.svg)
A Digital Product Passport (DPP) is a structured digital record that documents the essential characteristics of a product throughout its lifecycle. Beyond a QR code, a DPP serves as a product’s digital identity, enabling transparency, traceability, and sustainability. As regulatory frameworks evolve, particularly the EU's Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), manufacturers must understand the information their products need to carry to remain compliant and competitive.
The following sections detail the types of information typically included in a DPP, why each category matters, and how it benefits manufacturers, recyclers, and regulators alike.
Product Basics – Name, model, manufacturer, serial number, production date
Material Details – Components, recycled content, hazardous/restricted substances
Environmental Performance: Environmental footprint, energy and water use, recyclability
Supply Chain Traceability – Suppliers, origin of parts, logistics journey
Usage & Maintenance – Assembly tips, maintenance schedules, software updates
End-of-Life Guidance – Recycling instructions, recoverable parts, certified disposal centers
Compliance & Certification – Safety approvals, environmental certificates, regulatory compliance
Sustainability & Circularity – Designed for repair, reuse, and circular manufacturing
Efficiency & Reliability – Reduces errors, simplifies audits, and ensures product trust.
The buyers are alert concerning this when they make a purchase, that every product has a journey from fibre to finished good and beyond. Where it came from, what went into making it, who touched it, how long it might last, and its end of life, every step matters for them to make their choices. A Digital Product Passport (DPP) acts as the product's diary, documenting every stage of its journey so that anyone, from the manufacturer to the end user, can see its progression.
At first glance, it’s simple: the name, the model, who made it, and when. But this “simple” information is what makes warranties, repairs, and recalls actually work. Without it, companies are left to guess, and products often get lost in the shuffle.
The passport goes deeper. Not just "metal, plastic, whatever", but exactly which materials, how much recycled content, and whether anything restricted or hazardous is in there. This isn't just bureaucracy. It enables companies to create more innovative, more eco-friendly products, and helps you, the consumer, feel confident that your purchases aren’t harming the planet.
A DPP also traces the product's journey. Each component has a story: which supplier made it, where it came from, and how it got to the factory. Think of it like tracking a shipment in real time, but with every tiny part logged. This approach prevents mistakes, reduces risk, and demonstrates responsible sourcing for businesses. Besides, it makes compliance easier for regulators.
A DPP isn't just about the past; it also helps with the present. Many products include guidance on how to use or maintain them, so they last longer. Imagine your appliance telling you when it’s time for a part replacement, or a device guiding you through a software update. Although small, these details make a huge difference in reducing waste.
When the product reaches the end of its life, the DPP comes full circle. It can tell you how to recycle it, which parts to recover, and where to take it, helping close the loop instead of throwing things away. That’s what makes it a key tool for a circular economy—keeping materials in circulation rather than letting them vanish.
At the end of the day, a DPP is more than a digital record. It’s a story of a product’s life, written in a way that anyone can understand. For companies, it’s about trust and efficiency. For customers, it’s confidence and clarity. And for the planet, it’s a step toward sustainability.
That little passport can change how we think about every product we touch. It transforms complex supply chains and material data into something meaningful, helping businesses, consumers, and the planet simultaneously.
https://environment.ec.europa.eu/strategy/circular-economy_en
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
