If you haven’t heard the term Digital Product Passport yet, it’s time to dive in. The EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles, which aims to transform the fashion retail industry by 2030, calls for all products to be associated with a Digital Product Passport to be sold in Europe.
These passports would store essential product, material and sustainability data and make it readily available to the right stakeholders in the ecosystem. Circular Product Data Protocol users will have a head start, having already collected critical data needed for product resale, recycling and consumer transparency.
Making this type of standardized information accessible throughout the industry empowers business and consumers to make better choices and improves communication among all stakeholders. It also brings in accountability for brands to consider and contribute to the after-life care of their products.
Other elements of the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles will include the…
Introduction of mandatory ecodesign requirements
Disclosure of the amount of products that are discarded
Extension of producer regulations to boost reuse and recycling of textile waste
Support of research, innovation and investments for circular business models
Creation of a “Transition Pathway for the Textiles Ecosystem” to support steps for achieving goals set by the Textiles Strategy
And much more…
The hope with this new strategy in place is to have products within the EU market that are long-lived and recyclable, made using recycled fibers and free of hazardous substances. By using higher quality and affordable textiles alongside profitably scaling re-use and repair services, the European Commission’s goal is to grow a circular textiles ecosystem, driven by sufficient capacities for innovative fiber-to-fiber recycling, that results in a reduction of waste.
Through 2024, the European Commission intends to define its Digital Product Passport requirements, including mandatory information, product verification compliance, and the implementation of scannable labels such as QR codes and NFC tags. We are working to ensure that the Protocol aligns with upcoming policy developments and is used as a resource for policymakers as they decide which information to require.