The European Union is striving towards a circular and decarbonised economy by 2050. In this context, as you may have already heard, a new European regulation on ecodesign for sustainable products (ESPR) entered into force on 18 July 2024. The ESPR provides a legislative framework promoting more sustainable and circular products.
This new regulation, which is directly mandatory in all EU Member States (unlike a Directive, where a state creates its own laws in accordance with the European legal text within a set period), requires the soon-enough creation of a Digital Product Passport (DPP), in line with the Battery Regulation.
What Is a Digital Product Passport?
DPP is a digital identity card for products, components, and materials. It will store relevant information to support products sustainability, promote their circularity, and strengthen legal compliance.
In short, the DPP will make product sustainability information more accessible, help extend product lifespans, and improve sustainable product management. Customers will be better informed, resulting in more sustainable purchasing.
The CIRPASS project has developed roadmaps and prototypes for industries such as textiles, batteries, and electronics. So even if we do not yet have all specifications, you can check out their work.
Who Is Involved?
A recent study from the 6th International Conference on Industry 4.0 and Smart Manufacturing identified the key actors in the DPP ecosystem:
- Manufacturers: Main providers of product information and responsible for entering data into the DPP.
- Customers: Use DPP data for informed purchasing and disposal decisions.
- Disposers: Oversee end-of-life processes, ensuring proper recycling and disposal.
- Regulatory Authorities: Monitor DPP implementation and compliance.
- Technology Providers: Create and maintain the digital infrastructure (data platforms, AI, product tags like QR codes).
- European Commission: Acts as registry manager and ensures DPP governance.
When Will the DPP Become Mandatory?
The DPP is expected to enter into force around mid-2027, depending on the progress of the standardisation process.
Who Will Need a DPP?
The products requiring a DPP will be listed in delegated acts by the European Commission. In some cases, a component (e.g. a battery) may require a DPP even if the full product does not. The Commission may also exempt products where existing EU laws already require digital information systems (source).
The 2025–2030 working plan includes:
Consumer Products:
- Textile / Apparel (2027)
- Tyres (2027)
- Furniture (2028)
- Mattresses (2029)
Intermediate Products:
- Aluminium (2026)
- Iron and Steel (2027)
Specific obligations and timelines will be defined in upcoming delegated acts.
What Are the Technical Requirements?
According to the key provision 37 of the ESPR:
"Digitalised information about the product and its life cycle or, where applicable, its passport should be easily accessible by scanning a data carrier, such as a watermark or a quick response (QR) code. Where possible, the data carrier should be on the product itself to ensure the data remain accessible throughout its life cycle. However, derogations should be possible depending on the nature, size or use of the products concerned."
And Article 10.1.b adds:
"The data carrier shall be physically present on the product, its packaging or on documentation accompanying the product, as specified in the applicable delegated act."
All products will also need to carry a unique product identifier.
Why This Matters for Packaging and Product Information
This will have a huge impact on how you conceive packaging and manage product information. The exact implementation details are still pending, but major changes are coming, and they will affect workflows across multiple industries.
How a DAM Helps You Stay Ahead
This is where a Digital Asset Management (DAM) system comes in, to help you organise your assets, stay compliant, and streamline your product information workflows.
But not just any DAM, our DAM is a production DAM.
That means you can:
- Go beyond storage and build automated workflows.
- Create workflows for your entire organisation, not just one product.
- Receive notifications when documents aren't validated.
- Automatically send files back to their correct workflow stage.
- Use our high-quality online viewer to annotate all files, including 3D packaging files
- Integrate seamlessly with your existing tools
Get ready for ESPR compliance and future-proof your product data strategy. Book a demo today and discover how our production DAM can help you adapt to the Digital Product Passport era, efficiently, sustainably, and ahead of the competition.