The EU’s Digital Product Passport (DPP) is set to redefine how products are made, tracked, and reported across their lifecycle. Here’s what companies need to know and how to start preparing for 2026.
The EU Digital Product Passport (DPP) is one of the key pillars of the Eco-design for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). As the regulation came into force in 2024 and becomes legally enforcable in 2026, companies operating in the EU or selling into the EU market will be required to implement digital passports for nearly all physical products.
The goal?
To create transparent, data-driven product lifecycles that enable circular economy strategies, support green innovation, and help eliminate greenwashing.
The DPP is a digital record that will accompany a product throughout its life. It provides standardized, accessible data on:
Every product will have a unique identifier (via QR code, RFID, or NFC tag), linking to its DPP through a secure backend system.
Whether you manufacture in the EU or export to it, you’ll need to comply — or risk market exclusion.
Green claims, sustainability metrics, and sourcing information must now be traceable and verifiable through the DPP.
The DPP enables information exchange between manufacturers, suppliers, consumers, regulators, and recyclers — with role-based access for each.
According to draft guidelines, the DPP will require:
This ensures the entire product story — from raw materials to recycling — is available in a consistent, accessible way.
Implement or upgrade your Product Information Management (PIM) system to handle everything from material sourcing to compliance.
You’ll need to collect detailed data from upstream partners — including environmental metrics, sourcing documentation, and worker welfare info.
Each product must be tagged with a scannable, durable digital identifier linking to its DPP — such as a QR code, RFID tag, or NFC chip.
Implement role-based data access for stakeholders:
Start with a small product line or region. Use the pilot to:
The DPP isn’t just about checking a box — it enables:
And critically, it makes green claims verifiable, helping fight greenwashing and support truly sustainable and transparent production.
Lets talk about how you can meet the regulatory requirements and turn compliance into competitve advantage!
The Digital Product Passport is a digital record that provides standardized information about a product’s materials, sourcing, environmental impact, repair history, and compliance documents. It’s a key part of the EU’s sustainability regulation and will become mandatory for many product categories starting in 2026.
The DPP will be phased in between 2024 and 2027, depending on the product category. Batteries are expected to be the first category with mandatory DPP requirements in 2026. Textiles and electronics will follow under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR).
Any company that manufactures, sells, or imports products into the EU will be required to comply with DPP regulations, including non-EU manufacturers and global brands. This applies to a wide range of industries including electronics, textiles, batteries, and construction products.
Products will be tagged with scannable identifiers like QR codes, RFID tags, or NFC chips. Scanning the tag will direct users to a secure digital record containing the DPP information.
