EU Digital Product Passport DPP - TX
The EU-DPP will be a Federated Framework of Technical Datasets:
A EU Digital Product Passport (DPP) is a structured dataset, designed to be interoperable, machine-readable, searchable, and transferable. It exists within an open, vendor-neutral data exchange network to prevent vendor lock-in. There will be a central registry with all EU-DPPs, the registry will have a link/pointer towards the actual DPP data set.
ESPR and Buyer Information Obligations
Under the Eco-design for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), the DPP provides information on purchase, use, and end-of-life. Fulfilling the EU's goal of supporting new circular business models and of informing buyers on product sustainability and environmental impact.
Digital Access via QR and Other Options:
The ESPR allows for required DPP information to be available through multiple formats:
- In applications (machine-readable), for example for EU Customs & EU Market Surveillance Authorities via the EU DPP registry.
- Printed directly on the product,
- Printed on product packaging (the trade item),
- Labels (e.g., energy labels, now mandated under ESPR). Example we already know: Energy Labels
- User manuals or other documentation,
- Accessible on the product page in a website, webshop or marketplace
- Accessible on a Dedicate Product Site that can be accessed by scanning a QR code on the packaging (also called eLabel, Smartlabel).
Physical-to-Digital Bridge with Data Carriers (QR Code)
- EU regulations envision data carriers on the product itself—like RFID tags in clothing or QR codes on devices—to bridge physical and digital realms.
- Although the EU terminology primarily refers to products, there is an assumption that data carriers could also be applied to packaging (trade items). This distinction highlights the EU's product-centric view, contrasting with GS1's packaging-oriented system (like GTIN barcodes).
Important to know: Food, Pet Food & Pharmaceuticals are excluded from the EU-DPP scope