The Turkish apparel industry continues its preparations for the digital product passport, which will become mandatory for textile products next year under the European Union’s (EU) sustainable economy policies. The system, which records a product’s journey from field to shelf through digital data sets, is considered likely to be rapidly adopted in Türkiye thanks to the sector’s strong adaptation capability. At the same time, industry representatives emphasize the importance of strategy and preparation efforts.
“We will gain an advantage over our Far East competitors”
Çağlar Bağcı, President of the Aegean Apparel Exporters Association (EHKİB), said in a statement to Anadolu Ajansı that, contrary to expectations, the digital product passport represents an advantage for the Turkish apparel industry.
“Because while adaptation by the Turkish apparel industry is relatively easy, it will be more difficult for our competitors such as the Far East countries, Bangladesh, Vietnam and China to adapt. Therefore, what appears to be a disadvantage for us today will, thanks to our industry’s adaptability, turn into an advantage in the future in terms of exports and reaching customers,” said Bağcı, adding that companies unable to adapt would naturally suffer losses, but that efforts are continuing to prevent this.
Bağcı noted that manufacturers are being informed through training sessions and seminars, saying that they are carrying out a project within the scope of Supporting the Development of International Competitiveness (UR-GE).
Bağcı also highlighted the following details regarding the digital product passport implementation: “If manufacturing companies cannot provide the product passport, additional taxes will be imposed by the European Union. It will not mean being unable to pass through customs, but companies will face additional taxes and extra costs. Naturally, this will prevent them from offering their products to the market in a competitive way. No company without this product passport will be able to survive in the market in the medium term. Large companies and major buyers will implement this first. Then, over the years, it will gradually spread downward according to scale, and within the next 3-5 years it will be fully adopted across the entire sector.”
“The industry is not yet fully ready for the digital product passport”
Yasin Akçakaya, President of the Aegean Clothing Manufacturers Association, stated that the industry is not yet fully ready for the digital product passport, although software infrastructure is developing rapidly.
Stressing the critical importance of bringing every stage of production processes under control, Akçakaya said, “The industry needs to take this path into consideration as soon as possible and determine its strategy.”
Digital product passport expert Bekam Örün also emphasized the technical requirements of the implementation, stating that the system, which will reveal a product’s entire production history, is no longer a choice but a necessity.