Every Product Gets a Digital Passport. What is the Point of the EU Global Project?
Every product will soon come with a digital passport. So, what’s the deal with the EU’s big project? In just a few years, EU consumers will have access to tons of info that’ll completely change how they shop, helping create a more sustainable society in the process. The EU is getting ready to make Digital Product Passports (DPP) mandatory across lots of industries. Basically, a DPP is a digital record that tracks a product’s entire lifecycle.
This includes everything from the materials used to make it, its environmental impact, ownership history, how to dispose of it responsibly, and key warranty or maintenance info. You’ll typically access this through a QR code or barcode.
What is Digital Product Passport?
Why does this matter?
The EU is taking real steps to push for a circular economy. Their goal is to reduce pressure on natural resources and cut down on waste by keeping products and materials in the economy for as long as possible.
The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products (ESPR) mandate adds another layer: it focuses on the environmental performance of products sold in the EU, which is directly tied to the info that will be stored in the DPP.
The EU is setting out clear rules to support a circular economy, including product durability, the ability to reuse, upgrade, or repair them, carbon and environmental footprints, and recycled content. All of this info will be available in the digital passport.
For regular consumers, the EU’s new rules will make it way easier to make eco-friendly choices. A study by Forrester found that 69% of consumers want businesses to be more transparent about what they’re up to. Product passports are definitely a step in that direction. Companies that haven’t yet rolled out DPPs will need to figure out how to get them into their supply chains.
Clothing and gadgets with passports
The EU’s mandate will affect a wide range of products sold in the EU, no matter where they’re made. Some clothing brands, like Nobody’s Child, have already started rolling out DPPs to show customers the origins of their clothes and the carbon footprint from production. Industries like textiles and electronics, which have a big environmental impact, will be required to implement DPPs by 2027, thanks to their high potential for recycling.
The World Health Organization has pointed out that e-waste is growing faster than the global population. In fact, it’s the world’s fastest-growing waste stream. Research from BT shows that 41% of UK consumers have electronic devices at home they don’t use or need anymore.
The issue with e-waste isn’t just how much of it there is—it’s also how dangerous some of the materials inside these gadgets can be if not disposed of properly. In BT’s study, many people didn’t even know how to get rid of their old electronics, showing how big the problem really is.
What’s next?
The new digital passport will be a game-changer for the circular economy, embedding all kinds of data about the supply chain and product usage into each item.
Manufacturers will need to hire people to manage the DPP rollout and make sure they hit the EU’s targets and deadlines.
As for consumers, in just a few years, they’ll have easy access to a ton of information that’ll reshape how they shop, pushing society towards sustainability.
The circular economy is on the horizon, and it’ll be exciting to see how these regulations impact our daily lives and future generations.
How PIM system can help to deal with DPP?
A Product Information Management system could be a really great solution for managing Digital Product Passports. It centralizes all the data — like materials, environmental impact, lifecycle details, and disposal info — ensuring accuracy and consistency across products.
This is crucial as the EU moves towards making DPPs mandatory. By automating and organizing product data in one platform, businesses can easily meet regulatory deadlines and improve transparency, which builds consumer trust.
A PIM system helps companies stay compliant, streamline their processes, and stand out as sustainability leaders, all while offering better product development, enhanced supply chain visibility, and stronger customer loyalty. It’s a win for efficiency, eco-conscious consumers, and the planet.
Have more questions about DPP and how PIM solution can help? Book a free PIM consultation.
