How Fashion Brands Can Prepare for the Digital Product Passport (Without the Panic)
- Rodica
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
So you’ve heard about the Digital Product Passport (DPP). You’ve nodded politely in webinars. Maybe you’ve even bookmarked a few EU links to “read later.”
Well… later is now.
From 2027, if you sell fashion, textiles or footwear into the EU, you’ll need to prove your products’ sustainability credentials through a Digital Product Passport (a digital record that shows what each product is made of, where it came from, and how it can be reused, repaired or recycled).
It’s not optional.
It’s law.
And the first detailed textile requirements were announced in April 2025, so the countdown clock is officially ticking.
But don’t panic, you don’t need to overhaul your entire supply chain tomorrow. Here’s how to start preparing without losing your mind (or your weekends).
1. Get clear on what a DPP actually needs
A DPP is essentially a structured set of data fields linked to every product. Think of it like a digital tag that travels with the garment for life.
Each passport will need to include:
Product ID and batch number
Material composition (by fibre %. Yes, really that detailed)
Supplier and manufacturing site data
Environmental impact (CO₂, water, etc.)
Durability and repairability information
Recycling or end-of-life instructions
In short: all the stuff your production team already sort of knows, but scattered across spreadsheets, emails, and heads.
2. Audit what data you already have
Start small.
List your products, where the data lives, and who owns it internally. You’ll likely discover that 80% of what you need already exists, just not in one place.
A quick data audit helps you spot gaps early, like missing fibre breakdowns or lack of supplier transparency.
Once you see the gaps, you can fix them calmly rather than frantically six months before the deadline.
3. Get your suppliers on board early
Suppliers will make or break your DPP readiness. Reach out now and explain what’s coming as most haven’t heard of it yet.
Send a simple one-pager explaining why this matters and what info you’ll need from them (material composition, certifications, factory details).
Then build those requests into your future contracts so data collection becomes part of normal business, not a yearly headache.
4. Pick a system that won’t break
You don’t need fancy software yet, but you do need a central place to store verified product data.
If you’re still juggling spreadsheets, start testing lightweight traceability tools or even build a shared supplier database on Google Sheets for now.
The key is to set up a “single source of truth” so your product data can plug into a DPP platform later without chaos.
5. Create your DPP action plan (and actually use it)
Break it down:
Month 1–2: Data audit
Month 3–4: Fill supplier gaps
Month 5–6: System setup
Month 7–12: Pilot a few SKUs and test the process
The brands who start now will glide into 2027 ready and calm. The ones who wait will be neck-deep in data requests and IT meltdowns.
6. Need a shortcut? Get support.
You don’t have to do this solo. I help fashion and textile SMEs audit their data, close supplier gaps and build DPP-ready systems without the jargon or chaos.
If you want to see how DPP readiness could look for your brand, let’s chat. I’ll help you turn compliance into a competitive advantage, not a fire drill.
The bottom line
The Digital Product Passport isn’t another tick-box exercise. It’s the future of fashion transparency, and a chance to build real trust with buyers and customers.
Start now, keep it simple, and treat your data like an asset. By the time the 2027 law hits, you won’t be scrambling, you’ll be leading.
With a typical timeline of 6 -12 months, depending on the number of SKUs and supplier readiness, the time to get a digital product passport certified is now.
Here are 9 Reasons You Need Your Digital Product Passport NOW… plus the 10 data points you need to get started today
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