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.

For decades, the humble care label has been a boring necessity, resting inconspicuously inside your garments. Between the abstract care symbols and generic origin attribution, there was never a real need to take too much time inspecting the label. 

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.

In 2024, we’ve seen unprecedented levels of discussion on topics like circularity, sustainability, and environmental friendliness in the manufacturing space. With the buzz on protecting the environment comes new, relevant ways to stay sustainable.

Consumers are driving the change for better transparency when it comes to the products they purchase. Whether it’s a brand-new product or a “pre-loved” item, consumers want to know more about the history of the things they own.  

We're thrilled to announce our partnership with Tappr, a digital platform that provides brands with the tools they need to offer meaningful digital experiences to their customers. Through this collaboration, we will offer their innovative Digital Product Passport (DPP) software to our extensive customer base.

“There’s going to be a new sheriff in town, and this sheriff loves tariffs,” said Steve Lamar, President and CEO of the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA). “It’s what a lot of people in the industry have been modeling for, bracing for or planning around for some time now.”

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. 

Original publishing date: December 14, 2021

Republished date: November 12, 2024

Conventional thinking says brand-building is led by advertising, marketing, and visual presentation. But we know that consumers have a host of expectations that live beyond those characteristics. That means the days of leaving brand perception to your marketing department are over.