The EU Digital Product Passport (DPP), a key provision of the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), is transforming how consumers, businesses, and regulators access product information. Following the ESPR’s entry into force on 18 July 2024, DPPs are now moving from planning into phased implementation, embedding transparency and sustainability across product lifecycles.
What Is the Digital Product Passport?
The DPP is a digital record that accumulates essential data about a product’s entire lifecycle. It is accessible through a unique identifier such as a QR code, barcode, NFC tag, or RFID chip. This record includes key details such as the product’s model, batch, or serial number, along with documentation to demonstrate compliance with EU regulations. It also provides comprehensive information about material composition, the presence of any substances of concern, and guidance for use, repair, and end-of-life disposal.
Beyond regulatory compliance, the EU Digital Product Passport supports broader goals such as traceability and authenticity verification. It helps businesses and regulators confirm the origins and attributes of a product, reducing the risk of counterfeiting and increasing accountability. Additionally, the DPP plays a vital role in promoting circular economy objectives by supporting reuse, repair, and recycling initiatives across sectors.
Why It Matters: Drivers and Benefits
- Boosting Transparency and Trust
DPPs help close the trust gap between what consumers expect and product reality. By offering accessible, verified data, they build confidence and counter greenwashing. In luxury sectors, for example, consumers increasingly seek detailed information on origin, authenticity, and resale prospects through DPPs. - Enabling Circularity
DPPs inform repair, remanufacturing, and recycling, facilitating the move from linear to circular product lifecycles. - Strengthening Compliance and Surveillance
The DPP serves as a technical file for safety regulators, simplifying conformity checks under the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR). - Unlocking Business Value
Companies can leverage DPP data to innovate service models, engage consumers, and boost brand differentiation. DPPs also support resale and take-back programs by verifying product history, especially valuable in fashion and electronics.
Timeline and Regulatory Path
| Milestone | Date / Phase | Details |
| ESPR Enacted | 18 July 2024 | Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 entered into force. |
| Working Plan Released | 16 April 2025 | ESPR Working Plan 2025-2030 published. |
| DPP Registry Operational | By 19 July 2026 | Central EU registry for DPPs expected. |
| Mandatory Start | From 2027 | Batteries required to have DPPs; other sectors follow. |
| Technical Standards Finalized | By 2028 | Final system and data requirements expected. |
| Phased Enforcement | 2026-2030 | Delegated acts define sector-specific DPP requirements, scaling across priority industries. |
Priority sectors include batteries, textiles, electronics/ICT, furniture, steel/metal materials, and construction products. Batteries lead the rollout with compliance obligations beginning in 2027, while other categories will phase in between 2027 and 2030.
Connecting with Open Data Principles
The DPP exemplifies open data ideals—structured, accessible, and reusable. By establishing standardized formats and public access, the EU ensures streamlined data sharing across supply chains, empowers consumer choice with accessible and reliable information, and creates a foundation for industry collaboration around sustainability metrics and practices.
Germany and EU standards bodies, including CEN, CENELEC, and ETSI, are actively working on interoperability and data standards to ensure consistent implementation across markets.
How Companies Can Prepare for the EU Digital Product Passport
To stay ahead, businesses should continue assessing their current data readiness. This involves mapping where product data is stored and identifying gaps in areas like materials reporting, repairability, and lifecycle metrics. From there, companies should upgrade their digital infrastructure, including systems for collecting and managing product information, and explore technologies such as QR tags, ERP integration, and cloud-based compliance tools.
Stakeholder engagement is also critical. Assigning an internal DPP or ESPR lead and involving suppliers early will help ensure data flows smoothly throughout the supply chain. Companies should consider launching pilot projects in high-priority product groups to test processes from data capture through to customer-facing implementation. Finally, staying informed on regulatory developments, particularly the delegated acts now being adopted in 2025, will allow organizations to remain agile and responsive as requirements evolve.
Conclusion and Call to Action
With the EU Digital Product Passport, companies can more effectively demonstrate product integrity while consumers gain reliable, transparent information to guide sustainable decisions. Grounded in the ESPR and aligned with open data principles, DPPs strengthen accountability across supply chains and accelerate the shift toward circular value chains.
Key Takeaways:
• The ESPR and DPP framework is in force, with implementation advancing through 2030.
• Batteries will be the first product group to require DPPs starting in 2027, with additional sectors phased in by 2030.
• Final technical standards are expected by 2028, giving businesses a clear framework for compliance.
• Companies should continue investing in systems, data readiness, and pilot projects to stay ahead of requirements.
Start preparing for DPP implementation now by strengthening data practices, testing pilot projects, and aligning systems with upcoming requirements. For tailored guidance on building readiness and turning compliance into advantage, contact Tetra Tech’s experts at [email protected].
