ESPR and Digital Product Passport: A Complete Guide for Fashion Brands
The ESPR Regulation (Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, EU 2024/1781) is reshaping the rules for products placed on the European market. This is not a set of voluntary guidelines, but a regulation that applies directly across all EU Member States and introduces binding requirements on product sustainability, traceability and transparency.
For the fashion industry, the impact will be particularly significant. Textiles are among the priority product categories identified by the European Commission and will be required to adopt the Digital Product Passport (DPP) starting in 2027. The DPP is a digital identity for each product that provides structured information about materials, supply chain, sustainability and lifecycle data.
This means that every product will need to make accessible structured information about materials, supply chain processes, durability and circularity.
In this guide we explain what the ESPR regulation means for fashion brands, what information the Digital Product Passport will require, and how companies can start preparing today.
What is ESPR (Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation)
The ESPR, Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, is the EU Regulation 2024/1781, adopted on 12 July 2024 and published in the Official Journal of the European Union.
The regulation replaces and expands the previous Ecodesign Directive 2009/125/EC, which mainly applied to energy-related products such as household appliances and lighting equipment.
The key difference lies in its scope.
While the previous directive covered a limited number of product categories, the ESPR extends to almost all physical goods placed on the EU market, with only a few exceptions such as food, medicines and vehicles already regulated by sector-specific legislation.
The regulation introduces three main pillars:
Ecodesign requirements
Minimum standards for durability, repairability, recyclability and environmental performance for specific product categories, defined through delegated acts of the European Commission.
Digital Product Passport (DPP)
A digital identity for each product that makes structured information accessible throughout the value chain.
Ban on the destruction of unsold products
Restrictions on the destruction of unsold consumer goods and new reporting obligations for large companies.
The ESPR is one of the key regulatory pillars of the European Green Deal and the EU's circular economy strategy. As a regulation, it applies directly in all Member States without the need for national transposition.
Why ESPR directly affects the fashion industry
The textile sector has been explicitly identified by the European Commission as one of the priority categories for ESPR implementation. The reasons are mainly related to the environmental impact of the industry.
According to data from the European Commission, the textile and fashion industry represents the fourth largest environmental impact sector in the EU, after food, housing and transport.
Over the past two decades, global textile production has almost doubled. Between 2000 and 2015, the average number of times a garment was worn decreased by 36 percent, contributing to a significant increase in textile waste.
Every year in the European Union approximately 5.8 million tonnes of textile products are discarded, equivalent to about 11 kilograms per person.
Another critical element is the complexity of the supply chain. A single garment may involve suppliers distributed across multiple countries, from fiber production to spinning, weaving, dyeing and final assembly. This structure makes it difficult to track materials and production processes.
The Digital Product Passport is designed to make this information transparent and verifiable across the entire value chain.
The EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles, published in 2022, prepared the regulatory groundwork for these measures. The ESPR now transforms these policy guidelines into binding regulatory requirements.
All brands placing products on the European market, regardless of where they are headquartered, will need to comply.
ESPR timeline for fashion: from 2024 to 2027
The implementation of the ESPR regulation follows a progressive roadmap defined by the European Commission.
July 2024 — Regulation adopted
EU Regulation 2024/1781 is adopted by the European Parliament and the Council.
It enters into force on 18 July 2024, twenty days after publication in the Official Journal.
From that moment, the regulatory framework becomes official EU law.
2025 — Delegated acts and technical specifications
The European Commission begins publishing delegated acts defining specific requirements for different product categories.
For the textile sector these are expected to include:
- ecodesign requirements
- Digital Product Passport data requirements
- technical implementation specifications
At the same time, the technical specifications for the Digital Product Passport registry infrastructure are expected to be developed.
July 2026 — First operational measures
The first operational obligations begin to apply.
Large companies must report quantities of unsold products and how they are managed, including reuse, donation or recycling. For certain product categories the destruction of unsold goods becomes restricted.
During this phase many brands begin building internal systems to collect the product data required for Digital Product Passports.
2027 — Digital Product Passport becomes mandatory for textiles
According to the European Commission roadmap, Digital Product Passport requirements for textile and footwear products are expected to become mandatory starting in 2027.
