The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (EU 2024/1781) is the most significant piece of EU sustainability legislation in a generation. For textile and apparel brands, it means mandatory Digital Product Passports per garment — with enforcement beginning 2028.
Insights & Q&A — what GRS certifies, what ESPR requires per garment, and how to bridge the gap.
Read the guide →ESPR replaces the 2009 Ecodesign Directive and expands its scope from energy-related products to virtually all product categories sold in the EU — including textiles, electronics, furniture, steel and construction materials.
For textiles, ESPR introduces requirements across the entire product lifecycle: durability, repairability, recyclability, recycled content, chemical restrictions, and the Digital Product Passport as the verification mechanism for all claims.
Non-compliance with ESPR delegated acts carries penalties determined by each EU member state — with the EU Green Claims Directive (GCD) adding potential fines up to 4% of annual EU turnover for unverified sustainability claims.
Exact fibre content per garment, with distinction between virgin and recycled origin. Claims must be verified — not self-declared. GRS or equivalent standard required for recycled content claims.
Country of origin for each production stage (spinning, weaving, finishing, assembly). Verifiable chain of custody from raw material to finished product, accessible via QR scan.
Measured durability values from laboratory tests (pilling, Martindale abrasion, tensile strength). Reeco® computes the Durability Index V1.02 automatically from supplier-uploaded lab reports.
Assessment of how easily the product can be repaired — including spare parts availability, disassembly complexity, and repair instructions. Reeco® Repairability Index V3.1.
Recycling instructions, material composition for sorting, presence of hazardous substances, and recyclability score. Reeco® Recyclability Index computed from material composition data.
Each DPP must carry a unique identifier compatible with GS1 Digital Link and the EU DPP Registry. QR code, RFID or NFC as data carrier. Registry operational from July 2026.
As "economic operators" placing products on the EU market, brands bear primary responsibility for DPP issuance and accuracy. Every garment needs a DPP before it can be sold in the EU.
Any brand selling into the EU — regardless of where it is incorporated — must comply. ESPR applies to the point of sale in the EU, not the brand's country of origin.
Suppliers must provide verified data (certifications, lab reports, material data) that brands use to populate the DPP. Without verified supplier data, DPP issuance is impossible.
If you are an Italian fashion brand evaluating DPP providers, see our practical guide: DPP providers for Italian fashion brands: how to choose — criteria, a factual map of the market, and where live verification makes the difference at audit.
Reeco® distinguishes between two market types — a framework developed through participation in CIRPASS-2 expert working groups.
Products with no certified content claims (e.g., 100% conventional cotton). DPP requires composition, origin, traceability and sustainability indices — but no mass balance verification.
Products carrying GRS, GOTS or similar certified content claims. DPP requires all Market 1 data PLUS mass balance verification per garment — the critical gap that Reeco® uniquely solves.
Operational guide: what the passport must contain, the deadlines ESPR 2027-2028 and why supply chain certificates are not enough.
ESPR (EU 2024/1781) has been in force since 18 July 2024. The delegated act for textiles is expected in 2027, with enforcement from around 2028.
Six data groups: fibre composition, origin and chain of custody, durability data, repairability score, end-of-life information, and a unique product identifier.
Yes. ESPR applies at the point of sale in the EU, not at the brand's country of incorporation. Any brand selling into the EU must comply.
No. GRS certifies kilograms of material over a defined period; ESPR requires a declaration for each individual garment.
Penalties are set by each member state, with the EU Green Claims Directive adding exposure of up to 4% of annual EU turnover.