Digital Product Passports (DPPs) are set to play an important role in the future of the global clothing and textiles industry. With new requirements emerging in the European Union (EU) and policy discussions continuing in Australia, understanding what DPPs mean for businesses is becoming increasingly important.
To help Australian businesses navigate these changes, Seamless and GS1 Australia have updated and re-released their guide, Digital Product Passports Explained, first developed in September 2025.
The updated guide reflects the latest EU and Australian policy settings and guidance, providing Australian businesses with a practical introduction to DPPs, what is changing and what they can do to prepare.
Download the updated guide, Digital Product Passports Explained.
What are Digital Product Passports?
A Digital Product Passport (DPP) is a digital record that connects a physical product to information about its materials, composition, origin and journey through the supply chain. It can also provide details about a product’s environmental credentials, care requirements and options for repair, reuse and recycling.
Importantly, DPPs are more than a QR code or product webpage. They rely on accurate, structured and shareable data that can be accessed by different organisations and systems.
Why Australian businesses should pay attention
While DPPs are not currently mandatory for products sold in Australia, Australian clothing and textiles businesses cannot afford to overlook their development.
The EU is introducing DPP requirements through its Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), with textiles and apparel identified as a priority product category. The European Commission's current work plan indicates that product-specific rules for textiles are planned for adoption in the fourth quarter of 2027. These rules will establish the detailed information and compliance requirements for businesses placing products on the EU market.
This has implications beyond Australian clothing brands exporting directly to Europe. Businesses supplying international brands and retailers may increasingly be asked to provide reliable product and supply chain information to support their customers' DPP requirements.
There are also opportunities beyond regulatory compliance. Better product data can help businesses understand their supply chains, demonstrate the credibility of sustainability claims, respond to changing customer expectations and support repair, reuse and recycling.
Getting familiar with DPPs now can help businesses identify information gaps, understand their responsibilities and make more informed decisions about the systems and processes they may need in the future.
What's included in the updated guide
Developed specifically for Australia's clothing industry, the updated guide provides an accessible introduction to DPPs and the changing regulatory and technical landscape.
It explores the latest EU policy developments, including the ESPR and the proposed requirements for textiles and apparel, alongside relevant Australian policy settings. It also explains the role of GS1 standards in supporting product identification and the exchange of reliable information across supply chains.
For businesses looking to understand what DPPs could mean in practice, the guide covers:
- Understanding DPPs: What they are, how they work and the types of information they can make available.
- The changing regulatory landscape: An overview of EU DPP requirements, the implications for textiles and apparel and relevant Australian developments.
- The role of standards: How product identification, QR codes and GS1 standards can support interoperable DPP systems.
- Getting your business ready: Practical steps to understand your exposure, map existing product data, identify information gaps and work with suppliers.
Whether you’re a clothing brand, manufacturer, supplier or another organisation in the clothing value chain, the guide provides a useful starting point for understanding the changes ahead.
Download the updated guide, Digital Product Passports Explained.
The guide was developed in partnership with GS1 Australia, a global organisation that develops and maintains standards for identifying, capturing and sharing information about products and supply chains.
