Digital Product Passport
DPP
Definition
A Digital Product Passport (DPP) is a standardised digital record containing information about a product's composition, origin, sustainability characteristics, and end-of-life handling. It is made accessible via a data carrier (such as a QR code) attached to the product, linking to a structured dataset that can be read by consumers, businesses, regulators, and recyclers.
Why it exists
The DPP is the information infrastructure of the circular economy. Without product-level data, the EU cannot:
- Verify that products meet ecodesign requirements
- Enforce recycled content minimums
- Track substances of concern through supply chains
- Enable informed recycling and end-of-life handling
- Give consumers access to real sustainability data (not marketing claims)
- Allow customs to verify compliance at the border
The DPP makes all of this machine-readable, standardised, and verifiable. It replaces paper-based compliance with a digital system that works at scale.
What data a DPP contains
The specific data fields vary by product category (set by ESPR delegated acts), but the core framework includes:
- Unique product identifier — at model, batch, or item level
- Material composition — what the product is made of
- Substances of concern — SVHCs above 0.1% by weight (REACH integration)
- Carbon footprint — lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions
- Durability and repairability — expected lifespan, repair instructions
- Recyclability — how the product can be recycled, recycled content percentage
- Manufacturer/importer identity — who is responsible
- Compliance documentation — certifications, declarations of conformity
- End-of-life instructions — disassembly, recycling, disposal guidance
How it works technically
- The product carries a QR code (ISO/IEC 18004) using GS1 Digital Link URI syntax
- Scanning the QR code leads to a structured data endpoint hosted by the economic operator
- The data is registered in the EU DPP Registry (operational from July 2026)
- Different stakeholders see different data through role-based access controls:
- Consumers see composition, environmental scores, recycling instructions
- Recyclers see material breakdown, hazardous substances, disassembly instructions
- Regulators and customs see full compliance data
- Supply chain partners see certifications and sourcing data
Which regulations mandate DPPs
| Regulation | Product | DPP Mandatory From | |-----------|---------|-------------------| | Battery Regulation (EU 2023/1542) | EV, LMT, industrial batteries | February 2027 | | CRMA (EU 2024/1252) | Products with permanent magnets | May 2027 | | CPR (EU 2024/3110) | Priority construction products | ~2027 | | ESPR (EU 2024/1781) | Textiles (via delegated act) | ~mid-2028 | | Detergents (EU 2026/405) | Detergents and surfactants | September 2029 | | Toys (EU 2025/2509) | All toys | August 2030 |
The bigger picture
The DPP is where three EU strategic priorities converge:
- Climate: Product-level carbon footprint data feeds the EU's Net Zero 2050 pathway
- Circular economy: Material and recyclability data enables closed-loop manufacturing
- Consumer protection: Verified product data replaces unsubstantiated green claims
This convergence is not accidental. The DPP was designed in the Circular Economy Action Plan (2020), legislated in the ESPR (2024), and funded through Horizon Europe projects like CIRPASS and Battery Pass.
Related terms
- Ecodesign — the design requirements DPPs enforce
- Circular Economy — the economic model DPPs enable
- European Green Deal — the policy framework behind it all
- SVHC — substances of concern disclosed in DPPs