Digital Product Passport: Everything you need to know

The European Commission has laid out plans for the introduction of the Digital Product Passport (DPP) between 2024 and 2026 to bolster transparency and circularity by sharing essential product information across the value chain. 

The initiative stems from the broader European Green Deal and the Circular Economy Action Plan. It aligns with the Sustainable Product Regulation proposal approved in March 2022, which sets the stage for the DPP implementation. 

The digital Product Passports aim to enhance several key aspects: 

• Enhancing sustainable production: They contribute to more sustainable production by optimizing material and energy usage, prolonging product lifespan, and maximizing product efficiency. 

• Supporting circular economy models: Product passports facilitate the adoption of service and repair-based business models, fostering circular economic practices. 

• Promoting informed purchasing decisions: They encourage consumers to opt for more environmentally friendly choices and enable them to track the impact of these decisions. 

• Ensuring compliance with regulations: By managing the registration of certifications and standards a product has achieved across the EU, product passports help verify adherence to legal requirements.

Initially, the EU is eyeing the implementation of product passports in the apparel, batteries, and consumer electronics sectors by 2026. The rest of the industries will follow suit, except for food, feed, and pharmaceutical products, which are excluded from this rule. 

Furthermore, any business selling a product in the EU market will need to provide a product passport for both the finished product and its individual parts, implying that this legislation, although specific to the EU, will have a global impact. 

The DPP will require brands to collect and share data spanning a product's entire lifecycle, The initiative aims to shed light on the sustainability and environmental impacts associated with products. 

Consumers will gain access to information that not only educates them about the product but also provides insights into how to repair and recycle the item they have purchased. 

For businesses, it grants access to detailed information for enhanced environmental performance and accurate sustainability claims. 

With the progressive rollout of this legislation, businesses should brace for increased transparency requirements in their value chains. The exact operational details and the full extent of the DPP are still evolving, and it's prudent for businesses to keep abreast of the latest developments as the legislation matures. 

A great tool for the Digital Product Passport is QR codes. QR codes can be placed on the product's packaging or label, providing consumers with instant access to the Digital Product Passport by scanning the code with a smartphone. When the code is scanned, the user is redirected to a website or application where they can get detailed information about the product, which the company can continuously update and optimize.