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Implementing Digital Product Passports is often perceived as a technical leap. In reality, it is a gradual process of aligning product information that brands already manage across design, sourcing, and compliance functions. Because this alignment takes time, early action matters. Not to accelerate implementation, but to make it manageable.
On January 12, 2026, we hosted a webinar together with DM&T (Danish Fashion & Textile Organization) titled “DPPs for Danish Fashion: Regulation to Strategy.” The session brought together brands, industry experts, and operators to unpack what the Digital Product Passport really means in practice, and how companies can move from compliance pressure to strategic advantage.
While the discussion was anchored in a national context, the questions raised and the insights shared are relevant to fashion brands across markets.
This article captures the most important insights from the webinar, translating regulation, timelines, and technical frameworks into clear, actionable guidance.
Why Digital Product Passports matter now
One of the starting points of the webinar was the role of Digital Product Passports within upcoming EU product regulation under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). DPPs are a core mechanism through which product-level requirements will be implemented.
At the same time, the discussion made clear that DPPs represent more than a regulatory obligation. They introduce a structural change in how product information is created, managed, and shared across the value chain.
A Digital Product Passport can be understood as a digital identity for a product, containing verified, product-specific information across its lifecycle, including materials, origin, and compliance-related data. This shift affects not only reporting or compliance teams, but also design, sourcing, IT, marketing, and leadership.
“Danish Fashion risks falling behind“
- Eva Kruse, founder and former CEO of Global Fashion Agenda
Major Italian and French fashion brands like Tod’s, Bvlgari, Mugler, and many others, have already started with DPP implementation across their product collections.
The regulatory timeline brands should understand
One of the most discussed topics during the webinar was timing, and urgency.
According to the timeline presented:
- July 2024: ESPR officially entered into force
- April 2025: Adoption of the first ESPR and Energy Labelling Working Plan (2025–2030)
- Q1 2026: Delegated Acts for apparel and textiles expected to be published
- Mid-2027: Adoption of Delegated Acts for apparel and textiles
While these dates may seem far away, the webinar made one point very clear: preparation cannot wait until requirements are final in 2027, but needs to start in 2026.
Structuring product data, mapping suppliers, and aligning teams takes time, and starting early is the only way to ensure readiness when requirements apply.
From compliance pressure to business value
A central message from the webinar was that Digital Product Passports should not be approached as a standalone compliance exercise.
When implemented well, one passport can unlock multiple forms of value:
- Improved operational efficiency through structured data
- Stronger credibility with regulators, investors, and partners
- Clearer communication with customers
- New opportunities around repair, resale, care, and loyalty
Framed this way, the Digital Product Passport becomes a single system that connects existing product information across the organisation, supporting coordination and decision-making beyond regulatory requirements.
Why product-level data changes the conversation
One of the most important mindset shifts discussed is the move from brand-level statements to product-level information.
Upcoming ESPR requirements are expected to focus on product-specific characteristics such as:
- Product robustness and durability
- Recycled content
- Recyclability
- Environmental and carbon footprint indicators (as currently proposed)
All of these rely on accurate, product-level data rather than high-level commitments. This means a change from communicating intentions to managing concrete product attributes.
Digital Product Passports are central to this transition because they provide a structured way to connect real product data with regulatory, operational, and commercial needs.
Making Digital Product Passports operational
A major part of the webinar focused on how DPPs actually work in practice.
Renoon shared a four-step methodology designed to help brands move from uncertainty to implementation:
- Supplier mapping
Understanding supply chain maturity through an initial assessment - Data collection
Defining priorities, formats, and validation processes - Enable and guide
Supporting teams through tools, training, and supplier onboarding - Improvement
Ongoing monitoring, analytics, and risk alerts
This approach reflects a broader insight from the session: DPPs are not a one-off project, but an evolving system.
What we learned from real use cases
The webinar also showcased how brands are already activating Digital Product Passports at scale.
In one example, over 600,000 products were equipped with Digital Product Passports, accessible both offline (via QR codes) and online (through digital widgets) .
The results highlighted during the session included:
- Stronger engagement through product-level transparency
- New customer touchpoints beyond the point of sale
- Clear internal alignment across teams
In another case, product passports were used to transform warranty registrations into a valuable CRM channel, allowing brands to finally understand who buys their products and how they engage with them .
What brands should focus on now
One of the most practical conclusions from the webinar was this: the biggest risk is waiting.
Brands should now focus on:
- Understanding what product data already exist
- Identifying gaps early
- Creating a single source of truth for product information
- Preparing teams for product-level thinking
Digital Product Passports reward clarity and preparation, not last-minute reactions.
Turning insight into action
The closing message? Digital Product Passports are not just about meeting future rules. They are about building better systems today; systems that support trust, efficiency, and long-term value.
This transition can feel complex. But with the right structure, it becomes manageable, and even transformative.
Book a demo with Renoon to see how Digital Product Passports work in practice, how they can be implemented step by step, and how product data can move from obligation to opportunity.
In one session, it becomes clear:
- what data is needed
- how it is structured
- and how it supports both regulatory readiness and business growth
Start building your DPP roadmap today.
Looking ahead
The Digital Product Passport is reshaping how fashion products are designed, documented, and experienced.
What we saw during the webinar is encouraging: brands are moving beyond fear of regulation and toward shared solutions. By acting early and working collectively, the industry can turn complexity into clarity.
The path forward is already taking shape — and it starts with better product data.
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