#DelogueUncovered: EPR, materials and exports

Welcome to #DelogueUncovered - We receive many questions from our community about best practices, industry insights, and how to get the most out of Delogue PLM. That’s why we created #DelogueUncovered - a knowledge-sharing series where we address some of the most frequently asked questions from our community.

This month’s Q&A focused on practical product development questions from brands and suppliers, as well as the fast-approaching Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations. Below is a recap of the most common questions and answers.

Q: Can suppliers print or see costing the same way buyers can with the thumbnail view?

The buyer-facing thumbnail print function is brand-only, but suppliers can achieve the same result through the Style Custom Report. By filtering for their assigned styles and selecting the right columns, suppliers can generate a report that includes price information, comments, and brand target prices.

This ensures both sides are looking at the same data without the supplier having unnecessary access. Once a brand marks a price as agreed (status green), it locks - preventing changes and providing a clear record of negotiations.

For suppliers, this avoids confusion and makes it easier to keep track of what’s still under discussion. For brands, it ensures price agreements are documented and auditable.

Q; Is there a dashboard for unread communications, like the Tasks dashboard?

Currently, there is no dedicated dashboard for unread messages. However, users can create a filter in Main → Messages → Unread, and then save it as a favorite for quick access. This creates a personal workflow where new and pending messages are always visible.

Looking ahead, with the rollout of Delogue 2.0, the communication module will adopt the same flexible list and column structure used in Tasks. This means users will eventually be able to sort, filter, and structure communications in much more detail. While not live yet, it’s important for teams to know this is the direction: moving from siloed lists to a unified, customizable overview.

Q: How do I add a new material so it’s available in Care Instructions?

All new materials are created in Admin → Care Instructions → Materials. Once added, they become selectable in both Items and Care Instructions. This centralized approach ensures consistency across the platform.

When setting up materials, it’s best practice to align names with the official EU fiber list used in care labels. That way, the same data can be reused in labeling and compliance, reducing the risk of misalignment later. For brands working with many new materials at once, the import/export function allows for faster bulk updates.

Q: Can suppliers download care instructions? Are they included in Tech Pack exports?

Suppliers can access care instructions, but only through the Output setup that brands configure. When a report is exported to Excel with “Include care instruction output,” all compositions and instructions appear in a structured overview.

At present, care instructions are not embedded directly as a tab within Tech Pack exports. This separation keeps Tech Packs lean, but it does mean brands must decide whether to share constructions separately. The upside is flexibility: brands can decide exactly what level of detail to share with suppliers and when.

Q: How do I print a size chart?

Size charts can be exported directly from the export button in the header of the style into Excel. This gives a clear, printable version of the size breakdown, useful for quality checks, fitting sessions, or when sharing sizing information with production partners.

Q: What’s happening with EPR and what should brands do now?

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is being phased in across the EU. The packaging requirement begins October 1, requiring companies to report on packaging waste.

For now, packaging should be the focus. In the Delogue platform that includes primary and secondary packaging - such as polybags, stickers, hangtags, or tissue paper - essentially anything that protects or presents the product before retail. Items that are sewn into the garment, like woven labels, are excluded because they’re part of the product itself.

Understanding this distinction early helps avoid reporting mistakes later and ensures teams are gathering the right data during product development.

Q: How can packaging data be captured in Delogue for easier reporting later?

The best approach is to treat packaging as Items inside Delogue, just like fabrics or trims. Each packaging element should include:

• Category: create a packaging and a tag category, to be able to filter on them.

• Details: add supplier codes, composition, weight, and units of measurement.

• Custom fields: set up fields to map items against national EPR categories, so you can tick the relevant boxes during setup.

When it’s time to report, the Item Custom Report → Used in Season function allows brands to filter specifically for packaging. Exporting the report with “Expand Used in Styles” shows exactly which packaging items are tied to which styles.

This doesn’t generate the final EPR calculation, but it creates a clean dataset that can be imported into compliance or ERP systems. Doing it at development stage, instead of backtracking later, dramatically reduces workload and ensures brands stay in control of what packaging suppliers use.

Q: Can suppliers change fabric composition if it evolves during development? 

No - items are controlled by brands. This ensures accuracy and avoids accidental changes. However, suppliers can be asked to provide information through custom fields. These can be made editable so suppliers can indicate things like certifications, testing results, or changes in raw material availability.

This strikes a balance: suppliers contribute critical data, while brands maintain control over official item composition.

Q: How can custom fields support compliance work?

Custom fields are one of the most flexible tools in Delogue. They can be applied at style or item level and used for anything from EPR categories to risk assessments. For example, a previous setup for the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) allowed brands to document risk evaluations directly on each style, storing the data where it belongs - next to the product.

The same principle applies to EPR or sustainability certifications. By setting up editable custom fields, brands can capture supplier input, keep records transparent, and quickly generate compliance reports when needed.

Looking ahead

We have monthly Q&A's, check out when the next one is here. They will continue to balance hands-on product questions with updates on regulatory requirements. Invitations will follow soon, and until then, Knowledge Base guides are available for deeper step-by-step instructions.

We hope this gave you some clarity! 

Do you have any questions you'd want us to dive into? Send us an email to marketing@delogue.com or DM us on LinkedIn or Instagram with your question(s) and we'll bring it in the next edition of #DelogueUncovered. 

Best, 

Your Delogue team