Everything you need to know about the Digital Product Passport (DPP), in one place

The DPP was created under the umbrella of the European Union's Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and the Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP).

This system responds to several key challenges:

Lack of transparency in complex supply chains.

Difficulty in measuring the real environmental impact of products.

Need to support circular business models based on repair, reuse, and recycling.

Thanks to the DPP, products will no longer be black boxes. Consumers will know, for example, if a phone was made with recycled minerals, if its battery was replaced, or what its carbon footprint is.

Companies, for their part, will be able to monitor and optimize each phase of the product life cycle.

Specific content may vary by industry, but common elements include:

Basic product information

Trade name, model, serial number or batch

Date of manufacture and estimated duration

Warranty and conditions of use

Materials information

Origin of raw materials and components

Percentage of recycled or critical materials

Information on hazardous or conflict substances

Repairability and maintenance

Repairability index

Repair and replacement history

Availability of spare parts and manuals

End of useful life

Recycling instructions

Possibility of reuse or remanufacturing

Sustainability indicators

Carbon and energy footprint

Environmental impact in production, use and disposal phases

Ownership and transfers

Ownership history for durable or resalable products

Accessibility and data protection

Personalized access according to the user profile

Protection of sensitive information through encryption or zero-knowledge proofs

From the entry into force of the ESPR (July 2024), all companies that manufacture, import, or market regulated products in the EU must implement DPPs, regardless of their country of origin.

The first required sectors include:

Batteries (industrial and electric vehicle) – from 2026

Textiles (clothing and footwear) – from 2027-2030

Consumer electronics – from 2027-2030

Construction products – from 2027-2030

Furniture, paints, detergents, chemicals, lubricants, tires, and packaging – from 2027-2030

Step 1: Centralize product information

Companies should consolidate all technical, environmental, and usage information from design to end-of-life. Using product information management (PIM) systems or traceability software is recommended.

Step 2: Collaborate with suppliers

Traceability is only possible if suppliers share data on raw materials, working conditions, and processes. It is vital to include transparency clauses in contracts.

Step 3: Use appropriate technologies

DPP can be integrated into a product using common technologies (QR, RFID, NFC), while digital infrastructure can leverage blockchain technologies to ensure security and decentralization.

Step 4: Automate processes

Much data already exists in corporate ERPs. Using traceability software, this data can be automatically integrated into the DPP system, reducing errors and costs.

Step 5: Ensure data security

To prevent sensitive information (such as chemical formulas or designs) from being exposed, encryption methods or techniques such as zero-knowledge proofs are used, which allow compliance to be demonstrated without revealing data.

For companies

Regulatory compliance

Better environmental reputation

Access to new markets and customers

Optimization of product design and life cycle

New business models (servitization, recycling, buyback)

For consumers

Greater confidence in products

Ability to compare sustainability and durability

Facilitates repair, resale and recycling

For society and the planet

Reduction of waste and resource use

Incentive for the circular economy

Greater visibility on labor and social practices

Competitive advantage: Brands that adopt the DPP early can position themselves as leaders in sustainability.

Innovation in durable products: The DPP encourages competition based on quality, durability, and efficiency, rather than volume and obsolescence.

Real circular economy: Allows products to be designed for reuse, repair, and recycling from the start.

The Digital Product Passport is much more than a technological tool: it is a lever for transformation toward a more transparent, ethical, and sustainable economy. While its implementation poses significant challenges, it also opens up historic opportunities for companies that dare to lead the change.