Circular Economy: Literature Review on the Implementation of the Digital Product Passport (DPP) in the Textile Industry

Catarina Carvalho, Carla Joana Silva and Maria José Abreu ()
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Catarina Carvalho: 2C2T, Center of Textile Science and Tecnology, Universidade Do Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
Carla Joana Silva: CITEVE, Technological Centre for the Textile and Clothing Industry of Portugal, 4760-034 Vila Nova Famalicão, Portugal
Maria José Abreu: 2C2T, Center of Textile Science and Tecnology, Universidade Do Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 5, 1-28

Abstract: The development of a system to store and share key information about product lifecycles offers a key opportunity to improve the textile and apparel industry. The introduction of the digital product passport (DPP) serves as an inclusive tool that enables industry stakeholders—companies, suppliers, stakeholders, government organizations, public institutions, and consumers—to more accurately track the journey, characteristics, components, and environmental impact of products. This study explores the implementation and potential of the DPP, highlighting its transformative role as a bridge between technological innovation and sustainability in the textile and apparel sector. By providing unprecedented transparency and traceability, the DPP disrupts conventional industry paradigms and facilitates sustainable practices. The findings highlight the DPP’s ability to consolidate disparate data into a unified system that provides stakeholders with actionable insights that were previously unavailable. In addition, the study identifies regulatory and operational gaps and positions the DPP as a pioneering solution to these challenges. This is significant progress toward operationalizing the principles of the circular economy and fostering innovation along the entire value chain. In line with the European Commission’s 2020 Circular Economy Action Plan, the DPP complements initiatives such as the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and improves product traceability. By providing stakeholders with reliable, comparable data, it supports informed decision making and promotes transparency, decarbonization, and sustainability. This analysis underlines the potential of the DPP to transform the sector into a better informed and environmentally conscious industry.

Keywords: circular economy; sustainability; digital product passport; textile industry (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
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