Each product placed on the EU market will need to be associated with a Digital Product Passport accessible through a data carrier, such as a QR code, NFC tag or other digital technologies.
Digital Product Passport requirements for textiles
The Digital Product Passport for textile products is a digital system that collects and makes accessible structured data about materials, supply chain, environmental impact and product lifecycle.
The main categories of information include:
| Category | Required information |
|---|---|
| Product identification | Product name, unique identifier, manufacturer or importer, GTIN or equivalent identifier |
| Material composition | Full list of fibers and materials used with corresponding percentages |
| Origin and supply chain | Countries and locations of key production steps such as spinning, weaving, dyeing and manufacturing |
| Environmental impact | Indicators such as product carbon footprint, water consumption and energy use |
| Durability and quality | Information on durability tests and performance of materials |
| Care and repair | Washing instructions, maintenance guidelines and repair recommendations |
| End of life | Information on recyclability and separation of materials |
| Regulatory compliance | Declarations of conformity and applicable regulatory standards |
The data must be machine-readable, interoperable and accessible through a unique identifier linked to the physical product.
The Digital Product Passport is not simply a static document. It is a structured digital system that allows information to be queried and updated throughout the product lifecycle.
Want to understand how to implement a Digital Product Passport for your products? Discover how the AUTHENTICA platform works →
Supply chain transparency: what changes with ESPR
With the ESPR regulation, supply chain transparency shifts from a voluntary best practice to a regulatory requirement.
Many fashion brands today have limited visibility beyond their first tier of suppliers. The regulation instead requires a much deeper level of traceability across the production chain.
In practical terms, brands will need to document:
- origin of raw materials and fibers
- production stages such as spinning, weaving, dyeing and manufacturing
- due diligence on social and environmental standards in the supply chain
- chemical substances used in production in compliance with REACH regulation
Part of this information will also become accessible to consumers through the Digital Product Passport.
How to prepare for ESPR: checklist for fashion brands
Preparing for ESPR requires a structured approach to managing product data, supply chain information and Digital Product Passport infrastructure.
Key steps include:
ESPR compliance as a competitive advantage
Many brands see regulatory compliance as an unavoidable cost. In reality it can become a competitive advantage.
Product transparency is becoming increasingly important for European consumers. According to Eurobarometer surveys, more than 70 percent of EU consumers say they are willing to pay more for products with clear sustainability information.
A well implemented Digital Product Passport allows brands to demonstrate transparency, product quality and environmental responsibility.
At the same time, collecting structured data across the supply chain can also generate operational benefits such as:
- better visibility into production processes
- reduced waste
- improved risk management and brand protection
For many companies, ESPR compliance will not only be a regulatory obligation but also a driver of digital transformation and supply chain innovation.
Frequently asked questions about ESPR and Digital Product Passport
When does ESPR apply to fashion?
The regulation entered into force in July 2024. Specific requirements for textiles are expected to become mandatory starting in 2027.
What information must a Digital Product Passport contain?
The DPP must include information about material composition, supply chain origin, environmental impact, durability, care instructions and recyclability.
Does ESPR apply to non-EU brands?
Yes. Any company placing products on the European market must comply with the regulation regardless of where the brand is headquartered.
Will the Digital Product Passport be mandatory for all products?
The DPP will be introduced progressively across product categories. Textiles are among the first sectors expected to require it starting in 2027.
How can brands start preparing today?
Brands can begin by mapping their supply chain, collecting product and material data, and evaluating technological solutions to manage Digital Product Passports.
Where should companies start in practice, and how long does it take?
It depends on how structured your product data already is. If materials, suppliers and product information are already documented, a pilot project can typically be launched within 4 to 8 weeks. If the data infrastructure does not yet exist, companies usually start with an internal audit to identify gaps.
The Digital Product Passport will become mandatory by 2027
Brands that begin structuring product data and supply chain traceability today will be better prepared when the regulation fully enters into force.
AUTHENTICA helps brands implement Digital Product Passports aligned with the European framework, transforming regulatory compliance into a competitive advantage.
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