A Digital Product Passport (DPP) is a structured, machine- and human-readable data record that makes information about a product's entire lifecycle available — from raw materials through manufacturing to use, repair and recycling. The EU is making it mandatory step by step under the ESPR (Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation), one product group at a time.
Put simply: the DPP is the product's digital ID card, usually reached through a QR code — and it shows different things to different people, depending on whether you are a consumer, a technician, an authority or a certification body.
Why now? The regulatory background
The DPP is not an "IT fad" but a concrete tool for enforcing specific EU legislation:
- ESPR (EU) 2024/1781 — the framework for ecodesign of sustainable products; it introduces the DPP as a horizontal instrument for almost every product category.
- Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 — the first mandatory DPP: from 18 February 2027, batteries above 2 kWh may only be placed on the market with a battery passport.
- More verticals follow: textiles, packaging, electronics, construction products, furniture.
The key point: this is not only about battery manufacturers. If you make or import products for the EU market, your turn is likely coming.
What does a DPP contain?
The exact data content differs per product group (set by delegated acts), but it typically covers:
- Identification: manufacturer, model, unique product and batch identifier (GTIN, serial number).
- Material composition: materials used, hazardous substances, critical raw materials, recycled content.
- Performance and durability: technical parameters, lifetime, repairability.
- Environmental data: carbon footprint, supply-chain due diligence.
- Lifecycle management: dismantling, repair and recycling instructions.
- Compliance documents: declaration of conformity, certificates, test reports.
Who sees what? — Access groups
One of the most misunderstood features of the DPP is that the same passport shows different things to different people:
| Stakeholder | What they see |
|---|---|
| Consumer | marketing-level basics, warranty, recycling guidance |
| Technician / recycler | dismantling sequence, hazardous-substance markings, state data |
| Market surveillance authority | full material list, manufacturing batch, supply chain |
| Certifier / auditor | authenticated data, signature status, compliance documents |
This access segmentation is at the heart of the DPP standards (for example, the access groups in DIN DKE SPEC 99100).
How does a DPP become "trustworthy"?
Anyone can edit a PDF. A DPP becomes trustworthy because it is cryptographically signed: in the EU, authenticity can be ensured with an eIDAS-compliant electronic signature or seal. The technical implementation is often a W3C Verifiable Credentials format with an embedded digital signature, which lets anyone verify that the data is intact and genuinely comes from the named issuer.
What does this mean for your business?
1. Data collection: a DPP is only as good as your data. In most companies the data is scattered across ERP, PLM, spreadsheets and supplier emails. 2. Structuring and validation: the data has to be shaped and checked against the relevant schema (for example, DIN DKE SPEC 99100). 3. Signing and publishing: made available in an authenticated, verifiable form through a QR code. 4. Maintenance: the DPP is a living document — it updates with the product's state and can be re-issued (for example, on remanufacturing).
Frequently asked questions
Is the DPP the same as a product label?
No. The physical label/QR is only the entry point; the DPP is the structured, authenticated data record behind it.
Is the DPP mandatory already?
It depends on the product group. For batteries it is mandatory from 18 February 2027; other categories follow according to the ESPR working plan.
Is a website with product data enough?
No. The DPP requires a standardised data structure, access segmentation, a unique identifier (GS1 Digital Link) and an authentic signature.
Get ready in time. ReadyPass is a platform for creating, authenticating (with eIDAS-compliant signing) and publishing Digital Product Passports — for manufacturers, importers and certification bodies.
Sources: ESPR (EU) 2024/1781; Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542; DIN DKE SPEC 99100; GS1 Digital Link 1.6.0; W3C Verifiable Credentials Data Model 2.0.
