AEPC and Green Story Launch Live Digital Product Passports for MSME Exporters at Bharat Tex 2026

Pilot enables 25 MSME garment exporters to showcase EU-compliant Digital Product Passports ahead of the EU Central DPP Registry launch

At Bharat Tex 2026, the Apparel Export Promotion Council of India (AEPC) and sustainability intelligence platform Green Story have introduced live Digital Product Passports (DPPs) for 25 MSME garment exporters. The initiative comes five days before the EU Central DPP Registry is scheduled to go live on July 19, supporting exporters in meeting upcoming European sustainability and traceability requirements.

Visitors to Bharat Tex 2026 can access live Digital Product Passports (DPPs) at the stalls of 25 Indian garment manufacturers by scanning QR codes displayed alongside products. Each passport provides verified information on a product’s carbon footprint, material composition and supply chain journey, aligning with the data requirements under the European Union’s upcoming Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR).

The deployment is part of a pilot programme jointly undertaken by the Apparel Export Promotion Council of India (AEPC) and sustainability intelligence platform Green Story. The rollout comes ahead of the launch of the EU Central DPP Registry on July 19, which forms part of the European Union’s product transparency framework.

According to the organisations, while the recently concluded India–European Union (EU) Free Trade Agreement (FTA) reduces import tariffs, buyers are increasingly seeking verified sustainability and traceability data as part of sourcing requirements. The initiative is intended to help Indian exporters prepare for these evolving compliance expectations.

The pilot programme focused on 25 MSME exporters, enabling them to generate EU-compliant Digital Product Passports within a few weeks using Green Story’s AI-enabled platform. The passports include product-level environmental footprints and material origin information based on verified secondary Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) data. The framework also allows manufacturers to transition to primary facility data over time.

Dr. A. Sakthivel, Chairman, AEPC, said, "The global apparel trade is entering a new era where market access will increasingly be supported by sustainability, transparency and digital traceability. As the proposed India–European Union (EU) Free Trade Agreement is expected to create new opportunities for Indian apparel exporters, it is equally important for the industry to be prepared for evolving EU sustainability and traceability requirements, including the Digital Product Passport framework. AEPC is committed to preparing Indian apparel exporters, particularly MSMEs, to meet these emerging requirements with confidence. Our collaboration with Green Story on the Digital Product Passport pilot is a significant step towards building future-ready capabilities, strengthening India's competitiveness and reinforcing our position as a trusted and responsible global sourcing destination."

Akhil Sivanandan, CEO, Green Story, said, "The breakthrough here isn't just our platform technology - it's the speed and ease of adoption. Moving a manufacturer from zero data infrastructure to a live, EU-ready product passport in a few weeks is a massive shift. Seeing it function in real-time on a busy trade show floor is exactly the frictionless outcome we aimed to achieve with AEPC."