What is a Digital Product Passport (DPP)?

The Digital Product Passport (DPP) is a digital document mandated by the EU ESPR (Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation). It contains environmental, traceability, and compliance information about a product, accessible via a QR code.

When does the DPP become mandatory?

The textile sector is first in line, with a mandate expected for 2027. Batteries, electronics, and other sectors will follow progressively.

Do I need technical skills to create a DPP?

No. DPPify is designed as a no-code tool. The guided form walks you through each step, and the completion score shows you in real time what's left to fill in.

Is data hosted in Europe?

Yes. All data is hosted on European servers, in compliance with GDPR. No data is transferred outside the EU.

Can I import my existing product catalog?

Yes. The smart CSV import automatically recognizes your columns (French or English headers) and maps the data to the appropriate DPP fields.

Digital Product Passport (DPP): The Complete Guide for SMEs

What is a Digital Product Passport?

The Digital Product Passport (DPP) is a structured dataset linked to a physical product. It brings together all relevant information about a product's composition, origin, repairability, and recyclability.

In practice, each product is assigned a unique identifier accessible via a QR code or digital link. By scanning this code, anyone — consumer, retailer, recycler — can access the product's information.

Why is the DPP mandatory?

The DPP is part of the ESPR regulation (Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation), adopted by the European Union in 2024. This regulation replaces and extends the existing Ecodesign Directive to virtually all product categories.

The objectives are clear:

Transparency: give consumers reliable information about the products they buy
Circularity: facilitate repair, reuse, and recycling
Traceability: track materials throughout the value chain
Fighting greenwashing: replace vague claims with verifiable data

Compliance timeline

DPP deployment will be gradual by product category:

2027: Batteries (already underway via the Battery Regulation)
2028: Textiles and footwear
2029: Consumer electronics, furniture
2030+: Progressive extension to other categories

Specific delegated acts for each category will define the exact data requirements.

What information does a DPP contain?

Content varies by product category but generally includes:

Identification: name, brand, model, serial number, GTIN code
Composition: materials used, substances of concern (SCIP/REACH)
Origin: country of manufacture, suppliers
Environmental performance: carbon footprint, repairability score, recyclability
Instructions: care, repair, end-of-life
Certifications: labels, standards met

How can SMEs prepare?

For an SME, compliance can seem daunting. Here are the key steps:

1. Audit your product data

Start by identifying what information you already have about your products. Often, much of the data exists but is scattered across different systems.

2. Identify missing data

Compare with expected requirements for your product category. Delegated acts will specify mandatory fields, but you can anticipate now.

3. Choose the right tool

Use a platform like DPPify that simplifies creating and managing your digital passports. The advantage of a SaaS tool: no infrastructure to manage, automatic regulatory updates.

4. Start with a pilot

Create DPPs for a few flagship products before scaling up. This lets you test the process and identify necessary adjustments.

DPP technical standards

The DPP relies on several international standards:

GS1 Digital Link: for unique product identification via URI
UNTP (UN Transparency Protocol): for Verifiable Credentials and data trust
Schema.org: for semantic data structuring

These standards ensure interoperability between different systems and actors in the value chain.

Conclusion

The Digital Product Passport is not just a regulatory constraint — it's an opportunity to showcase your environmental commitments and build customer trust. The earlier you start, the smoother the transition will be.