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Swimwear falls within the textile and apparel categories currently being assessed as part of the implementation of the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). While the final Digital Product Passport requirements for textiles will be defined through the future delegated act, the preparatory work already provides useful indications of how different apparel categories are being considered.
Swimwear is a particularly interesting example. Its performance depends on characteristics linked to its specific conditions of use, while a single product can combine different fabrics, linings and components. The EU preparatory work is already examining some of these characteristics specifically for swimwear, showing how product-specific considerations are entering the development of future textile requirements.
The JRC preparatory study defines different product categories within apparel. These categories do not imply separate Digital Product Passport datasets for each type of garment. However, some of the technical characteristics considered in the preparatory work vary according to the product’s function and intended use.
For swimwear, the ongoing work on physical durability considers parameters including fabric elasticity, colour fastness to chlorinated water and colour fastness to sea water (Eurocommerce-JRC, 2025). These characteristics reflect the repeated stretching and exposure conditions associated with the product’s use.
These are parameters under assessment, rather than confirmed DPP data requirements. The final dataset will be established through the textile delegated act. Their inclusion in the preparatory work nevertheless illustrates an important point: the information relevant to a swimsuit can differ from that relevant to a T-shirt, jacket or other apparel product.
For brands preparing their product information, this makes the characteristics and composition of the product itself an important starting point.
Consider a swimsuit made primarily from polyamide and elastane.
At finished-product level, the brand may already hold information such as the product reference, fibre composition, colour, size and care information. Other information may need to be retrieved from further upstream.
The main fabric has its own composition and specifications. The lining may use a different fibre blend, while elastics and other components can introduce additional materials. If recycled content is communicated, the supporting information may originate in the fibre, yarn or fabric supply chain.
JRC work on the textile DPP recognises that information required for a finished product can be generated at different stages of the value chain. Data such as material composition or recycled content may therefore depend on information provided by upstream actors.
The economic operator responsible for the finished product may consequently depend on data generated by organisations that are not themselves responsible for creating its DPP. For a swimwear brand, this means knowing where each piece of information originates, who maintains it and how it connects to the correct finished product.
A garment’s intended use influences which characteristics are relevant to its durability.
For swimwear, the JRC preparatory work specifically examines fabric elasticity, a property directly connected to the functional performance of a product designed to stretch repeatedly during use. It also considers colour fastness to chlorinated water and sea water, using established test methods including ISO 105-E03 and ISO 105-E02 respectively.
While these parameters are still part of the preparatory work, they show how general ESPR objectives can translate into characteristics relevant to specific product categories.
For brands, this also raises a practical question: where are the corresponding fabric specifications, test results and technical documentation currently stored, and can they be connected to the relevant products and suppliers?
How swimwear is used and maintained can affect its performance over time. Exposure to chlorine or sea water, as well as washing and drying practices, can influence materials, elasticity and appearance.
This connects product performance with the information provided for appropriate use and maintenance. The ESPR framework allows product information requirements to cover areas including use, maintenance and repair where relevant to the product group. The textile delegated act will ultimately determine which information must be provided and what must be included in or made accessible through the Digital Product Passport.
The final textile Digital Product Passport dataset is still being developed. Brands can nevertheless begin by mapping the product and supply-chain information they already hold and identifying where additional data needs to come from.
For a swimwear collection, four areas provide a practical starting point:
Identify the fibres, fabrics, linings and relevant components associated with each finished product and how that information is currently recorded.
Determine which information is generated internally and which depends on garment manufacturers, fabric suppliers or other upstream actors.
Map existing fabric specifications, test results and other technical documentation, including
Review the product-specific care and use information already associated with each product and how it is maintained across channels.
Doing this before the final requirements are published allows brands to understand whether the underlying information can already be identified, connected and maintained at the scale required for Digital Product Passport implementation.
If you are preparing your swimwear collection for Digital Product Passports, get in touch with Renoon to assess your current product and supplier data and define the next steps towards implementation.
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