What is the Digital Product Passport?
The Digital Product Passport (DPP) is a machine-readable, standardized dataset that makes information about a product, component or material digitally accessible. The EU Ecodesign Regulation (ESPR, EU 2024/1781) creates the framework; concrete data fields and timelines are set product group by product group.
Each DPP needs a unique product identifier and a data carrier such as QR code, NFC or RFID. Consumers, repair shops, recyclers and market surveillance authorities can receive different product information depending on their access level. More about the ESPR Regulation →
When does the DPP become mandatory?
The DPP is introduced gradually. A fixed date already exists for affected batteries; for other product groups, binding requirements arise only through the relevant delegated acts:
- Batteries over 2 kWh — 18 February 2027 — individual battery passport per unit under EU Battery Regulation (2023/1542).
- Iron & Steel — Prioritised in the ESPR Working Plan 2025–2030; concrete duties follow through delegated acts.
- Textiles & Tyres — Prioritised in the ESPR Working Plan 2025–2030; final data fields and transition periods are not yet fixed.
- Furniture, aluminium & mattresses — Priority product groups in the ESPR Working Plan; companies should prepare data models without assuming final field lists.
- Electrical and electronic products — Horizontal measures on repairability, recyclability and recycled content are included in the working plan.
What data does a DPP contain?
The exact data requirements are set by the delegated act per product category. Typical mandatory data includes:
- Product identification — Unique identifier, GTIN, model number, manufacturer.
- Material composition — Fiber types, recycled content, origin of critical raw materials, SVHC declaration.
- Carbon footprint — Scope 1–3 emissions, production energy, transport emissions following PEF methodology.
- Repairability — Spare parts availability, repair instructions, disassembly capability.
- Recyclability — Material purity, separability, recycling information for dismantling facilities.
- Supply chain — Production sites, due diligence records for EUDR and supply chain regulations.
Who is responsible?
Primarily the economic operator who first places the product on the EU market — typically the manufacturer (for EU production) or the importer (for third-country production). Distributors have derived obligations: they must verify that a valid DPP is available before reselling the product. The responsibility chain is governed by ESPR Art. 27–30.
DPP vs. EPD vs. PEF — the distinction
Three frequently confused terms — they complement each other but are not interchangeable:
- DPP (Digital Product Passport) — Regulatory container format under ESPR (Reg. 2024/1781). Machine-readable, dynamic, maintained throughout the product lifecycle — covers repairability, recycling, supply chain and SVHC data.
- EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) — Verified LCA-based document under ISO 14025 — typically a static PDF. Focused purely on environmental impacts.
- PEF (Product Environmental Footprint) — Harmonized EU methodology for calculating environmental impacts. Provides the data foundation that feeds into DPP and EPD.
In practice: PEF calculates → EPD verifies → DPP publishes and keeps the data current throughout the lifecycle.
DPP standards & carrier technologies
The ESPR mandates the data construct but leaves the technical implementation open. The following standards have established themselves in the EU:
- CIRPASS-2 — EU-funded consortium defining the reference architecture, data models and interoperability schemas for the DPP.
- GS1 Digital Link — Likely standard for QR code-to-DPP linking. Uses existing GTIN infrastructure — no hardware replacement required.
- ECLASS — Cross-vendor and cross-industry classification standard. Provides characteristics and structures for DPP data fields (from Release 15.0).
- Asset Administration Shell (AAS) / Eclipse BaSyx — Industry 4.0 standard for representing digital twins — the basis for the Fraunhofer DPP demonstrator.
SME relief and transition periods
ESPR requires proportionality and SME support when concrete requirements are developed. Longer transition periods or simplified data duties depend on the relevant delegated act. Under the destruction ban, micro and small enterprises are exempt; medium-sized companies receive a longer transition period.
Funding programmes can reduce the entry barrier, but they change regularly. Companies should check current BAFA, BMWK, regional and EU programmes and should not assume generic grant rates in DPP planning.
How do I prepare?
Companies that start building their product data foundation now can map product-specific DPP duties faster once delegated acts are final. Nulara helps structure product data from existing ERP and PIM systems, manage evidence and make product passports accessible via GS1 Digital Link.
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