The way that products are made, tracked, and disposed of is evolving due to a global movement towards sustainability and transparency. The Digital Product Passport (DPP), which will soon be a legal requirement for businesses operating in the European Union in industries like textiles, electronics, and batteries beginning in 2026, is at the heart of this movement.
The DPP is a component of the EU's Green Deal, specifically the Circular Economy Action Plan. These rules aim to reduce waste and help consumers and other businesses make more informed product decisions.
In this blog, we will go over the definition of a DPP, its advantages, and how to create one using digital tools like smart labels, RFID, and QR codes, explaining the role technologies like RFID and QR codes can play in DPP.
A Digital Passport for Products? Understanding What Is DPP
Humans carry their passports when they travel abroad. The passport is a legal document that serves as proof of a person's nationality. Can the same concept be applied to products as well? Well, the European Union thinks so.
A structured digital record known as a Digital Product Passport (DPP) follows a product through its entire lifecycle, from the procurement of raw materials to recycling at the end of its useful life. It records important information such as:
1. Date and place of manufacture
2. Guidelines for recycling, reuse, and repair that address the effects on the environment and carbon emissions
3. Compliance information, ESG metrics, and certifications
When and Who Must Comply?
In the EU, the Digital Product Passport is progressing from a concept to a requirement, with some sectors potentially implementing it as early as 2026. Consequently, companies that want to sell or export goods to the EU market must take action quickly or risk falling behind.
a. Industries with Immediate Scope:
The European Commission states that DPP compliance will initially be required for:
1. Clothing and Textiles
2. ICT and consumer electronics
3. EV and Industrial Batteries
b. DPP's Program Schedule:
1.2024–2025: Final pilot test to finish the framework
2. 2026: Electronics and batteries start to become available
3. Textiles are required in 2027–2028, and other product families will also be affected.
How to Create a Digital Product Passport: A Comprehensive Guide
Creating a DPP involves more than just entering data; it involves integrating the product lifecycle, digital traceability, and sustainability reporting into a system. Here's how to begin:
Step 1: Determine the scope of the product.
Start by determining which of your product lines are covered by the DPP laws that are in place or will soon be. Pay attention to determining which products are offered for sale in EU markets, fall under the categories of shoes, textiles, electronics, and batteries, and have traceability information, even if it is only partial.
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Step 2: Product Lifecycle Mapping
Every phase of the product's lifecycle will be documented by you: Raw materials- a certain kind, source, and origin
a. Use- durability, user instructions
b. Distribution- packaging, logistics
Manufacturer- location, energy consumption, process
c. The end of life: recyclability, disposal, and refurbishing
Step 3: Gather Information
Collect all required information, including:
a. Material make-up (e.g. % polyester, battery chemicals)
b. Environmental impact data (e.g. carbon footprint, water use)
c. Repairability score or instructions
d. Third-party certifications (e.g. CE, RoHS)
e. End-of-life handling information
Step 4: Create a Unique Product Identifier
Each product must have a Unique Digital ID-such as a serial number, which is tied to product data. You can use one of the following technologies:
a. RFID tag to feed information long-range, high-volume
b. QR code to allow consumers to easily access products
c. An NFC chip that enables touch-based, interactive access to data
Step 5: Link the Data to a Cloud-based DPP Platform
Store your product data together in a safe (secure) cloud-based system.
a. Make sure your platform can allow:
b. Updates over time (repair logs
c. Accessibility for regulators, partners, and consumers
d. Full compliance with the EU data protection standards (GDPR).
Step 6: Establish Access Points for Customers and the Supply Chain
Identify the information that must be shared:
a. Customers (repair guidelines, recyclable materials, sustainability rating)
b. Logistics or retail partners (origin, inventory tracking)
c. Regulators (e.g., ESG data, materials origin, proof of compliance)
d. Create an application, QR scan, or embedded link as a means of accessing the user interface.
Step 7: Examine and Update Often
Once your procedure has been established, test it:
a. Is it possible to track the product from the manufacturer to the customer?
b. Is the scanned data complete and readable?
c. Is it possible to update information securely?
The Role of RFID, QR, and NFC as Digital Product Passport Facilitators
It takes more than just compiling the appropriate data to fully utilise Digital Product Passports; it also requires that the data be presented in an easy-to-access, safe, and secure manner. This is where NFC, RFID, and QR codes are useful.
Radio Frequency Identification, or RFID:
a. Intended for high-velocity, hands-free supply chain tracking.
b. Enables the scanning of numerous products in bulk.
c. Perfect for use cases involving business-to-business (B2B) transactions,
d. Distribution centres, factories, and warehouses.
e. It might keep the special serial number linked to the digital passport.
QR Codes:
a. Inexpensive and accessible through any smartphone
b. Perfect for products aimed at consumers (e.g., clothing, electronics, packaging)
c. May contain a URL that directs the scanner to the complete DPP interface or synopsis.
Near Field Communication, or NFC:
a. Excellent for interacting with a product in person
b. Connecting to the DPP by tapping or bumping a smartphone against a product
c. Excellent for high-end goods, electronics, and retail fashion.
The Digital Product Passport is a revolution rather than just a rule. It is about giving products a second (and third) life, being transparent, and being circular. And the companies that capitalise on it first will be the ones driving the sustainable economy of the future.
Frequently Asked Questions About DPP
Q1. Is the Digital Product Passport required?
Indeed, the DPP will be required starting in 2026 as part of the EU's Eco-design for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), which will initially apply to industries like electronics, batteries, and textiles before expanding to other industries.
Q2. Are certain industries required to fulfil the DPP requirements before others?
1. Clothing and textiles
2. ICT and consumer electronics
3. EV batteries and industrial batteries
Q3. Which technologies will make DPP compliance easier?
Direct access to DPP data is made possible by technologies like NFC, QR, and RFID codes. They are smart tags that link a tangible object to cloud-based digital reference data that can be accessed through a reader or scanner.
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