What Is a Digital Product Passport? A Plain-English Guide
Digital Product Passports are becoming mandatory in the EU. Here's what they are, what data they contain, and how they affect your business.
If you sell physical products in the European Union, you've probably started hearing about Digital Product Passports (DPPs). The concept sounds futuristic, but the regulation behind it is very real, and the first deadlines are already on the calendar.
This guide explains what a DPP actually is, what data goes into one, and what it means for your business. No legal jargon, no fluff.
The short version
A Digital Product Passport is a structured data record attached to a physical product. It describes the product's materials, origin, environmental impact, repair instructions, and end-of-life handling. Consumers, retailers, customs authorities, and recyclers can access this data by scanning a QR code on the product or its packaging.
1 QR code
Per product
10+ years
Data retention required
Public
Accessible to anyone
Think of it as a nutrition label — but for everything about the product, not just calories. Materials, where they came from, how to recycle them, carbon footprint, certifications — all accessible from a single scan.
Why is the EU requiring this?
The legal basis is the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), adopted by the European Parliament. The goal is to make sustainable products the norm in the EU by giving consumers and regulators transparent access to product data.
The EU's reasoning is straightforward: if consumers can see how a product is made, what it contains, and how to dispose of it, they make better choices. And if customs authorities can scan a QR code at the border and verify compliance data, enforcement becomes scalable.
Not just a recommendation
DPPs are legally required under ESPR. Products that don't have a valid passport can be blocked at EU customs or pulled from retail shelves. This isn't a voluntary sustainability label — it's a compliance gate.What data goes into a Digital Product Passport?
The exact fields depend on the product category (batteries, textiles, furniture, etc.), but every DPP must include a core set of information:
- Product identity — name, model, SKU, manufacturer, brand
- Materials — composition breakdown with percentages
- Origin — country of manufacture
- Environmental data — carbon footprint, recycled content percentage
- Certifications — relevant standards and compliance marks
- Durability & repair — care instructions, spare parts availability
- End-of-life — recyclability guidance, disposal instructions
- Unique identifier — a GS1 Digital Link URL accessible via QR code
How does the QR code work?
Each product gets a unique URL following the GS1 Digital Link standard. This URL is encoded into a QR code printed on the product or packaging. When scanned, it resolves to a hosted page showing the passport data.
The key property of this system is persistence. The URL never changes, even if you update the data behind it. You can fix a typo, add a certification, or update recycling instructions without reprinting the QR code. The same scan resolves to the latest data.
DPP vs. traditional product labels
| Paper label | Digital Product Passport | |
|---|---|---|
| Data capacity | Limited to physical space | Unlimited — hosted page |
| Updateable after print | No — requires reprinting | Yes — data updates instantly |
| Machine-readable | No | Yes — JSON-LD structured data |
| Regulatory enforcement | Manual inspection only | Automated via QR scan |
| Consumer access | Visual only | Any smartphone, no app |
Who needs a DPP?
Any business that places products on the EU market — whether you manufacture in the EU or import from outside. This includes:
- EU-based manufacturers
- Importers bringing products into the EU
- E-commerce sellers shipping to EU customers
- Brands that contract manufacturing but sell under their name
Location doesn't matter — market does
If you're based in the US, China, or anywhere else but sell products to EU customers, you need a DPP for those products. The regulation applies to the market, not the manufacturer's location.When do DPPs become mandatory?
The regulation is rolling out in phases by product category. Batteries are first, with a hard deadline of February 2027. Textiles are expected around 2028, with furniture and electronics following in 2028–2029.
These dates are set at the EU level. Individual member states may add additional requirements, but the baseline deadlines apply across all 27 EU countries.
How to get started
You don't need to wait for the deadline. In fact, starting early gives you time to audit your supply chain data, identify gaps, and establish workflows before the rush.
- Audit your product data — Do you have material breakdowns, origin info, and environmental data for each product?
- Pick a DPP platform — You need a system that hosts passport pages, generates QR codes with GS1 Digital Link support, and handles updates.
- Generate your first passport — Start with one product. See what data you have and what gaps need filling.
- Integrate into your workflow — Once the first passport is live, extend to your full catalog.