Eu's digital product passports and epr regulation: more than compliance

As the European Union's digital product passports (DPPs) and extended producer responsibility (EPR) policies come into force, the Fashion industry is facing a seismic shift - from strategic compliance to operational transformation.

Eu mandates data-driven sustainability

All brands, regardless of headquarters, selling in the EU market must now finance end-of-life waste management and disclose granular data on product composition, supply chains, and environmental impact.

A simplified DPP covering mandatory product information and basic lifecycle data is slated for late 2027, with EPR becoming mandatory at scale across the EU by April 2028.

Infrastructure gap threatens impact

However, the infrastructure to support these requirements - from machine-readable supplier data to domestic sorting and recycling facilities - does not yet exist at the demanded scale.

Liz Alessi, founder of the Crisis of Stuff and sustainability consultant, warns that without investment in physical infrastructure, the impact of DPPs remains limited.

Meanwhile, treating DPP as a compliance-only exercise carries long-term risk, argues Natasha Franck, CEO of Eon, which builds digital product identity infrastructure.