The ESPR (Regulation (EU) 2024/1781) is significantly reshaping EU rules on product sustainability and circularity. For textiles and footwear, it translates into three very practical shifts: technical requirements introduced through product-specific delegated acts, a Digital Product Passport (DPP) that makes key data machine-readable across the product life cycle, and a ban on destroying unsold goods for apparel, accessories and footwear (from 19 July 2026 for large companies and from 19 July 2030 for medium-sized companies; micro and small enterprises are currently exempt, with limited and documented exceptions).
In practice, ESPR moves the fashion industry’s centre of gravity toward reliable data, repeatable processes, and durability-by-design. The DPP will function as a product “digital identity card”, linked to a unique identifier and a data carrier (e.g., QR/NFC), with role-based access: consumers see composition, care instructions and claims; repairers and refurbishers access manuals and spare parts; marketplaces and distributors check pre-sale data and spare-part availability; authorities and customs verify DPP validity and compliance information; recyclers access material sheets and disassembly guidance. To be ready, companies will need solid materials and site master data, traceability of suppliers/facilities, structured datasets that integrate with ERP/PLM systems, and auditable evidence.
A key area will be durability: it won’t be enough to claim it—you will need to communicate it transparently and comparably by stating indicators, methods (ISO/EN), units/parameters, results and traceability to a representative sample (model/lot), with outcomes against thresholds and specifications that will be defined by delegated acts. In parallel, organisations must get prepared for unsold goods management: a no-destruction policy, credible alternative channels (donation, re-commerce, refurbishment, recycling), and a traceable data flow to support annual disclosure.
To help you move from principles to implementation, we’ve prepared a concise, practical White Paper on ESPR and DPP for textiles and footwear: scope, the 2025–2030 roadmap, expected DPP content, durability communication, and unsold goods obligations—plus actionable recommendations to set up governance, data and testing.
Download the White Paper to start building a DPP-ready approach and reduce compliance risk.