The European Union (EU) is taking steps in the fight against environmental damage caused by various industries, with a particular focus on the fashion sector.
Amid a flurry of legislation aimed at correcting ecological problems, including pollution, deforestation and the use of microplastics, the EU has introduced its Digital Product Passport (DPP) under the new Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) .
This innovative tool strives for transparency, sustainability and accountability for the fashion industry while leveraging blockchain technology – without consumers having to learn the intricacies of the technology themselves.
The DPP, which is not expected to launch until 2026, will launch alongside the EU’s proposed ESPR framework, requiring brands to collect and share data across a product’s entire lifecycle in the form of a ‘ digital twin’.
All via a QR code
The underlying rules of the ESPR proposal would apply to all products placed on the EU market – regardless of whether a product has been produced inside or outside the EU. This data-rich passport provides information about a product’s manufacturing process, sustainability features, environmental impact, sourcing, and more.
While the Passport is built on blockchain, the DPP aims to secure and streamline data accessibility, allowing consumers to simply scan a QR code or barcode to access product information.
When scanning the QR code, the DPP will contain general product information: ID, weight, manufacturing facility, reference numbers, raw material source, carbon footprint profile, chain of custody of current and previous owners, and relevant information repairs, warranties, disassembly and recycling instructions.
By addressing some of the fashion industry’s longstanding ethical concerns, the DPP emerges as a legitimate and practical solution to address these issues, ensuring transparency and traceability. By strengthening the connection between brands, stakeholders and consumers, the DPP empowers consumers to make informed purchasing decisions and avoid greenwashing, while promoting trust in sustainable, sustainably sourced items.
By minimizing instances of greenwashing, brands can validate their green claims and establish a unified approach to DPP integration across the entire supply chain. However, there is a great responsibility for brands
Current obstacles
One of the biggest challenges in the future implementation of this technology is the need for the DPP to be connected via a “data carrier” with a unique identifier that must be physically visible on the product and fully accessible online.
Those responsible for placing the product in the EU trade stream will also be held legally responsible for collecting, providing and updating the required information about the product so that it can provide real-time, accurate information to consumers and regulators .
Ultimately, integrating the DPP into pre-existing workflows will certainly take time when transforming the existing supply chain. Initially, the regulatory specifications that would govern the introduction of the DPP have been significantly delayed, with an expectation of publication in 2024.
However, much work remains to be done in establishing a unified system that comprehensively addresses social impact. While no official date has been set for the introduction of the DPP, it is expected that most products will be subject to this future regulation by 2030.
The future regulations are expected to come into effect around 2026/2027.
Editor’s note: This article was written by a staff member of nft now in collaboration with OpenAI’s GPT-4.