Why PLM Plays a Critical Role in Digital Product Passports
PLM Is the System of Record for Product Data
PLM is where product information is created, refined, and approved. PLM already has the data needed for a Digital Product Passport. This includes styles, BOMs, materials, colors, factories, and certifications.
As the PLM system of record, it serves as the single source of truth for product data across the organization. Instead of creating a DPP as a standalone initiative, brands can leverage PLM to ensure consistency across:
- Design
- Sourcing
- Development
- Compliance
- Sustainability reporting
- Digital Product Passport (DPP)
This foundation is critical for long-term DPP compliance.
Traceability Starts in PLM
DPP regulations, particularly in the EU, place heavy emphasis on traceability.
PLM enables brands to function as true product traceability software by allowing them to:
- Track materials from fiber to finished good
- Associate suppliers and factories to specific components
- Capture country of origin and process data
- Maintain historical product records
This PLM traceability is essential for DPP compliance. It is much easier to manage when it is part of daily PLM workflows. Handling it manually or after the fact is not as effective.
Sustainability Data Is Built, Not Bolted On
Sustainability can’t be an afterthought.
PLM captures sustainability data, such as preferred materials, restricted substances, certifications, and environmental attributes, during product creation, not retroactively. This strengthens the quality and reliability of data used within a Digital Product Passport.
This means:
- Fewer gaps when building a DPP
- Reduced risk of greenwashing
- Faster response to regulatory changes
- Greater confidence in consumer-facing claims
PLM Supports Lifecycle Thinking, Not Just Go-to-Market
A key goal of Digital Product Passports is supporting the full product lifecycle, including repair, resale, and recycling.
PLM already manages:
- Product versions and revisions
- Material durability and care instructions
- Component-level detail useful for recycling
When PLM data supports a Digital Product Passport, brands can better use circular business models. They can also explain these models clearly to consumers.
Regulatory Readiness Without Reinventing the Wheel
As DPP requirements evolve, brands will need to update what data is collected and shared, often quickly.
PLM provides:
- Structured, governed data models
- Role-based access and approvals
- Audit trails and historical records
This makes PLM a natural platform for adapting to new DPP compliance requirements without constant rework or manual fixes.
PLM Helps Ensure the Accuracy of DPP Data
While many teams and partners contribute data to a Digital Product Passport, the brand remains ultimately accountable for its accuracy, especially when it comes to sustainability and compliance claims.
PLM plays a critical role by providing data governance and oversight. It allows brands to define clear ownership, control who can enter, review, and approve data, and ensure that supplier-provided information is validated before it is used. Structured data models, approval workflows, and audit trails help prevent unsupported claims and reduce the risk of greenwashing.
In short, PLM doesn’t just store DPP data. It helps ensure it is accurate, defensible, and ready for regulatory scrutiny.
The Bottom Line: PLM Makes DPPs Scalable
Digital Product Passports aren’t a one-time initiative. They are an ongoing commitment to transparency, accuracy, and accountability. Brands that start laying the groundwork now will be in the best position as requirements continue to evolve.
While DPPs are quickly becoming a regulatory requirement, the rules are still taking shape and will continue to change. What is clear is that the value of Digital Product Passports goes well beyond compliance.
Without PLM, DPP efforts tend to become manual, fragmented, and risky.
With PLM, they are far more scalable, credible, and built to adapt over time.
When powered by PLM, Digital Product Passports become:
- A transparency tool consumers can actually trust
- A way to back up sustainability claims with real data
- A new digital channel for storytelling and engagement
- A foundation for resale, repair, and circularity
For apparel brands, PLM isn’t just part of the DPP conversation. It’s the foundation.
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