ESPR and textiles: a guide for exporters to Europe

If you make or export textiles to Europe, the ESPR reaches you before almost any other industry: it is the category going first. This guide explains what it requires, which deadlines to watch, and what Latin American exporters must do to avoid being shut out of the European market. If it is not yet clear to you, start with what a Digital Product Passport is.

Why textiles go first

The ESPR (Regulation (EU) 2024/1781) prioritises categories with high environmental impact and strong improvement potential. Textiles top the list because of their footprint, low recycling rates and the fast-fashion problem. That is why it is expected to be among the first to require a Digital Product Passport, with obligations starting to apply around 2027.

What information will the textile DPP require?

The final attributes are set by delegated act, but for textiles they point to:

• Material composition and the presence of substances of concern.
• Recycled content and fibre origin.
• Durability and expected garment performance.
• Care, repair and end-of-life — how to maintain, repair and recycle.

What it means for a Latin American exporter

The obligation is triggered by placing the product on the EU market, regardless of where it was made. In other words: a workshop or brand in Mexico, Colombia or Peru selling to Europe will have to accompany its textiles with a compliant DPP, just like a European manufacturer. Failing to prepare in time means, in practice, losing market access or depending on an importer that dictates the terms.

The good news: whoever moves early turns a requirement into a competitive advantage — traceability as a selling point, preferential access and less friction at customs.

How to prepare, concretely

1. Identify the lines you export (or will export) to the EU.
2. Gather the data you are currently missing: certified composition, recycled content, supplier traceability.
3. Assign identity with GS1 standards and record events with EPCIS 2.0.
4. Make sure the passport is portable and readable by third parties.

Each step is developed in our guide on how to implement a DPP.

Deadlines: not as far off as they seem

Although 2027 sounds distant, collecting and structuring composition and supplier data takes months, especially if you depend on a dispersed supply chain. Starting in 2026 is prudent; reaching 2027 without having begun is risky.

Frequently asked questions

I am a small textile workshop — does it apply to me too?

If your product reaches the European market, yes. Size does not exempt you; what changes is how you approach it. Starting with one line and growing in phases makes it manageable.

Can I comply with a homemade QR label?

The QR is only the door. What is required is the governed data behind it, on open standards and portable. An improvised solution neither complies nor scales.

What if I sell to Europe through a distributor?

Responsibility rests with whoever places the product on the market, but a distributor will demand the DPP from its supplier. Having the passport ready makes you the preferred supplier, not the discarded one.

Related reading: What is a DPP? · How to implement a DPP · The research behind our approach