The EU Digital Product Passport (DPP): ALL you need to know

EU moves closer to DPP enforcement as the DPP Registry goes live

The EU Digital Product Passport (DPP) is a digital record detailing the environmental impact of a product throughout its lifecycle.

Key Takeaways:

• The EU requirement for Digital Product Passports places significant technical and data demands across multiple industries, particularly those with significant environmental impacts such as the textile industry.  Meeting these demands will require time and investment, so companies need to prepare now.
• DPPs are set to roll out between 2026 and 2030. 
• It is anticipated that textiles will be one of the first products to need DPPs. The European Commission plans to publish the specific rules for textiles in the second half of 2027. Businesses are then expected to have at least 18 months to prepare before the new requirements come into effect.
• Gain an understanding of what you need to do and what data you need to capture in preparation.
• Read on for more specific implementation requirements, and how a DPP can be set up.

What is the Digital Product Passport (DPP)?

The EU Digital Product Passport (DPP) is a digital record which provides detailed information about the environmental impact of products throughout their entire lifecycle. It gathers comprehensive data on the product and its supply chain, offering insights into the materials used, manufacturing processes, care, reuse and recycle options and overall sustainability. By making this information accessible, the DPP empowers consumers and other stakeholders to make informed buying decisions, promoting greater transparency and accountability in the production and consumption of goods.

How does the DPP apply to the Textile Industry?

In Europe, textiles have the fourth highest impact on the environment and climate change, after food, housing and mobility. Every year, the average European discards 11 kg of textiles. Globally, a truckload of textiles is either sent to landfills or incinerated every second. (Source: EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles)

The DPP will play a pivotal role in the EU’s Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles by aiming to reduce the environmental impact of consumer goods and encourage greater corporate accountability. It is anticipated that textiles will be among the first product categories to require Digital Product Passports, with current plans to publish specific rules for textiles in Q3-Q4 2027, after which businesses are expected to have a transition period of at least 18 months.

What is the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation?

And what has it got to do with Digital Product Passports?

The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) is a framework established by the European Union aimed at improving the environmental performance of products throughout their lifecycle. The DPP is a key tool within this regulatory framework and facilitates compliance with the ESPR by offering transparency and traceability. The DPP makes it easier for manufacturers to meet the ecodesign requirements and for consumers to make informed choices based on the sustainability of products.

The ESPR came into force on 18th July 2024 and is one of the key actions under the Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP) which is a core element of the European Green Deal. For more information on the ESPR, download our factsheet.

The EU Digital Product Passport Registry is Now Live

The ESPR framework includes a central EU registry, which became operational on 20th July 2026.

The Registry acts as a secure EU-level indexing system for Digital Product Passports. Rather than storing all the detailed product information itself, the Registry will hold key details that identify each product and its DPP.

The full product information will be stored separately and managed by the business responsible for the product or its DPP service provider.

Businesses can now access the Registry and its testing environment through the European Commission DPP Registry Portal, allowing economic operators to begin familiarising themselves with the registration process and technical requirements. 

Digital Product Passport Requirements

Although requirements are still being confirmed, some foundational guidelines have been established. Chapter III of the proposed Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation outlines the key elements of DPP creation, access, and data sharing.

In brief, products within prioritised categories placed on the EU market will need to carry their own DPP. Access to each product's DPP will need to be provided via a data carrier to a unique product identifier (UID). The UID should include digital links on or with the product itself—such as a QR code on the garment—while allowing for placement on packaging where inclusion on the product is not feasible. This will allow any interested parties the ability to access information directly relating to the product’s lifecycle, including; raw materials, manufacturers, distributors, retailers and recycling options. It is important to note that whoever brings a product to market will carry the responsibility for guaranteeing the data accuracy of the DPP, regardless of where they fall within the supply chain.

The data carrier and the UID shall comply with the standard (‘ISO/IEC’) 15459:2015, although final technical specifications will be confirmed in upcoming delegated acts. The information included in the product passport must list the product model, batch, or item.

For businesses that are just starting this process the development of DPPs can be complex. Cooperation from the entire supply chain is essential to ensure that important product information is captured and validated.

You can download the complete list of the requirements for digital product passports, as laid out in the proposed Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, here.

We've made an easy-to-digest summary of the data textile retailers need to capture and display below, with a fuller outline in our blog post: Digital Product Passport Data Collection Details.

How and When will DPPs Be Introduced

Digital Product Passports (DPPs) are being introduced gradually across the EU, with different implementation timelines applying to different product groups.

Under the EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products (ESPR) Working Plan 2025-2030, (which includes DPPs) product groups with a high environmental impact will be prioritised.

Digital Product Passport Timeline

• 20th July 2026: The EU Digital Product Passport Registry became operational, providing a central system for registering and identifying DPPs.
• September 2026: The remaining two DPP technical standards are expected to be published. Six of the eight standards were published in July 2026.
• Q4 2026: Sector-specific requirements for iron and steel are planned.
• 18th February 2027: Digital Product Passports will become mandatory for certain batteries under the separate EU Batteries Regulation.
• Q3–Q4 2027: The European Commission plans to adopt sector-specific ESPR rules for textiles, aluminium and tyres.
• 2028: Sector-specific requirements for furniture are planned.
• 2029: Sector-specific requirements for mattresses are planned.

These dates refer to when the EU plans to adopt the rules for each product group and do not necessarily mean businesses will need to comply immediately. Transition periods will give affected businesses time to prepare.

For textiles, the European Commission currently plans to publish the specific rules in the second half of 2027. Businesses are then expected to have at least 18 months to prepare before the requirements come into effect.

