What is the EU Digital Product Passport?
A mandatory digital record — linked to every physical product via QR code — that gives consumers, repairers and recyclers access to sustainability and compliance data. Required under the EU’s ESPR regulation.
The EU Digital Product Passport (DPP) is a standardised digital file attached to a physical product. It stores structured data — materials, certifications, carbon footprint, care instructions, end-of-life guidance — and links it to the product via a scannable data carrier like a QR code or NFC tag.
DPPs are mandated under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), which the EU adopted in 2024. The goal: make product sustainability data publicly available and machine-readable so the EU can accelerate circularity, reduce waste, and help consumers make informed choices.
Why does the EU require Digital Product Passports?
The EU’s Green Deal targets a circular economy by 2030. Products currently consume 80% of their environmental impact at the design stage — but consumers and recyclers rarely have access to that information when they need it.
What does a Digital Product Passport contain?
The required fields vary by product category, but a typical DPP includes:
- ✓Product name, model, and unique identifier (UID)
- ✓Manufacturer name, registered address, and contact
- ✓Country of origin and production site
- ✓Material composition (e.g. 60% organic cotton, 40% recycled polyester)
- ✓Hazardous substances and restricted chemicals
- ✓Durability and repairability score
- ✓Care instructions
- ✓Recycling and end-of-life guidance
- ✓Carbon footprint (where mandated)
- ✓Certifications and labels (e.g. GOTS, OEKO-TEX)
Which products need a DPP — and when?
ESPR mandates roll out by category. The European Commission publishes delegated acts for each group; by the compliance date, every product in that category sold in the EU must have a DPP.
Dates based on the European Commission’s working programme as of 2025. Always verify against the latest delegated acts for your category.
How does a Digital Product Passport work technically?
A DPP consists of two parts: a data carrier on the product (QR code, NFC chip, RFID) and a passport page hosted online. The carrier links to the page via a GS1 Digital Link URL — a standardised format that encodes the product’s GTIN and serial number.
With productpasses.com, you get both automatically: a unique URL at productpasses.com/p/your-product and a print-ready QR code. No infrastructure to maintain, no data hosting to set up.
Frequently asked questions
Create your first Digital Product Passport free
5 active passports, full ESPR templates, QR codes — no card needed. Up and running in five minutes.
Start free →