The Digital Product Passport
In the fast-paced world of fashion recruitment and industry shifts, "transparency" has graduated from a marketing buzzword to a non-negotiable legal and operational requirement. As we navigate 2026, the Digital Product Passport (DPP) has emerged as the most critical infrastructure for brands, manufacturers, and retailers alike.
What exactly is the Digital Product Passport?
Under the EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), the DPP is a digital identity for every garment. Accessible via a data carrier — such as a QR code, RFID tag, or NFC chip — it stores essential information about a product’s lifecycle, including:
Fibre composition and origin of raw materials.
Carbon and water footprint metrics.
Repairability and durability scores.
Recycling instructions for end-of-life processing.
While battery sectors have already seen mandatory enforcement, the fashion and textile industry is now in the "early adopter" window, with mandatory enforcement for apparel set to begin in 2027.
Why the B2B sector must act now
The transition to DPPs is shifting the power dynamics between brands and their suppliers. If you are a manufacturer or a fashion brand, this is why the DPP is a strategic business asset:
1. Regulatory compliance as a market entry ticket
Products without a compliant DPP will soon face withdrawal from the EU market. By 2027, the passport will be as essential as a physical care label. For B2B partners, being "DPP-ready" is now a prerequisite for securing contracts with major European retailers who cannot risk non-compliant inventory.
2. Strengthening supplier accountability
DPPs bridge the information gap in multi-tiered supply chains. They require a "Single Source of Truth," moving data out of fragmented spreadsheets and into structured, interoperable systems. This reduces manual reporting errors and ensures that every Tier 1 and Tier 2 partner is held to the same sustainability standards.
3. Unlocking new business models
The DPP is the "key" to the circular economy. By providing verifiable data on material composition, brands can more easily scale:
Resale and rental: verifying authenticity and ownership history.
Automated recycling: allowing recyclers to scan a garment and instantly know how to sort it by fibre type.
Repair services: providing technicians with specific instructions on how to disassemble or fix a product.
4. Protecting brand equity
In an era of "greenwashing" crackdowns, the DPP provides verified evidence. For a recruitment perspective, this means brands are increasingly seeking "hybrid" talent — professionals who understand both fashion design and digital data governance.
The implementation roadmap for 2026
Waiting for the 2027 deadline is a high-risk strategy. Leading brands like Monobi and Eton have already piloted systems to iron out the technical kinks.
Audit your data: identify where your product data sits. Is it in a PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) system, or is it scattered across supplier emails?
Select your carriers: decide between QR codes (cost-effective/consumer-friendly) or NFC/RFID (high-security/luxury-focused).
Standardize: align with GS1 standards to ensure your data is interoperable across different platforms and borders.
The bottom line
The Digital Product Passport is more than a compliance hurdle; it is a tool for operational excellence. For the B2B fashion community, it offers a rare opportunity to build a more resilient, transparent, and ultimately profitable value chain.
At Between Research, we see this shift reflected in the talent market every day. The future of fashion isn't just about the clothes — it's about the data that travels with them.
Is your team equipped to handle the data-driven future of fashion? Contact Between Research to discuss how we can help you find the specialists needed to navigate the new era of digital transparency.
BETWEEN RESEARCH is an international agency based in Milan and Shanghai, with over 25 years of experience in headhunting and consultancy. Through its BETWEEN CONSCIOUS PROGRAM, with expert interviews, and in-depth analyses it promotes sustainability and positive change in fashion. We hope these contents will inspire you as they inspired us.
