Purpose – To provide an understanding of how the implementation of a DPP impacts the production system of manufacturers in the textile industry, the purpose of the underlying thesis is to assess challenges and enablers for the Digital Product Passport (DPP) implementation in general and continues to focus on the requirements of the textile industry as well as textile manufacturers’ production systems specifically. The goal is to provide an initial understanding of the drivers of project complexity for the DPP implementation and to give an insight into which hurdles need to be overcome in the beginning of DPP implementation projects.

Method – For the underlying thesis the Design Research Methodology framework was applied. In order to build a theoretical baseline for the thesis, a literature review was performed. The results of the literature review were further used to answer the three research questions defined. For this the performed literature review focused on the topics Digital Product Passport and Battery Passport. Complementary, empirical findings were obtained by conducting different empirical data collection methods. The company chosen to collaborate with was a global manufacturer of hardgoods and softgoods outdoor gear. Empirical data collection methods included a workshop, document studies and expert interviews. Lastly, findings from observing the CIRPASS conference contributed to answering the three research questions.

Findings – Conducting projects for the implementation of DPPs are complex and affect multiple company-internal and external stakeholders. The implementation of the DPP has both direct and indirect impacts on the production systems of manufacturers within the textile industry. Directly, the integration of a physical data carrier into products requires modifications in the production processes to accommodate this new component. Indirectly, the introduction of the DPP fosters long-term transformations in production systems by promoting the development of products and manufacturing processes that support higher levels of circularity. This shift is accommodated by implications of a textile manufacturer’s manufacturing strategy, production technology, production materials and manufacturing processes.

Conclusions & Delimitations – The underlying thesis has contributed to academia by exploring challenges and enablers for the DPP implementation as well as its implications on manufacturers’ production systems specifically for the textile industry. Initiating step three of the DRM framework makes an industrial contribution by aiding companies within the textile industry to reflect on how their production might be affected by the DPP. Further research is suggested to continue the project with completing step three as well as carrying out step four of the DRM methodology. Results of the third and fourth DRM step should include evaluated artifacts that aid actors during DPP implementation projects. Such artifacts could include evaluated andtested data collection matrices, check lists or DPP implementation roadmaps specifically tailored to the textile industry.