UNIDO: Readiness assessment for the textiles sector

The European Union will introduce a new regulation mandating that almost all products sold within the EU include a Digital Product Passport (DPP). As part of the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, this initiative seeks to improve transparency throughout product value chains by offering detailed information on a product’s origin, materials, environmental footprint, and disposal guidelines. The DPP aims to bridge the gap between consumer expectations for transparency and the existing shortage of reliable product data. Although DPP is still currently under the process of being shaped and piloted, the consultation processes have largely only been undertaken within Europe, and the Global South has not been engaged in this process. There is a risk that DPP would not reflect the reality in the Global South, thereby making it impossible for producers and suppliers in the Global South to adhere with the DPP requirements, potentially being excluded from Global Value Chains.  


The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is therefore conducting a readiness assessment and subsequent global dialogues to present an understanding of the existing knowledge and potential challenges of the implementation of digital product passports in the textile industry in the global south. In order to provide comprehensive insights into this, both secondary desk research as well as empiric data from SMEs and industry associations will be gathered from major textile countries including China, India, Turkey, and Egypt to pinpoint the unique challenges pertinent to the Global South in implementing a DPP from technology and organizational readiness to policy and awareness.  


The assessment report will leverage UNIDO’s experience in directly working with the Global South in the textile industry as well as partnerships with other Digital for Circular Economy Impact Initiative (D4CE) Members to effectively navigate the complex landscape of global supply chain regulations and provide recommendations to the needs addressed.


The recommendations of the assessment will also contribute to the global framework for digital product information systems.