Summary

The Digital Product Passport isn’t just an EU mandate — it’s a strategic opportunity for forward-thinking fashion brands. By mid-2027, it will be mandatory for the textile industry, requiring every garment to carry a digital record of its materials, origin, and environmental impact. While many see it as a burden, leaders are using it to unlock circular models, deepen customer relationships, and future-proof their operations. Here’s how to stay ahead — before the clock runs out.

In the next few years, fashion brands won’t just be selling clothes — they’ll be selling data-enabled products with a digital history.

At the heart of this transformation is the Digital Product Passport (DPP), a new EU regulation that will require every garment to carry a traceable digital identity. This “passport” tells the story of the product — what it’s made of, where it comes from, how it can be repaired, and what happens to it after use.

On paper, it’s about transparency and compliance. But in reality? It’s a moment of reinvention — a chance for brands to turn linear supply chains into circular ecosystems.

Illustration of the Digital Product Passport of the European Union.

From compliance burden to strategic unlock

Let’s not sugarcoat it — for many companies, the first reaction to the DPP is overwhelm. Capturing product-level data across a fragmented supply chain? That’s no small ask. It means digitizing legacy processes, adapting IT systems, and aligning different teams around entirely new workflows.

But for those who choose to look beyond the obligation, the opportunity is real — and significant. With the right infrastructure, the DPP becomes more than a record-keeping tool. It becomes a business enabler.

When a label becomes a lifecycle

The beauty of the DPP is that it transforms every product into a trackable asset. Not just something that’s sold and forgotten, but something that can flow through new loops — from customer back to brand, and out into the world again.

With the right system in place, a returned garment can be scanned and instantly identified. Its condition and materials are already known. The next steps — refurbish, resell, recycle — become seamless. This level of intelligence unlocks something powerful: a more circular, profitable, and responsive fashion business.

And perhaps more importantly, it opens a new kind of relationship with customers — one that goes beyond the point of sale. It’s the first step toward fashion that’s not just wearable, but traceable.

The clock is ticking: DPP becomes mandatory for textiles by mid-2027

While 2030 has often been referenced as a long-term milestone, textile brands won’t have that long.

The Digital Product Passport will become mandatory for the textile industry by mid-2027, starting with a basic version of it. That’s less than three years from now — and much sooner than many in the industry realize.

This isn’t a distant regulatory idea. It’s a fast-approaching shift that will impact every brand selling into the European market. Garments, footwear, and accessories will need to carry a digital passport that details their materials, origin, and environmental impact — and brands will need the systems to manage it all.

Waiting is no longer an option. By the time the regulation kicks in, early adopters will already be running traceable, circular-ready product lines, while others are still updating spreadsheets and scrambling to catch up.

If you're not preparing now, you're preparing to fall behind.

Several folded garments and a fabric tote bag with QR code labels on a wooden table in a sustainable fashion studio
QR codes are becoming very popular in the textile industry as a way to integrate the DPP.

Turning data into action: where koorvi fits in

Information alone isn’t enough. The value of the DPP lies in what you do with it — and that’s where koorvi comes in.

Our platform helps fashion brands move from static product data to living systems that power take-back, repair, refurbishment, and resale. We make it possible to handle returns intelligently, sort items by condition and composition, and trigger the right follow-up automatically.

We don’t just help you tick the compliance box. We help you turn that box into a launchpad — for circular services, smarter inventory management, and deeper customer engagement.

The DPP is coming — are you using it or reacting to it?

Like every shift in regulation, the Digital Product Passport creates a choice: stay reactive and do the minimum — or lean in and lead.

Because here’s the truth: traceability isn’t a trend, it’s the new normal. And those who move early will shape the rules of the game.

With koorvi, you're not just preparing for regulation. You're building the infrastructure for what comes after.

👉 Let’s start building your circular future

FAQs

What is the Digital Product Passport (DPP) and why is it a strategic opportunity?

The Digital Product Passport (DPP) is a mandatory EU regulation requiring comprehensive product-level data, such as material composition and origin. Although initially viewed as a compliance burden, it serves as a powerful strategic unlock for forward-thinking companies. By digitizing legacy processes and creating trackable assets, the DPP enables brands to enhance transparency and align teams around new workflows. This infrastructure transforms simple record-keeping into a business enabler that deepens customer relationships and opens new opportunities beyond the point of sale.

How does the DPP facilitate a circular economy for fashion brands?

The Digital Product Passport transforms a simple label into a lifecycle management tool, turning every garment into a trackable asset. With the right data infrastructure, returned items can be instantly identified, revealing their condition and material composition. This intelligence allows brands to seamlessly route products into refurbishment, resale, or recycling loops. By making these circular processes efficient and scalable, the DPP helps fashion businesses become more profitable and responsive while minimizing waste.

When will the Digital Product Passport become mandatory for textiles?

For the textile industry, the Digital Product Passport will become mandatory by mid-2027, starting with a basic version. This is much sooner than the broader 2030 sustainability goals often cited, creating an urgent timeline for brands selling into the European market. Companies must be ready to provide detailed digital passports covering materials, origin, and environmental impact. Waiting is not an option; brands need to establish these systems now to avoid scrambling when the regulation takes full effect.‍

Why should brands start preparing for DPP compliance now?

Delaying preparation for the Digital Product Passport is a significant risk, as the shift requires adapting IT systems and digitizing supply chains. Early adopters who implement traceability now will be running efficient, circular-ready product lines by the time the regulation kicks in. In contrast, those who wait will be stuck updating spreadsheets and reacting to new rules. Proactive preparation allows companies to shape the rules of the game and lead the market rather than just complying with it.

How does koorvi help fashion brands implement the Digital Product Passport?

koorvi helps fashion brands turn the Digital Product Passport from a compliance checklist into a launchpad for growth. Our platform transitions static data into living systems that power take-back, repair, and resale services efficiently. We enable intelligent sorting of returns based on condition and composition, automating the right follow-up actions. By building this infrastructure with koorvi, you prepare for regulation while simultaneously creating a profitable, circular business model that drives deeper customer engagement.