MiB-CED, BRAC University publishes Dissemination Report on Digital Product Passport (DPP) Readiness in Bangladesh’s Ready-Made Garment Sector
Bangladesh’s ready-made garment sector already has much of the data needed to prepare for the Digital Product Passport (DPP), but a new pilot report finds that data availability alone does not mean DPP readiness.
The DPP Pilot Dissemination Report, prepared by MiB-CED, BRAC University, based on the MiB-MicelioData pilot, assesses the current readiness of Bangladesh’s RMG sector and identifies the data, technology, governance and capacity gaps that need to be addressed.
The report finds that leading RMG manufacturers already maintain substantial product, factory, certification, quality and environmental information. The challenge is to make this information structured, granular, interoperable, verifiable and properly governed so it can support future DPP requirements.
Product data is relatively strong, but upstream traceability remains limited
The pilot’s data-readiness assessment shows different levels of preparedness across key DPP information categories.
Product identity is among the strongest areas. SKU, style, order, batch and data-carrier information are generally available. The next requirement is to standardise identifiers and connect them more effectively with digital data carriers.
Manufacturer and facility information is also strong. Factory identity, address, certifications and compliance status are generally maintained. The report recommends connecting these facility profiles directly with product records.
The picture becomes weaker further up the supply chain. Material composition has moderate readiness, while raw-material origin ranges from limited to moderate. Information on spinners, ginners, traders, cotton origin and recycled-input sources requires stronger supplier onboarding and traceability mechanisms.
This upstream gap could become significant as future DPP requirements place greater emphasis on material origin and supply-chain traceability.
Chemical and environmental data need stronger product-level links
Chemical compliance is another area where information exists but is not always sufficiently structured.
Factories may hold SDS, ZDHC, bluesign, OEKO-TEX, REACH/RSL and substances-of-concern information, but the report categorises chemical compliance readiness as partial. It recommends creating evidence repositories that connect certificates and other documentation to specific processes or batches.
Energy and carbon data are comparatively strong at facility level. The challenge is allocating this information to individual products or processes. The report categorises energy/carbon readiness as strong at facility level but only partial at product level.
Water and waste information is also partial. Factories may have water-use, wastewater and waste records, but stronger product/process links and better circularity classification are required.
Quality and durability data offer a stronger starting point. Records covering colour fastness, pilling, abrasion, dimensional stability and care labels are generally available. The report recommends digitally mapping these quality records to future DPP fields.
Circularity remains one of the weakest areas
The report identifies circularity and end-of-life information as limited.
Data covering repairability, recyclability, recycled content, disassembly and expected waste is not yet sufficiently developed. The report recommends stronger product-design and circularity guidance to address this gap.
This is significant because the proposed future DPP dataset includes information on recyclability, disassembly, waste streams, reuse and recycling pathways, as well as end-of-life instructions.
DPP readiness is not simply a software exercise
One of the report’s central findings is that DPP implementation cannot be approached as a standalone software project.
Data is often spread across ERP systems, spreadsheets, certificates, emails and departmental records. Different teams may control different parts of the information. Turning those records into DPP-ready data requires common structures, clear ownership, evidence management and access rules.
The report says DPP readiness will require internal factory systems, supplier cooperation, buyer alignment, national data standards, public-private governance, technical infrastructure and SME support.
Data governance is particularly important because not all information can be openly shared. The future ecosystem will need to distinguish between public, buyer-facing, authority-only, legitimate-interest, confidential and commercially sensitive information.
The report’s proposed approach includes a federated ecosystem rather than requiring all company information to sit in one central database.
MSMEs face a larger readiness challenge
The pilot also highlights an inclusion risk.
The participating manufacturers were relatively advanced and well-resourced. Their readiness cannot be assumed to represent the entire RMG sector. Smaller manufacturers and accessory suppliers may have less awareness, weaker digital systems, limited sustainability data and fewer resources for technology investment.
The report specifically calls for support for MSMEs to collect facility-level sustainability data, build technical capacity, make digital investments and connect with future Bangladesh DPP or traceability infrastructure.
Small accessory suppliers are also important because incomplete information from suppliers of items such as trims and other components could create gaps in a finished product’s DPP record.
The report recommends concessional support or grants for MSME digital upgrades, facility-level data collection and supplier onboarding.
The report proposes a phased roadmap
The proposed roadmap begins with preparation rather than waiting for every final EU DPP requirement.
Within 0–6 months, priorities include establishing a coordination mechanism, finalising a Bangladesh textile DPP readiness template, conducting awareness sessions, expanding pilots to SMEs and Tier 2 actors, and preparing an MSME starter dataset and diagnostic checklist.
Within 6–18 months, the report proposes developing a federated registry MVP, testing identifiers and timestamp functions, building ERP/API connectors, creating certificate repositories, piloting product-batch traceability and establishing SME support mechanisms.
Within 18–36 months, pilots should expand across clusters and supply-chain tiers. The roadmap also proposes integrating customs and export processes where feasible, developing LCA and product-footprint capabilities, expanding circularity and waste data, and seeking EU and buyer recognition of the Bangladesh ecosystem.
Beyond 36 months, the report proposes institutionalising standards and assurance, updating templates as EU delegated acts evolve, integrating circular economy and recycling markets, and maintaining international interoperability through permanent DPP and traceability governance.
Bangladesh can start before the final rules arrive
The report advises Bangladesh not to wait for every final EU delegated act before beginning preparation.
Foundational measures such as unique identifiers, digital inventories, supplier mapping, certificate repositories, data dictionaries, access governance and SME support will remain useful even if the final textile DPP data requirements change.
The report ultimately finds that Bangladesh has a meaningful foundation for DPP readiness, particularly among leading RMG manufacturers. Yet sector-wide readiness will depend on extending that foundation beyond large factories to smaller manufacturers, Tier 2 suppliers, accessory suppliers and other value-chain actors.
The proposed minimum dataset for future pilots includes product identifiers, manufacturer and facility profiles, material data, chemical compliance evidence, environmental data, durability and quality records, circularity information, governance data, data-granularity markers, access-rights information and interoperable facility identifiers.
The report’s central message is clear: Bangladesh already has much of the information needed for DPP readiness, but the sector now needs to build the systems, standards, governance and supply-chain connections that can turn existing information into trusted product-level data.
Read the full report here