* Please note the timelines and key dates are subject to change and frequently do.

Why Businesses Should Start Preparing Now

The rollout of DPP requirements is now gathering pace. With the EU DPP Registry and testing environment operational since July 2026, businesses can begin familiarising themselves with registration workflows and technical requirements.

Although some of the final requirements and compliance dates are still being confirmed, businesses shouldn't wait until these deadlines to prepare. Retailers and brands can use this time to understand what will be expected of them, assess their existing systems and identify where changes will be needed.

Starting early will give businesses more time to prepare for the new requirements and avoid a last-minute rush as deadlines approach.

Plan for Data Capture and Validation, not just a technical solution

Preparing and implementing DPPs isn't simply about choosing the right technology. Businesses will need accurate and reliable information about their products, materials and supply chains to populate their Digital Product Passports.

For many brands and retailers, this will mean improving supply chain transparency, mapping suppliers and materials, identifying gaps in existing data and working with suppliers to collect and validate missing information.

This can be a significant undertaking, particularly for businesses with large product ranges and complex global supply chains. Putting the right processes in place now will make it easier to collect, manage and share the required information as DPP requirements come into effect.

Alongside this, businesses will need a technical solution capable of bringing this growing amount of product and supply chain data together and making the relevant information available through each product's DPP. Need help? Read about Segura’s DPP solution (anchor link to paragraph on DPP solution)

A Realistic Timeline to Prepare for your DPP

We suggest you give yourselves three to six months for each stage of the project depending on how well your internal team is resourced and how long you have left to comply.

Stage 1 – Assess and plan: Identify applicable requirements, select a platform and create a phased implementation plan.

Stage 2 – Map your supply chain: Establish visibility of suppliers, sites, materials and components across relevant tiers.

Stage 3 – Identify data gaps: Determine which DPP data and supporting evidence you already hold and what you still need to collect.

Stage 4 – Collect and validate data: Work with suppliers and third parties to capture reliable, verifiable product and ESG information.

Stage 5 – Test and implement your DPP: Configure your DPP solution, test data flows and identifiers and prepare for integration with the EU Registry.

At Segura, we understand that the implementation of DPPs may seem daunting, especially since requirement specifications are still being refined. The granular architecture of software like Segura, which can process all physical components and materials that contain unique digital identities (UIDs) from the beginning until the end of the supply chain—at batch level—allows businesses to capture all of the information currently required for DPPs.

"There will be a lot more legislation and reporting requirements coming through. We partnered with Segura because we know they can help us stay ahead of the game"

River Island

Segura's DPP Solution

Data capture is key, gaining supply chain traceability is a requirement for DPP.

Once the data is captured through the platform, Segura has two flexible solutions for retailers and brands to display each product’s digital product passport. Most clients are retailers who wish to host the DPP themselves as part of their online store. Segura passes the DPP data over to these retailers to embed into their eCommerce product webpages. This enables our clients to create a seamless, branded online retail experience — the DPP enhancing the product information available already. 

Alternatively, wholesalers can use a solution that is hosted by Segura directly, which doesn't offer any eCommerce functionality. Segura’s hosted version can also be white labelled, so clients can add their branding to this solution, if they wish. Our default template includes a visual map of suppliers’ locations, details of the supply chain tiers and the various environmental and ethical credentials.

It's important to note that the lifespan of a digital product passport must be much longer than the item is for sale. Retailers must plan a DPP solution that their customers can access 5, 7, 10 or more years after the product was removed from sale. This is to enable a customer to see options for end of life - responsible disposal, recycling and donation. A retailer may choose to embed DPP information on their own website while the product is for sale, but after it is removed from sale, redirect the DPP URL to the Segura hosted solution.

The Digital Product Passport capabilities are available to brands and retailers who are using the core Segura platform to map their supply chain and as a central repository for supplier management and all your ESG-related data and evidence. This includes third-party data sources, such as a PLM.

A Practical Example of how Segura's DPP solution works

Imagine your fashion brand produces an organic denim jacket. Using Segura, information about the jacket is captured as part of tracking the purchase order and mapping the supply chain, along with other details you choose to collect from your suppliers and auditors. 

This is presented in the jacket’s unique Digital Product Passport, which can be accessed via a data carrier such as a QR code on the garment, or—where this isn’t feasible—on the product packaging. The DPP may contain details such as material certification (e.g. 100% certified organic cotton), manufacturing location, water use, carbon footprint, and ethical labour certifications.

When a customer scans the QR code before purchase, they can view the jacket’s sustainability credentials and care instructions. These items are seamlessly linked into the eCommerce site for a smooth shopping experience.

Over time, if the jacket needs repairs, the DPP provides access to brand-approved repair services or DIY repair guides. If the owner decides to resell it, platforms like Depop can integrate the DPP to verify authenticity and product history, enhancing buyer confidence.

Eventually, when the jacket reaches the end of its lifecycle, the DPP directs the user to textile recycling facilities or your brand’s take-back program, ensuring responsible disposal. 

A trusted technology solution to implement your DPP

The above is a lot to take in and even more to put into practice! The good news is that Segura already handles the DPP requirements for well-known businesses and retailers and we can do the same for you.

The Digital Product Passport capabilities are available to brands and retailers who are using the core Segura platform to map their supply chain and as a central repository for supplier management and all your ESG-related data and evidence.

Read more about Segura’s Digital Product Passport here. Let us take the weight of the EU legislation and compliance, and you can gain the commercial benefits!

If you’d like to have a free exploratory call, get in touch with us today: info@segura.co.uk or complete the form below.