AMSTERDAM — A new study from Digital Product Passport (DPP) platform provider Provenant reveals a critical readiness gap ahead of the European Commission’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) deadlines. While businesses are actively upgrading their internal infrastructure, 77% still lack the comprehensive supplier data necessary to make their DPPs effective.
Key Findings at a Glance
- The Supplier Data Deficit: Although 71% of surveyed businesses have established internal product data systems (such as ERP or PLM systems), only 23% are successfully collecting comprehensive data from their wider supply chains.
- Incomplete Preparation: Alarmingly, 22% of respondents reported collecting no supplier data at all, highlighting a growing chasm between compliance ambition and operational reality.
- Primary Drivers: Regulatory compliance remains the dominant catalyst for DPP adoption at 89%. However, broader strategic motivations are surging:
- Sustainability Goals: Jumped from 25% of respondents in Q2 2025 to 73% in Q4 2025.
- Supply Chain Transparency: Rose from 38% in Q2 2025 to 55% in Q4 2025.
- Multi-Motivation: 56% of businesses cited more than one driving factor, indicating a shift toward holistic corporate strategy.
The Road Ahead for ESPR
Announced in 2024 to foster a circular economy, the ESPR applies to any enterprise placing products on the EU market within designated priority industries. Delegated acts detailing specific industry rules are slated to roll out starting this year.
The framework mandates digital records—DPPs—to bolster product sustainability, enhance circularity, and enforce legal compliance. Populating these records requires a blend of internal metrics and deep supply-chain insights.
Provenant’s 12-month research initiative, which surveyed over 60 industry leaders between April 2025 and March 2026, suggests that compliance is only part of the evolving corporate landscape.
“The findings reflect what we are seeing in practice: those two groups [those preparing for compliance and those unlocking broader benefits] are increasingly becoming one,” said Matthew Ekholm, DPP & Circularity Specialist at Provenant. “The data shows that strategic priorities are shifting rapidly and sustainability and supply chain transparency are no longer secondary considerations. The supplier data gap is the next pressing priority for those who have compliance as a key focus.”
As deadlines draw closer, Provenant reports it is actively expanding its platform capabilities to help companies source, collate, and organize product data directly within the DPP framework, aiming to bridge the gap between regulatory mandates and actionable business growth.
Textiles & Apparel Industry Focus
The Textiles & Apparel industry faces growing demands for supply chain transparency. With the EU’s ESPR mandating Digital Product Passports by 2027, brands must capture comprehensive product data—from raw materials to recyclability. Digital Product Passports for Textiles & Apparel help businesses meet compliance while advancing circular fashion goals.
The ESPR mandates that organizations must implement Digital Product Passports for Textiles & Apparel products by 2027. Some 87% of EU fashion brands will face enhanced supply chain transparency obligations under ESPR and related regulations by 2027.
