Digital Product Passports: What Brands Need to Know
A digital product passport (DPP) is a digital record of a product’s materials, origin, environmental impact and end-of-life handling, reachable from the product itself. In the EU it is moving from pilot projects to legal requirement, product group by product group. This hub explains what that means for brands.
What the EU rules say
- The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) entered into force on 18 July 2024 and makes the DPP part of EU product rules (Latham & Watkins).
- Requirements are set per product group through separate acts. Textiles and iron and steel are among the first groups; the first product requirements are expected to apply from 2027/2028 (same source).
- Batteries already have their own rule: under the EU Batteries Regulation, a battery passport is required from 18 February 2027 for EV, industrial and light-transport batteries above 2 kWh (Switzerland Global Enterprise).
What goes into a passport
- Product identity and manufacturer details.
- Materials, substances of concern and origin.
- Environmental footprint and recycled content.
- Repair, reuse and recycling instructions.
Does it need a blockchain?
No. The EU rules do not prescribe a technology. A blockchain can help when many companies must write to the same record and nobody wants a single party to control it; a well-run database with access controls can meet the requirements too. The harder work is collecting reliable supplier data.
First steps for a brand
- Map which of your product groups are in scope and when.
- Inventory the supplier data you already have and the gaps.
- Choose a data carrier (QR code, NFC or RFID) that fits the product and packaging.
- Use the passport for customers too: care, repair and resale information.
Frequently asked questions
It depends on the product group. Batteries from February 2027; other groups such as textiles follow through their own acts, with first requirements expected from 2027/2028.
A QR code is a common data carrier, but the specific carrier is set for each product group.
This is defined per product group; repairers and recyclers may need access to update or read data.
This page is for general information only and is not legal, financial or investment advice.