Prepare your fashion brand for the Digital Product Passport (DPP)
Prepare your fashion brand for the Digital Product Passport. Discover how circular design can prepare you for the 2026 EU regulations.
What is the Digital Product Passport (DPP)?
Starting in 2026/2027, a Digital Product Passport mandatory for fashion items sold in the . This digital passport contains crucial information about the garment, including:
- Materials composition
- Origin of raw materials
- Energy consumption during production
- Recyclability
- Maintenance and expected lifespan
For fashion companies this means a shift:
Designing a collection becomes documentation, and whoever thinks circularly from the first sketch will soon be at the forefront.
Why fashion brands need to shift gears now
- 80% of the environmental impact of a garment is determined in the design phase
- Non-circular design = possible non-compliance with new EU legislation
- DPP is increasingly becoming a requirement for retailers, investors and conscious consumers
In short: this isn't a technical side issue. This is core business.
What is circular design?
Circular design means designing with the garment's entire lifecycle in mind.
For startups and brands, this means:
| Circular design ensures… | How to tackle that |
|---|---|
| Long lifespan | Timeless, durable designs |
| Simple repair | Loose parts, stitched seams, replaceability |
| Recyclability | Mono-materials, no blends or toxic finishes |
| Less waste | Smart cutting pattern, zero waste techniques |
| Emotional value for the customer | Storytelling, personalizability, origin |
How do you make your collection DPP-proof?
Here are 5 design choices you can start with today:
1. Use mono-materials
Work with 100% cotton, linen, or other single fibers. Avoid blends like cotton/polyester, which are more difficult to recycle.
2. Design for disassembly
Use snap closures, visible seams, or screw-on buttons. This makes the garment easier to repair or recycle.
3. Avoid harmful coatings
Use OEKO-TEX or GOTS-certified finishes. These are safe and recyclable.
4. Choose timeless design
Minimalism pays off: modular pieces and neutral colors extend their lifespan.
Think slow fashion instead of fast trends.
5. Add 'emotional durability'
Give the product a story or identity. For example, a QR code with information about its origin, maintenance, or maker.
Practical example: Filippa K
Filippa K brand has been at the forefront of circular design for years. Their "Front Runner" collection includes:
- they use 100% mono-materials
- they avoid metal and synthetic coatings
- they collaborate with Circular.Fashion for recycling
DPP checklist for fashion brands & startups
- Do you use traceable and documented materials?
- Are your fittings easy to detach or replace?
- Have you mapped the environmental impact of production?
- Is your garment designed with recycling in mind?
- Have you made maintenance information available for the carrier?
TVH Design tip: Collaborate with partners who already produce DPP-compatible products. This accelerates your learning curve and prevents costly mistakes.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions by Fashion Startups
Starting in 2026/2027 in the European Union. Expect large retailers to require this sooner.
While not mandatory, it's worthwhile to make new work DPP-ready from now on. Older designs could otherwise hold your brand back.
In the short term, yes, but you save on returns, customer satisfaction, sustainability performance and future compliance.
Work with design studios like us or manufacturers who have experience with DPP and circular design.
Conclusion
The Digital Product Passport isn't a burden, but an opportunity for fashion brands to differentiate themselves.
Startups and brands that are now opting for circular design:
- Will soon comply with legislation
- Create stronger customer loyalty
- Building a sustainable, future-proof brand