The Digital Product Passport Is Coming: What Do You Need to Know?
Published: November 9, 2026
Key Takeaways
For many companies in the EU, the way product information must be provided is undergoing a fundamental change. The Digital Product Passport (DPP) establishes a new standard for transparency throughout a product’s entire lifecycle, from manufacturing to disposal. What may initially sound like just another compliance requirement has far-reaching implications for product data, documentation, and supply chains.
What is a digital product passport?
A digital product passport is a structured, machine-readable data record linked to a physical product via a QR code or similar data carrier. Among other things, it documents the product’s origin, material composition, environmental metrics, reparability, and disposal instructions. Access is typically provided via a QR code compliant with the GS1 Digital Link standard or a DataMatrix code; the data carrier must outlast the entire product lifecycle and remain accessible even after the product has been sold.
However, there is no “one-size-fits-all” access method: The ESPR (Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation) provides for tiered access rights, such as basic public information for consumers via scan, expanded data for economic operators such as repair shops and recyclers, and full access for market surveillance authorities.
The Regulatory Framework
The basis is the European Ecodesign Regulation (ESPR) (Regulation (EU) 2024/1781), which entered into force on July 18, 2024, and establishes the framework for digital product passports across numerous product groups. The requirements are specified in each case through product-group-specific delegated acts.
The battery passport is the first step: Mandated by the Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542, it is considered the EU’s first fully developed and adopted product passport, and will be mandatory as of February 18, 2027. Other sectors will follow in phases: electronics in 2027, textiles and furniture by the end of 2028, and eventually tires, construction products, and toys as well.
At the same time, the technical infrastructure is being developed: In July 2026, the European Commission established a central registry for data carriers and product identifiers. And in May 2026, CEN/CENELEC published the first standards in the EN 182xx series, which, among other things, regulate data carriers and interfaces for life cycle management.
What are the benefits of the DPP?
The DPP is more than just a reporting requirement. It creates:
- Transparency for consumers, trading partners, and authorities throughout the entire supply chain
- Circularity, as information on repair, reuse, and recycling is available in a structured format
- More efficient processes, because product data is no longer scattered across individual documents but can be found in a centralized location
- Competitive advantages for companies that establish robust, auditable data structures early on, rather than reacting at the last minute under time pressure
Where is the DPP used?
Initially, the standard applies to product groups that are highly resource-intensive or have significant waste implications: steel and iron, batteries, electronic devices, textiles, and furniture. According to the European Commission, more than 30 product groups are expected to adopt the DPP by 2030. The DPP will thus become a cross-industry standard, not an exception for individual sectors.
Why companies should start addressing this now
Even though many deadlines do not take effect until 2027 or later, the lead time is considerable. A Europe-wide survey by KPMG of more than 70 companies from 13 countries reveals just how wide the gap still is between awareness of the issue and actual preparation: While virtually all surveyed companies (97 percent) are familiar with the Digital Product Passport, only one-third (33 percent) say they truly understand the specific requirements and implications for their own company.
The gap becomes even more apparent when it comes to the status of implementation: Only 19 percent of companies describe themselves as “well prepared”—with clear responsibilities and a roadmap supported by senior management. Eighty-one percent still lack this comprehensive roadmap, and some of them (23 percent) have not even designated an internal department responsible for the issue. Companies cite data collection along the supply chain as the biggest hurdle—not budget constraints or a lack of support from management.
Material data, supplier information, and product documentation must be available in a structured, verifiable, and permanently accessible format—a requirement that existing systems often fail to meet. Those who start early give themselves time to develop clean data models, rather than having to rush to retrofit systems under pressure just before deadlines.
Who is this topic relevant for?
Manufacturers, importers, and distributors of the respective regulated product groups are directly affected—currently primarily the metalworking, electronics, and battery manufacturing industries, as well as, in the future, the textile and furniture industries. The topic is indirectly relevant to anyone involved in product documentation, quality management, or data management, as the DPP imposes new requirements on data structure and maintenance.
Conclusion
The Digital Product Passport is not a niche issue for individual industries, but rather a Europe-wide standard that will gradually apply to nearly all physical products. The specific requirements vary depending on the product group and are continually being clarified through delegated acts. Companies would be well advised to gain an overview early on—regardless of when their specific product group will be affected.
Empolis
