EU Digital Product Passports (DPP)

What Are Digital Product Passports (DPP)?

A Tool for Transparency, Traceability & Compliance

Hohenstein x Functional Fabric Fair - April 2026: Textile Recycling - Proving What's Real in a DPP World - From the Technical and Legal Perspective

Hohenstein x Functional Fabric Fair - July 2026: Norton Rose Fulbright and Hohenstein covered current info and actions for the EU DPPs, New York Fashion Act, California EPR law.

Digital Product Passports (DPPs) are online records that share detailed information about a product including:

Origin
Materials
Lifecycle environmental impact
Disposal recommendations
Compliance documentation
Substances of concern
Use instructions

DPPs are key to promoting circularity in products and enhancing their traceability throughout their value chain. They also help prevent greenwashing, make companies more accountable for product claims and help shoppers make sustainable choices.

EU Study: Digital product passport for the textile sector

China: Research Report on Digital Product Passport Technology (2025)

When are DPPs required for consumer products?

There is no single DPP deadline.

Digital Product Passports will affect most products sold in the EU. The requirements come through several EU regulations, and each sets its own date by product type. Most apparel and many hardgoods fall under the EU Eco-Design for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). Deadlines run through 2030.

Product types have different deadlines through 2030.

Batteries - February 18, 2027
Textiles and apparel - Likely 2028 - ESPR priority group - Rules are expected in 2027, with an effective date at least 18 months after adoption
Furniture and other ESPR groups - Later, through 2030
Toys - August 1, 2030 - per Toy Safety Regulation
Medical devices and food contact materials fall outside ESPR, with their own rules

These dates can still move. Confirm the current timeline for your products on the European Commission ESPR working plan.

A DPP is only as reliable as the supply chain data behind it, and gathering that data across every tier takes years. Start preparing now.

Where to start with Digital Product Passports

The Value of Digital Product Passports

Helping businesses prove responsibility and empowering consumers make better choices.

Businesses
Consumers

Businesses

Traceability and Transparency

DPPs are a requirement - and a valuable tool.

Digital Product Passports centralize data, revealing a product's full lifecycle. This helps identify risks early, improve traceability and support due diligence across complex supply chains and growing sustainability regulations.

Beyond compliance, DPPs give deeper insight into key areas of responsible production - helping you make more informed decisions, reduce risks and build consumer trust.

Product details improve portfolio visibility, making it easier to track and verify information
Supply chain transparency increases accountability for ethical sourcing and labor practices
Material composition data highlights product durability, recycled content and recyclability claims
Material tracking supports more sustainable sourcing and resource efficiency
Substances of concern data simplifies regulatory compliance and ensures safer, recyclable products
Environmental impact insights enable targeted impact reduction

Develop More Sustainable Products

Calculate Water and Carbon Footprint

Consumers

Conscious Consumption Made Simpler

Consumer Empowerment

Transparency is essential for a more sustainable future.

Without it, consumers can’t see the true impact of their purchases. Many are unaware of the harm everyday products may cause to their health and the environment - and those who are aware often lack access to reliable information.

Digital Product Passports aim to:

Increase consumer access to information about product safety
Empower consumers to make sustainable choices by showing product impact

Beyond transparency, DPPs also give consumers the tools to properly use and care for products, improving longevity and reducing waste.

Clear instructions for installation and use help prevent damage from misuse
User manuals and product warnings improve safety and awareness
Maintenance and repair guidance makes it easier to extend a product’s lifespan
End-of-life recommendations offer responsible disposal or recycling options

EU EmpCo Directive

OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN Traceable Label

OEKO-TEX® Podcast Episode: Will Data and Transparency Reshape What Clothes We Buy?

What You Need for Digital Product Passports

Data and Design for Impact

Businesses that closely track materials and suppliers are better positioned for DPPs. If you know where your products come from and what they're made of—and have the evidence to prove it—collecting the required data will be faster and less stressful.

Note: A product’s DPP will disclose whether (or not) it meets the EU’s sustainability requirements under the ESPR, including:

Durability, reliability, reusability, repairability, upgradability
Potential for maintenance and refurbishment, recovery of materials and remanufacturing
Presence of substances of concern
Use and efficiency of energy, water and resources
Recycled content and recyclability
Environmental impacts, including carbon and environmental footprints and expected waste generation

Start gathering data now.

Proactive Testing will help you identify and improve weak spots before the data becomes public—supporting both compliance and claim verification.

Meeting ESPR goals could look like:

Developing products to be more durable, reusable, repairable and recyclable
Testing and certifying for harmful substances
Calculating and reducing the impact of manufacturing
Biodegradability testing to measure and prove end-of-life impact

AAFA Webinar: Hohenstein's Jaime Griggs and GTS CEO Andreas Schneider describe some of the upcoming data requirements, challenges and ways to prepare.

Simplify DPP compliance with a common data structure.

Automated data exchange between suppliers, manufacturers, brands and retailers

The Global Textile Scheme (GTS) provides a common data structure for Digital Product Passports in the textile industry. Developed in line with emerging EU requirements, it helps supply chain partners exchange consistent, machine-readable product information—based on existing systems and workflows.

See how GTS works

Global Sustainability Expertise

DPP requirements are specific to product categories and can be difficult to sort through. You’re not alone.

With more than 80 years of expertise in testing, certification and sustainability, Hohenstein understands what’s needed to make Digital Product Passports (DPPs) an asset—not a hurdle. We help ensure your DPPs build consumer trust and support your goals.

Get a Smart Compliance Plan

Meet Digital Product Passport Requirements

Businesses

Consumers