The EU's Digital Product Passport rollout is already underway. The EU DPP Registry launches in 2026, battery passports become mandatory in February 2027, and textiles, electronics, furniture and construction materials follow through 2030. The framework stems from the European Green Deal and the Circular Economy Action Plan, and aligns with the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) adopted in 2024.

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.

The first mandatory deadline applies to batteries from February 2027. Textiles and apparel follow in 2027–2028, with electronics, furniture and construction materials phasing in through 2030. Food, feed and pharmaceutical products are excluded.

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.

The rollout is no longer theoretical - businesses in affected sectors need to be actively preparing now. The core requirements are clear: product data must be structured, centralised, and accessible via a digital carrier such as a QR code. Companies that wait for final implementation details before starting will face a steep climb under time pressure.

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.

Get ready for the Digital Product Passport with this guide. We have gathered the most important informations for you:

• Get to know everything about the Digital Product Passport and how you will be affected.

• Learn to organize your product data with PIM and how to use it with the Digital Product Passport.

• Get inspired by a real case story and take your business to the next level.

Happy reading!