policy framework. On July 20, the European Commission announced the launch of the Digital Product Passport Registry. With this step, the registration infrastructure for Digital Product Passports to be implemented across different product groups in the future has been put into operation.
However, the Digital Product Passport application has not yet started for the textile and apparel sectors. According to the roadmap published by the European Commission, the delegated act for the textile sector is planned to be adopted in the fourth quarter of 2027. The regulation will define the scope of products covered, the information to be included in the passport and sector-specific technical requirements.
A digital identity for every product
The Digital Product Passport aims to make information on product sustainability, circularity, value retention and relevant legal requirements digitally accessible. This information will be accessible through a QR code or another type of data carrier. The system is designed to support information sharing according to the needs of different user groups, including consumers, producers, customs authorities and market surveillance authorities.
According to the European Commission, the Digital Product Passport Registry will not centrally store product-related information. Instead, the system will maintain the unique identifiers of each product passport and the registration information required to access the relevant passports.
Textile among the EU’s priority sectors
Textile and apparel are among the priority product groups within the European Union’s Digital Product Passport framework. The European Commission considers the textile sector a priority area in the transition towards a circular economy due to its high resource consumption and environmental impact. In this context, the Digital Product Passport is expected to support more transparent sharing of information on product composition, sustainability performance and compliance with regulatory requirements.
This development is also significant for Türkiye. The EU has long been the largest export market for Türkiye’s textile and apparel industry. Therefore, new product requirements introduced in the EU are closely monitored by Turkish manufacturers, particularly those exporting to the European market. Once sector-specific Digital Product Passport rules are finalized, textile products placed on the EU market will be expected to meet new transparency, traceability and regulatory compliance requirements.
Is digital product passport an opportunity for Turkish apparel industry?
