Digital Product Passport for Circular Denim
The DPP4CD project (Digital Product Passport for Circular Denim) explores how digital product passports (DPPs) can support transparency and circularity in the denim industry. A DPP allows users to access detailed information about a product’s lifecycle—such as material origin, production processes, environmental impact, and end-of-life options—simply by scanning a QR code. While the concept is straightforward, implementing such a system across complex global supply chains presents significant challenges.
Led by Saxion’s Sustainable & Functional Textiles (SFT) research group, the project collaborates with industry and research partners to develop a practical framework for applying DPPs in denim. At its core is MUD Jeans, a Dutch brand known for its circular business model, including leasing and take-back systems. The project tackles four key challenges: regulatory compliance, data availability, supply chain transparency and trust, and feasibility for small and medium-sized enterprises.
After mapping the data requirements in its first phase, the project now focuses on operationalizing data collection and building the digital infrastructure needed to manage and share this information. To address missing data, it combines standardized data collection methods across the supply chain with secondary data sources and AI-based estimations of environmental impact.
DPP4CD demonstrates how digital tools can enable a more transparent and circular textile industry, helping brands communicate sustainability efforts and empowering consumers with reliable product information.
The project is led by Jirka Rajme and funded by the Dutch Research Council (SIA). Partners include Saxion research groups (Sustainable & Functional Textiles, Ambient Intelligence, Data Driven Innovation), Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, bAwear, MUD Jeans, Tejidos Royo, tex.tracer, Denim Deal, European Foundation for Sustainability and Innovation (EuFSI), MODINT, and GS1.
