The EU is about to require a digital passport for every textile product sold in Europe
Here's what that means for your business. The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) entered into force in July 2024 and textiles are the first product group in scope. This page covers the regulation, the timeline, the data you need, and the technology behind it.
The regulation in plain English
The ESPR is the EU's most ambitious sustainability law for physical goods. Here's how it breaks down.
How it works
The ESPR itself does not prescribe product-specific rules. Instead, it empowers the European Commission to adopt delegated acts that define ecodesign and information requirements for individual product groups. This allows the regulation to cover nearly all physical products over time.
What the EU decides next
Each delegated act specifies the exact data points, performance thresholds, labelling requirements, and DPP schema for a product group. The textile delegated act is currently being developed with input from the JRC, industry stakeholders, and member states.
Why textiles go first
Textiles were selected as the first product group due to their outsized environmental footprint — the EU textile industry generates 12.6 million tonnes of waste annually, with less than 1% recycled into new clothing. The Commission views the DPP as a key lever for change.
Key dates you need to know
The ESPR rolls out in phases between now and 2033. Below is every milestone that matters for textile brands, listed in order so you can plan ahead.
ESPR Enters Into Force
Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 on Ecodesign for Sustainable Products officially enters into force, replacing the 2009 Ecodesign Directive.
JRC 3rd Milestone Consultation
The Joint Research Centre publishes its third milestone report on textile-specific requirements, informing the delegated act drafting process.
EU Central Registry & Unsold Textiles Ban
The EU central DPP registry becomes operational. Large enterprises are banned from destroying unsold textile products.
Green Claims Directive Applies
The Green Claims Directive takes effect, requiring all environmental claims on textiles to be substantiated with verifiable DPP data.
Textile Delegated Act Expected
The European Commission is expected to adopt the textile-specific delegated act defining exact DPP data requirements, performance thresholds, and labelling rules.
Waste Framework Directive EPR Transposition
Member states must transpose the revised Waste Framework Directive, establishing Extended Producer Responsibility schemes for textiles.
Mandatory DPP Compliance Deadline
Digital Product Passports become mandatory for textile products placed on the EU market. EPR schemes become fully operational.
Phase 2 Requirements
Extended requirements come into effect, including detailed environmental impact reporting and multi-tier supply chain mapping.
Phase 3 Requirements
Full lifecycle data requirements apply, covering cradle-to-grave tracking, end-of-life processing data, and circular economy metrics.
What data you need to collect
The textile DPP will mandate a comprehensive set of data points. While the delegated act will finalise the exact schema, the following categories are confirmed or highly expected.
Material Composition
Full fibre breakdown by percentage, including all blended materials, coatings, and finishing treatments down to 5% thresholds.
Substances of Concern
SCIP-aligned declarations of restricted and candidate-list substances, including PFAS, heavy metals, and formaldehyde levels.
Durability Scores
Standardised 0–10 durability rating based on pilling resistance, tensile strength, colour fastness, and dimensional stability after washing.
Recyclability Scores
0–10 recyclability rating factoring in mono-material content, ease of disassembly, compatibility with mechanical and chemical recycling streams.
Environmental Footprint
Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) data including carbon footprint, water usage, and resource depletion calculated via EU-approved methodologies.
Care, Repair & Compliance
Machine-readable care instructions, repair manuals, spare part availability, plus EU Declaration of Conformity and test reports.
The tech behind product passports
The ESPR defines a standards-based system designed for interoperability, durability, and tiered data access. Here are the building blocks.
QR Codes & Data Carriers
Every product carries a scannable QR code (or NFC/RFID tag) that resolves to its unique Digital Product Passport. The data carrier must be durable enough to survive the product’s entire lifecycle.
GS1 Digital Link
The ESPR mandates GS1 Digital Link URIs as the standard identifier scheme, encoding the GTIN and serial number into a web-resolvable URL that connects to the DPP data.
JSON-LD Data Format
Passport data is structured as JSON-LD (Linked Data), enabling semantic interoperability across systems and ensuring machines can interpret the data without proprietary schemas.
Decentralised Storage
DPP data can be hosted in a decentralised manner — brands retain control of their data while the EU central registry indexes and points to the authoritative source for each passport.
Tiered Access Control
Three access levels are defined: public (consumers see sustainability info), restricted (authorities access compliance docs), and specific (recyclers and repairers receive disassembly and material data).
Common questions
Straight answers for brands and importers figuring out the Digital Product Passport.
Do I need to comply?
Any economic operator placing textile products on the EU market must comply — this includes manufacturers, importers, and authorised representatives. Even non-EU brands selling into the EU through marketplaces or distributors will need compliant Digital Product Passports. Small and micro-enterprises may benefit from extended transition periods, but the obligations still apply.
What products does this cover?
The regulation covers all textile articles placed on the EU market, including apparel, footwear, home textiles, and technical textiles. Textiles were designated the number-one priority product group under the ESPR due to their significant environmental impact. The exact scope will be finalised in the textile delegated act.
How does the ESPR relate to the Digital Product Passport?
The ESPR (Regulation EU 2024/1781) is the framework regulation that empowers the European Commission to set ecodesign requirements for nearly all physical products. The DPP is the primary enforcement mechanism — a structured, machine-readable data set linked to each product via a data carrier (typically a QR code). Delegated acts define the specific DPP requirements for each product group.
How do people actually access DPP data?
Consumers scan a QR code on the product or its packaging to access a public data layer with sustainability and care information. Market surveillance authorities get deeper access to compliance documentation and test reports through authenticated channels. Recyclers and repair operators receive end-of-life and disassembly data. This tiered-access model is built into the ESPR’s technical architecture.
Can I use the data I already have?
Yes. Most brands already hold 60–70% of the required data across PLM, ERP, and supplier management systems. TurnUp connects to your existing infrastructure, maps your data to the ESPR schema, identifies gaps, and helps you collect the missing information from your supply chain. No need to rip-and-replace your current systems.
What happens if I miss the deadline?
Non-compliant products cannot legally be placed on the EU market. Market surveillance authorities can order product recalls, impose fines (set by individual member states), and block customs clearance. Enforcement will be supported by the EU central registry, making it straightforward for authorities to verify compliance at the product level.
Start preparing now
The regulatory timeline is accelerating. Whether you need a gap assessment, full implementation, or just a clear briefing on what's coming — we can help.
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