Why is a Digital Product Passport on the Agenda for the Textile Industry?

The European Union’s Eco-Design for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR, (EU) 2024/1781) mandates that certain product groups be presented on the European market with a Digital Product Passport (DPP). Textiles and apparel have been identified as one of the priority product groups within this framework.

Service note: AES Innovation carries out the EU compliance work described on this page (PPWR, digital product passport, CBAM, etc.) in collaboration with expert solution partners; it does not provide these services directly. These activities are outside the scope of our accreditation (EU-0631-M).

Textile-specific requirements will be clarified not in the ESPR itself, but in a product-specific delegated act. As of the date this content was prepared, this act is still in draft and preparation; it has not yet been adopted.

This page focuses solely on data requirements specific to textiles. The general framework and timeline of the Digital Product Passport are covered in a separate article. Data carrier, QR code, and related technical infrastructure issues are also examined in a separate article.

Timeline: When Will It Come into Effect?

The exact date will be determined by the delegated act to be adopted; therefore, the following timeline is an expectation, not an absolute date.

The general expectation is that the textile-specific regulation will be adopted towards the end of 2027. Following adoption, the sector is expected to be granted a transition period of approximately 18 months. In this case, the first concrete obligations are realistically projected to come into effect around 2028 (around the Spring/Summer 2028 collections). All these dates depend on the relevant delegated act and are subject to change.

  • Textile-specific delegated act: still in draft/preparation stage, not yet adopted.
  • Expected acceptance: approximately late 2027 (depending on the act).
  • Transition period: Approximately 18 months are expected after acceptance.
  • Initial deadlines: realistically around 2028 (depending on the act, not definite).

What Data Will Be Needed? Four Main Categories

The Science for Policy report (May 2026), published by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC), defines the content of the textile Digital Product Passport in four main categories. The report proposes approximately 49 data points; this number is advisory and will be finalized with the final regulation.

The following four categories offer a practical roadmap for what data a Turkish textile manufacturer should start collecting today.

  • Product identification and classification: GTIN, model/batch ID, HS/TARIC customs codes, and product category information.
  • Manufacturer identification: manufacturer, importer and production facility identifiers (GLN/EORI), name, address and contact information.
  • Product information: fiber and material composition, recycled content, durability, repairability, environmental footprint, and maintenance information.
  • Compliance documentation and circularity data: facility identifiers, recycled content compliance certificates, and chemical usage information.

Granularity and Scope: Which Products Are Included?

The data collection level (granularity) is not the same for every field. Batch level is envisioned as a minimum; individual (unit) tracking of the product is not mandatory. However, information such as fiber composition, environmental footprint, durability, and maintenance is expected to be defined at the model level.

In terms of scope, it is envisioned that products containing at least 80 percent textile fibers by weight will be targeted. However, some product groups are excluded from the scope in light of current assessments.

  • Minimum granularity: batch level; unit level is not required.
  • Model-level expected domains: fiber composition, environmental footprint, durability, maintenance.
  • Scope: Products containing at least 80 percent textile fibers by weight.
  • Exclusions: intermediate products (fabric/yarn), smart and electronic textiles, personal protective equipment, medical devices, and toys.

Your Existing Certificates Can Feed Your DPP Data

Many Turkish textile manufacturers already have recycling and content standards (e.g., recycled content or organic content standards) under the Textile Exchange. The Transaction Certificates and chain of custody records on which these standards are based generate verified data collected regularly regarding recycled content and supply chain traceability.

This existing evidence infrastructure can feed the Digital Product Passport's recycling content and conformity certificate data fields; that is, it can function as a ready-made data source for companies. This does not mean that certificates are mandatory for DPP; the relevant delegated act will determine which evidence is accepted. However, converting existing certificates into data sources can significantly reduce the preparation burden.

Preparation Steps for Turkish Textile Exporters

For a Turkish textile manufacturer planning to launch products on the European market in the 2027-2028 window, starting to establish data infrastructure before the requirements are formalized is a smart approach. The following steps are aimed at reducing the transition burden when the regulation is finalized.

This preparation is both an engineering and a data management undertaking. Expert engineering support during the data model design and reliable on-site measurement collection process helps ensure the data is consistent and traceable.

  • Begin collecting fiber composition, recycled content, and chemical usage data at the model and batch levels today.
  • To establish the GTIN and facility identifier (GLN/EORI) infrastructure for product identification.
  • Converting existing recycling and content certificates (e.g., GRS/OCS) into a streamlined DPP data source.
  • Keeping a documented record of the sources from which the data was collected and the verification trail.

Information Note

This content is for informational purposes only. AES is NOT an approved body or certification body; it DOES NOT ISSUE, verify, or certify Digital Product Passport documents. AES's TÜRKAK accreditation is only within the scope of 6.1 Electrical Installation inspection. Digital Product Passport conformity assessment and data verification are carried out by the relevant delegated acts and authorized bodies.

The dates, scope, and data point information on this page are based on draft regulations and publicly available reports during the preparation phase; final requirements may change with the adoption of the delegated act.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When will the Digital Product Passport for textiles become mandatory?

The exact date will be determined by the textile-specific delegated act, which has not yet been adopted. The regulation is expected to be adopted around the end of 2027, followed by an approximate 18-month transition period, with the initial obligations realistically coming into effect around 2028. These dates are subject to change and depend on the act.

What data will be included in the Textile Digital Product Passport?

According to the JRC report, data is collected in four main categories: product identification (GTIN, batch ID, customs codes), manufacturer identification (GLN/EORI, plant information), product information (fiber composition, recycled content, durability, maintenance), and compliance documentation and circularity data. Approximately 49 data points are proposed within the scope of the report; this number is of a suggested nature.

Which products are included and which are excluded?

The target products are those containing at least 80 percent textile fibers by weight. Intermediate products (fabrics and yarns), smart and electronic textiles, personal protective equipment, medical devices, and toys are excluded.

At what level should data be collected: per product or per batch?

The minimum level is batch; individual product tracking is not mandatory. However, information such as fiber composition, environmental footprint, durability, and maintenance is expected to be defined at the model level.

Will our existing GRS or OCS certificates be valid for the Digital Product Passport?

The Transaction Certificate and chain of custody records upon which existing recycling and content certificates are based can feed into the DPP's recycling content and compliance data fields; they can function as a readily available data source. This does not mean that these certificates are mandatory for the DPP; the relevant delegated act will determine which evidence is acceptable.

Will AES issue us a Digital Product Passport document?

No. AES is not an approved body or certification body and does not issue, verify, or certify Digital Product Passport documents. AES's TÜRKAK accreditation is only for section 6.1 Electrical Installation inspection. This content is for informational purposes only.