DPP
Why the Digital Product Passport is coming
With the new EU Ecodesign Regulation (ESPR, since July 2024), the EU is pursuing the goal of making products more sustainable, more recyclable and more transparent. In doing so, it is implementing key initiatives of the EU Green Deal and the Circular Economy Action Plan.
The Digital Product Passport (DPP) is a central element of this strategy: it makes product information available digitally along the entire life cycle - from production to use and recycling.
What is the Digital Product Passport (DPP)?
The DPP is the digital ID of a product. It contains origin and material information, production data, repair and recycling instructions and compliance-relevant information, among other things.
The aim is to improve transparency, sustainability and legal compliance - for manufacturers, supply chain partners, authorities and consumers.
Added value for companies
The DPP offers numerous advantages:
- Strengthening sustainability: Better data basis for ecological and resource-saving product design
- Increase efficiency: Optimization of materials, processes and supply chains
- New business models: Through life cycle data and improved customer services
- Ensuring compliance: Support for due diligence and ESG reporting obligations
Which sectors does the DPP affect first?
The DPP will gradually become mandatory for many industries, starting with batteries (from 2027), basic materials such as steel, iron, aluminum and products such as textiles, furniture, electronics, ICT devices, cleaning agents and many more.
Challenge: Where does the data come from?
Companies need to consolidate data from different sources:
- External data: Materials, supplier data, service/maintenance information
- Internal data: Production, quality control, energy consumption, service & after-sales
Only structured, digital and machine-readable data is permitted for the DPP.
Unique identifier as basis
The DPP requires unique product identification - for example by:
This marking enables the secure identification of a product, reliable linking with digital data and reading along the entire life cycle.
RFID/NFC offers advantages in industrial applications (dirt, distance, robustness).
DPP & digital twin
The unique ID creates a digital twin that maps all relevant information about a product. This means that data is always available for production, service, maintenance, recycling and authorities.
Conclusion:
The digital product passport is becoming a central component of modern product and sustainability strategies. Companies that establish clear data processes early on and rely on robust labeling technologies will secure competitive advantages.
