How to Read a Digital Product Passport
The EU's Digital Product Passport (DPP) introduces unprecedented transparency to the textile industry. But how exactly do you "read" one? The experience differs significantly depending on whether you are a retail consumer, a B2B procurement officer, or a government customs agent.
The Data Carrier: Where It All Starts
Every Digital Product Passport begins with a physical data carrier attached to the product itself. Under the ESPR framework, this is a QR code—specifically a GS1 Digital Link—printed on the care label, a hangtag, or the product packaging.
Locate the QR Code
Find the primary data carrier. For apparel, this is typically integrated into the permanent wash-care label sewn into the side seam.
Scan with a Smartphone
Open your native camera app and scan the QR code. You do not need a special proprietary app; the GS1 Digital Link standard ensures the code resolves directly to a secure web browser page.
View the Product Page
The link will direct you to a hosted DPP page (like an epassportify-powered page) that displays the product's authenticated digital record.
Three Different Views: What the ESPR Envisions
The ESPR framework envisions that specific data will be visible to different audiences. While the exact access mechanisms are still being defined in delegated acts, the regulation distinguishes between three stakeholder groups.
1. The Consumer View (B2C)
If an everyday shopper scans the code in a retail store, they see the public-facing sustainability profile:
- Material Composition: Exact fiber percentages (e.g., 80% Organic Cotton, 20% recycled elastane).
- Care Instructions: Digital versions of washing, drying, and ironing symbols, often with added context on microplastic prevention.
- End-of-Life Guidance: Clear instructions on how to recycle the garment or where to return it.
- Country of Origin: Basic supply chain transparency (e.g., Cut & Sewn in Portugal).
2. The Value Chain View (B2B Procurement)
In the ESPR's full vision, authorized B2B buyers will be able to access deeper technical layers of the passport:
- Supply Chain Detail: Declared production stages (e.g., spinning mill country, dye house region) as structured in the brand's DPP data.
- Certified Evidence: Certification references — scheme names and certificate numbers — linked to specific components and verifiable through the issuing body's portal.
- Durability Testing: Laboratory results for abrasion resistance, pilling, and colorfastness.
3. The Regulatory View (B2G Customs)
Under the full ESPR architecture, customs authorities will access compliance-critical data:
- REACH Declarations: Definitive proof regarding the absence of restricted chemicals (SVHCs).
- Customs Codes: HS tariff codes mapped against the product's declared composition.
- Compliance Status: Confirmation that the passport is valid and conforms to the applicable delegated act requirements.
Conclusion
"Reading" a Digital Product Passport is as simple as scanning a dinner menu QR code. The data hosted on the resulting page—produced by platforms like epassportify—provides structured, verifiable product information for all stakeholders.
For a comprehensive introduction to what a DPP is and how it works, see What Is a Digital Product Passport? The Complete Guide.
epassportify helps textile exporters create DPP pages that are readable by consumers, buyers, and regulators — with structured data layers tailored to each stakeholder view. Request a demo →