CHARMING INSIGHTS

You can think of the digital product passport (DPP) as a digital filing cabinet — it safely stores the most important product data for individual products or product batches moving through the supply chain. 

You’ve taken the time to create high-quality, sustainable garments for your customers — but you’ve got to bring your market up to speed on how to take good care of them. A laundry disaster drives your customers away and undermines the intention you’ve put into your garments to create sustainable, lasting garments.

The average consumer does not know how to care for their garments properly. With a Digital Product Passport, you can provide clear care instructions that can help your consumers avoid those major laundry mishaps.

On September 17, 2024, three industry experts came together to discuss the advent of the digital product passport (DPP). Bas van der Pol (Founder of Tappr), Jeanet van der Stoel (Sector Lead Textile & Apparel at GS1), and Neil Greenhalgh (Digital Solutions Director of Charming Trim) put their heads together to share about DPP regulations, predictions, and best practices.

Four decades ago, the European Union passed an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulation, requiring textile manufacturers to take accountability for the entire lifecycle of their products — not just the production and distribution.

In the Age of Information, customers are growing more interested in understanding the full story behind their purchases than ever before. The Harvard Business Review discovered consumer concerns about sustainability are rising, and buyers are looking to make sure their purchases are ethical, practical, and authentic. 

As buyers grow more climate-aware, and as the global need for sustainability in manufacturing grows, the Securities & Exchange Commission has finally adopted a set of rules on climate-related disclosures. To protect consumers, investors, and the planet, businesses will now need to disclose important information about climate-related risks and beyond. 

With the European Union’s (EU) introduction of Digital Product Passports (DPPs), apparel manufacturers may find themselves sighing in frustration over what could be viewed as the latest bureaucratic box to check. After all, DPPs will be introduced to help businesses meet strict policies and regulations set by the EU with the goal of accomplishing net zero emissions by 2050.