Year-on-year, almost 40,000 tonnes of used and unsold clothing are being dumped in the Atacama Desert in Chile. The dump area is almost 700 Acres (appr. 300 Acres). It covers an area similar to downtown Santa Monica in California or Kensington in London. Similar dump sites can also be found in Kenya and Ghana as big as small towns or boroughs.

Enter the Digital Product Passport or DPP. Last year, the European Union signed a regulation introducing the DPP. It took effect on the 18th of July 2024.

Intention

Fashion has a waste problem. Many clothes end up in landfills. Consumer sentiment leans towards more information about the product they consume, and younger generations are concerned about sustainability. This is where the DPP comes in. It makes supply chains clear. Consumers can see every step of a product’s life and enable them to make a smarter choice. It will also help brands make better products.

Benefits

• For Consumers:
  Product Identity - See where materials came from and understand fair labor practices.
  Sustainability - Provides option to purchase items that are eco-friendly and sustainable
  Reusability - Enables them to fix their garments. Saves them money in the long run.
  Recyclable - Gives them an option to recycle instead of disposing.

  
  

• For Brands:
  Product Management - Better tracking of products moving through the supply chain.
  Minimize Waste - Figures out the cause of wastage therefore saving costs.
  Customer Satisfaction - Build trust through transparency and showing that businesses care about the environment.

How it works

Imagine a pair of pants. Digital recording starts when it’s made. The record will include the fabric type (ex. denim, corduroy, etc.) and manufacturer’s location. It tracks the pair of pants all the way to the store. A QR code can be scanned by the consumer that made the purchase. All this information pops up on the phone. If the pants need a new zipper, the DPP will show the consumer where they can get one. If the pants can’t be worn anymore for whatever reason, it will tell the consumer where and how to dispose of or where to recycle.

PLM and DPP

Fashion brands that will be using a PLM can help their businesses meet the DPP requirements. PLMs can be utilized as a centralized hub that manages and tracks product data from material sourcing, design, manufacturing, and up to end-of-life. Find a PLM that can store images, bill of material details, manufacturer information, and a customizable project management feature. This will provide you with data for supply chain transparency, improved sustainability, and DPP ready by 2027.

The Future

The EU is implementing the DPP aggressively. This means, brands that will be marketing in the EU countries need to adopt this policy. It will make fashion more transparent and push brands to be more careful. This will make shoppers more connected to their purchases. The DPP is a big step towards a greener, more sustainable fashion industry. Consumers will know their clothes like they never had before!