Summary

The Digital Product Passport isn’t just an EU mandate — it’s a strategic opportunity for forward-thinking fashion brands. By mid-2027, it will be mandatory for the textile industry, requiring every garment to carry a digital record of its materials, origin, and environmental impact. While many see it as a burden, leaders are using it to unlock circular models, deepen customer relationships, and future-proof their operations. Here’s how to stay ahead — before the clock runs out.

In the next few years, fashion brands won’t just be selling clothes — they’ll be selling data-enabled products with a digital history.

At the heart of this transformation is the Digital Product Passport (DPP), a new EU regulation that will require every garment to carry a traceable digital identity. This “passport” tells the story of the product — what it’s made of, where it comes from, how it can be repaired, and what happens to it after use.

On paper, it’s about transparency and compliance. But in reality? It’s a moment of reinvention — a chance for brands to turn linear supply chains into circular ecosystems.

Illustration of the Digital Product Passport of the European Union.

From compliance burden to strategic unlock

Let’s not sugarcoat it — for many companies, the first reaction to the DPP is overwhelm. Capturing product-level data across a fragmented supply chain? That’s no small ask. It means digitizing legacy processes, adapting IT systems, and aligning different teams around entirely new workflows.

But for those who choose to look beyond the obligation, the opportunity is real — and significant. With the right infrastructure, the DPP becomes more than a record-keeping tool. It becomes a business enabler.

When a label becomes a lifecycle

The beauty of the DPP is that it transforms every product into a trackable asset. Not just something that’s sold and forgotten, but something that can flow through new loops — from customer back to brand, and out into the world again.

With the right system in place, a returned garment can be scanned and instantly identified. Its condition and materials are already known. The next steps — refurbish, resell, recycle — become seamless. This level of intelligence unlocks something powerful: a more circular, profitable, and responsive fashion business.

And perhaps more importantly, it opens a new kind of relationship with customers — one that goes beyond the point of sale. It’s the first step toward fashion that’s not just wearable, but traceable.

The clock is ticking: DPP becomes mandatory for textiles by mid-2027

While 2030 has often been referenced as a long-term milestone, textile brands won’t have that long.

The Digital Product Passport will become mandatory for the textile industry by mid-2027, starting with a basic version of it. That’s less than three years from now — and much sooner than many in the industry realize.

This isn’t a distant regulatory idea. It’s a fast-approaching shift that will impact every brand selling into the European market. Garments, footwear, and accessories will need to carry a digital passport that details their materials, origin, and environmental impact — and brands will need the systems to manage it all.

Waiting is no longer an option. By the time the regulation kicks in, early adopters will already be running traceable, circular-ready product lines, while others are still updating spreadsheets and scrambling to catch up.

If you're not preparing now, you're preparing to fall behind.

QR Codes hanging from clothes, being used as the Digital Product Passport.
QR-Codes are becoming very popular in order to integrate the DPP into the textile industry. (Image: digital-link)

Turning data into action: where koorvi fits in

Information alone isn’t enough. The value of the DPP lies in what you do with it — and that’s where koorvi comes in.

Our platform helps fashion brands move from static product data to living systems that power take-back, repair, refurbishment, and resale. We make it possible to handle returns intelligently, sort items by condition and composition, and trigger the right follow-up automatically.

We don’t just help you tick the compliance box. We help you turn that box into a launchpad — for circular services, smarter inventory management, and deeper customer engagement.

The DPP is coming — are you using it or reacting to it?

Like every shift in regulation, the Digital Product Passport creates a choice: stay reactive and do the minimum — or lean in and lead.

Because here’s the truth: traceability isn’t a trend, it’s the new normal. And those who move early will shape the rules of the game.

With koorvi, you're not just preparing for regulation. You're building the infrastructure for what comes after.

👉 Let’s start building your circular future

FAQs

What does DPP stand for?

DPP stands for Digital Product Passport. It’s a digital record that contains key information about a product’s materials, origin, production process, repairability, and recyclability. The goal is to make products more transparent and traceable throughout their entire lifecycle — enabling better reuse, recycling, and circular business models.

What is the Digital Product Passport (DPP) in the textile industry?

The DPP is a digital identifier that contains key information about a product’s lifecycle – from material composition to recyclability. Its aim is to create transparency and support sustainable consumption.

What information must be included in the DPP?

Depending on the product category: raw materials, origin, production processes, carbon footprint, repairability, end-of-life options – and in the future, even usage data (e.g. care instructions, usage duration).

When will the DPP become mandatory?

For the textile industry, the DPP is expected to become mandatory by 2027, as part of the EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, at least a basic version of it. Pilot programs are already planned to begin by 2025. The final deadline is year 2030.

What are the benefits of the DPP for companies?

  • Stronger customer trust through transparency
  • New revenue opportunities through circular services (returns, repairs, resale)
  • Improved supply chain visibility via structured data
  • Competitive advantage for early adopters

How does koorvi support DPP integration?

koorvi offers a digital platform that:

  • Reads and processes DPP data
  • Automates return and recycling processes
  • Assesses product condition and identity digitally
  • Manages circular services such as refurbishment and resale