From Tag to Trust: Why Labels Are the Natural Starting Point for Digital Product Passports

Digital Product Passports (DPPs) are moving from concept to compliance. With the EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) phasing in from 2027/2028 for textiles, apparel brands are encouraged to start mapping their path to readiness unlocking the potential of DPP.

At SML, we believe readiness starts with something you already trust: the label. The label is the passport – linking a physical product to useful and regulator-ready data.

A Digital Product Passport you can scan, access, and trust

A Digital Product Passport (DPP) is a verified digital record that follows a product across its lifecycle. Accessible via QR or NFC, it turns product data into transparent, regulator‑ready data such as materials, origin, care, repair, and recycling.

Verify — product authenticity and sustainability claims
Scan — a digital marker on the product
Access — lifecycle details instantly (materials, origin, care, repair, recycling) and other relevant data points

Why start with the label?

We guide brands to place digital IDs where products live: on the product. Labels and data carriers remain a reliable, scalable way to connect consumers, regulators, and supply chains to the same verified source of truth.

A snapshot of DPP-ready products from SML:

• Care labels with printed QR
• Heat transfer labels with QR
• Woven labels with printed or woven QR
• SmartPeel dual labels (removable consumer-facing QR)
• NFC options (for tap-to-verify experiences)

Each carrier ties to either SKU or a unique product ID and the same secure data record-so you can start at SKU-level and scale to item-level or jump straight to item-level.

What data are expected to belong in a textile DPP?

A useful DPP balances compliance and clarity. Typical fields include:

• Unique product identifier (QR/NFC) : one source of truth
• Materials and substances of concern : reduce risk, inform choices
• Manufacturing site and country of origin : visibility and accountability
• Environmental footprint and certifications : evidence over claims
• Care and safety : fewer returns, longer product life
• Repairability, recyclability, end‑of‑life guidance : enable circularity
• Traceability events (EPCIS/GS1‑aligned) : supply chain transparency

Note: EU specifics are expected to be finalized in 2027.

Start by understanding where your data lives! Our approach supports API integration, document uploads (PDF/Excel/images), and manual entry – so every supplier can participate, regardless of digital maturity.

Make compliance practical: SKU-level → Item-level

We facilitate phased adoption, so brands meet timelines without overhauling everything at once.

• Prioritize product lines at SKU-level.
• Define and standardize your core data fields.
• Onboard suppliers using the right path (manual, doc upload, API).
• Apply the right carrier per product and process.
• Scale to item-level when ready, and add governance for ongoing compliance as well as unlocking customer engagement initiatives.

DPP: A Natural Extension of What We Already Do

For 40 years, SML has helped brands tag, encode, and trace billions of items across global supply chains. We see Digital Product Passports as the next chapter: item‑level transparency made practical by connecting QR/NFC labels to verified data and simple governance.

• From item-level RFID to QR/NFC: the identification layer is our foundation.
• From printing and encoding to data platforms: we unite physical carriers and digital records.
• From factories to stores: we support global rollout with local execution.

Why Brands Are Choosing SML for DPP

• One Partner, End-to-End
  From labels (QR/NFC) and encoding to data workflows, dashboards, and consumer/regulator views, SML manages the complete chain – from factory to shelf and beyond.

• Simple, Compliant, Scalable
  Designed for real operations, not just demos. EU ESPR-aligned, security-first, and built to grow from pilots to global rollouts.
  

• Data onboarding that fits your supply chain
  We support data onboarding via API, document uploads, or manual entry, because not every supplier has a system, a dashboard, or even a laptop. From spreadsheets to smartphone photos, we meet your supply chain where it is and bring everyone along. No one gets left behind.
  

• Proven at Scale, Trusted by Leaders
  More than 40 years in secure identification, global execution across regions, ESG credibility, and active pilots with leading apparel brands.

“From Tag to Trust” – What That Means in Practice

• When a shopper scans a QR/NFC label and sees clear product data, trust begins.
• When supplier data flows into a single governed system, complexity fades.
• When compliance becomes a customer experience, preference and loyalty grow.

What’s Next: Pilot Today, Scale Next

We’re piloting our DPP solution with leading apparel brands to prove fit across sourcing, compliance, circularity, and consumer experience. These programs are shaping the next wave of DPP value: from authentication and resale to repair and end‑of‑life services. Building on these pilots, we’re developing the next generation of value‑driven opportunities unlocked by DPP, while preparing for a broader rollout. Onboarding slots are filling fast.