A European digital product passport (DPP) could enhance textile industry traceability, circularity, and transparency. This study focuses on the possibility to introduce a DPP, framed within the European Union's strategy for sustainable and circular textiles. It examines the potential, needs, benefits, and challenges associated with deploying a DPP for all stakeholders throughout the European textile sector's value chain. A DPP could benefit all actors in this complex value chain, including producers, supply-chain tiers, regulatory authorities, sorters, recyclers, and consumers. To enhance EU textile industry traceability, sustainability and business strategy, identifying where added value can be generated is crucial. This research is grounded in a review of regulatory texts, scientific literature and existing initiatives, and proposes a generic DPP model for the textile sector. Drawing on a survey of over 80 stakeholders, it gathers essential insights and outlines a three-phase deployment scenario with policy options aimed at fostering a circular economy to minimise the sector's overall footprint.
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Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction 11
- 2. Why a DPP for the textile and fashion industry? 11
- 2.1. Different challenges face the textile industry 11
- 2.2. Need for transparency in the textile and fashion sector 12
- Figure 1 – Percentage of transparency for all 54 Fashion Pact brands 13
- 2.3. Complexity in traceability in the textile product supply chain 14
- Figure 2 – Generic product traceability process 15
- Figure 3 – Example of information on similar T-shirts with different origins 16
- 3. How to design a generic DPP for the textile sector? 16
- 3.1. Proposed methodology 16
- Figure 4 – grounded theory steps 17
- 3.2. Data sources 17
- 3.2.1. Transparency initiatives in the fashion sector: 17
- Table 1 – Analysis of transparency initiatives 18
- 3.2.2. Testimonies and experiences from the textile sector 18
- 3.2.3. Regulatory context of the DPP 18
- Figure 5 – Evolution of regulations in Europe 19
- 3.2.4. Scientific approach with a systematic literature review on DPPs 20
- Figure 6 – Systematic review of the literature 20
- 4. What would a generic DPP for the textile sector look like? 20
- 4.1. DPP definition 20
- 4.2. Examples of DPPs in other industrial sectors 22
- Figure 7 – Number of articles concerning DPP initiatives by different sectors 22
- 4.3. Aims and objectives of a textile sector DPP 23
- 4.4. DPP stakeholders 25
- 4.5. Categories of information contained in the DPP 26
- 4.6. Characterisation of information in the DPP 29
- 5. Proposition of a DPP model and consultation 30
- 5.1. Proposition of a generic DPP model for textiles 30
- Figure 8 – Generic model of DPP for textile 30
- 5.2. Evaluation of the DPP proposal based on a quantitative approach (online survey) 31
- Figure 9 – Proposed model of DPP for textile 32
- Figure 10 – Generic result of the survey 33
- Figure 11 – Detailed results for each question concerning DPP information 34
- Table 2 – Characteristics of the survey sample 38
- Figure 12 – Pie chart of the survey sample 38
- 6. DPP deployment: Phases and policy options 43
- 6.1. Phase 1: Deployment of a 'minimal and simplified DPP' at the European level (2027) 43
- Figure 13 – Simplified DPP Model for phase 1 45
- 6.2. Phase 2: Deployment of an 'advanced DPP' at the European level (2030) 46
- Figure 14 – Advanced DPP Model for phase 2 47
- 6.3. Phase 3: Deployment of a 'full circular DPP' at the European level (2033) 48
- Figure 15 – Full circular DPP Model for phase 3 49
- 6.4. Policy options for deploying a textile industry DPP in Europe 50
- 7. General conclusions about DPP 56
- Annex: Online Survey and glossary of DPP 62
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