FAQ
Questions about the Digital Product Passport
Answers on fundamentals, readiness, implementation and regulatory orientation.
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Orientation What is a Digital Product Passport (DPP)?
The Digital Product Passport (DPP) is a digital record that provides important information about a product. This can include, for example, details on materials, origin, repair, sustainability or recycling.
What a Digital Product Passport is not: it is neither a PDF document, a QR code, nor a certificate. Nor is it a specific piece of software or a platform. These are merely means of providing or accessing a Digital Product Passport.
The goal of the Digital Product Passport is to make information about products easier to access and understand — for companies, authorities, customers and other stakeholders along the supply chain.
DPP obligation & Requirements Is my company affected by a DPP obligation?
Whether your company is affected by the Digital Product Passport (DPP) depends primarily on the products you manufacture, import, distribute or put into service. The introduction of the DPP is being phased in on the basis of the ESPR (Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation) and sectoral EU regulations. In the long term, this may mean that numerous product groups are subject to a DPP obligation.
Product groups with high economic significance and relevant impacts on resource consumption, reparability, reuse, recycling or other aspects of the circular economy are a particular focus. These include, for example:
- Batteries*
- Textiles
- Electronic products
- Furniture
- Certain construction products
- Passenger cars and light commercial vehicles up to 3.5 t**
However, certain product groups are expressly exempt from the ESPR’s DPP requirements. These include, among others:
- Food, feed
- Medicinal products, veterinary medicinal products, and
- Living plants and animals
Which product groups actually require a DPP and which requirements apply is determined by the relevant EU legislation — either through delegated acts based on the ESPR or through sectoral EU regulations. Companies should therefore check whether DPP requirements already apply to their products or are planned for the future.
*Electric vehicle batteries, industrial batteries above 2 kWh and batteries for light means of transport; portable batteries are not covered by the current battery passport obligation.
**For passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, Regulation (EU) 2026/1738 provides for a separate digital vehicle circularity passport from 1 September 2032, which must be interoperable with other relevant Digital Product Passports.
DPP obligation & Requirements Which products will (in the future) require a DPP?
Digital Product Passports (DPPs) are being introduced gradually for different product groups. These include, for example, batteries, textiles, furniture, construction products, and detergents and cleaning products. In the long term, many other product groups may also be affected.
Which products will actually require a DPP, what information must be provided, and when the requirements will apply are determined by product-specific delegated acts based on the ESPR or by sector-specific EU regulations.
A detailed overview of the affected product groups, applicable legislation, and planned timelines is provided in our Deep Dive “Which DPP requirements apply to which product groups?”.
DPP obligation & Requirements When will the DPP become mandatory?
There is no single deadline for all products.
The requirement for a Digital Product Passport (DPP) is being introduced gradually for individual product groups. The applicable deadlines are set out in the relevant EU legislation. For product groups within the scope of the ESPR (Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation), they are specified in product-specific delegated acts. For other product groups, the deadlines may already be laid down in sectoral EU regulations.
For some product groups, such as batteries, toys, and detergents and cleaning products, the implementation deadlines have already been set. For many other product groups, the specific requirements and timelines will not be established until the coming years.
An overview of the affected product groups, regulatory milestones, and planned time frames is provided in the Deep Dive “Which DPP requirements apply to which product groups” and the DPP timeline.
Readiness What is the biggest challenge with the DPP?
The biggest challenge is often not generating new data, but finding and consolidating existing information and providing it in the required quality, granularity, and in the defined machine-readable and interoperable format.
In many companies, the required information is spread across different departments, systems, documents and data formats. For the Digital Product Passport, this often heterogeneous data must be converted into a structured, standardised and interoperable dataset.
Implementation How does implementation typically proceed?
The process usually starts with analysing requirements, existing data sources and organisational responsibilities.
Next, the required information is collected, structured and converted into the data format specified for the Digital Product Passport.
Depending on the product group, information can be added or updated throughout the product lifecycle. That's why implementing a DPP often also involves processes for maintaining and updating data.
Implementation can be carried out entirely in-house or together with specialised service providers. Which tasks are handled internally and which are outsourced depends on the available resources, systems and expertise.
Readiness What requirements does the DPP place on data and information?
The Digital Product Passport places requirements not only on the availability of information, but also on its quality and structure.
The required data must be available in sufficient quality and granularity so that it can be used for the respective use cases. In addition, the information must be provided in a structured, standardized, machine-readable and interoperable format.
Since the required information often comes from different companies, departments and IT systems, a key challenge is to consistently bring this data together and convert it into the format required for the Digital Product Passport.
Orientation How are the Digital Product Passport and the new EU Packaging Regulation related?
The Digital Product Passport (DPP) and the new EU Packaging Regulation (EU) 2025/40 (PPWR) are particularly connected in the digital provision of product and packaging information. If digital information is required for both the packaged product and its packaging, it must be accessible via a common data carrier, such as a QR code. The two areas of information must remain clearly distinguishable from each other.
However, a common data carrier does not necessarily mean that only a single physical QR code may be present on the entire product-packaging combination. The product’s DPP data carrier is also subject to the rules of the applicable product regulation. If, for example, it must be affixed directly to the product, the Packaging Regulation does not eliminate this requirement.
The legal requirements differ: The Digital Product Passport provides information about a product, such as its properties, materials or repairability. The EU Packaging Regulation, on the other hand, governs the sustainability, recyclability, reuse and labelling of packaging. It also provides for digital information in some cases, but does not introduce a general obligation to create a separate Digital Product Passport for packaging.
DPP obligation & Requirements Who must provide the DPP?
The Digital Product Passport (DPP) must be provided by the economic operator that places the product concerned on the European market or puts it into service.
Under the ESPR (Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation), the responsible economic operator must also ensure the availability of the DPP and, when placing the product on the market, provide a backup copy via an independent third-party digital product passport service provider.
Orientation What benefits does the DPP offer companies?
The Digital Product Passport (DPP) offers companies both organisational and economic benefits.
The DPP helps provide product information in a more structured, consistent, and accessible manner.
As part of implementing the DPP, many companies gain a comprehensive overview for the first time of which product-related information is already available and where it is located within the company or along the value chain. At the same time, implementation promotes the harmonisation of product data across departmental, system, and company boundaries.
In addition, the DPP gives companies the opportunity to differentiate their products from comparable products through voluntary additional information. Transparent information about properties, sustainability, service, or repair can influence purchasing decisions and strengthen trust in a product. The more easily and completely relevant information is provided, the easier it is for potential customers to compare products and make informed decisions.
Implementation What is the EU DPP Registry (DPP Registry)? What is the purpose of the DPP Registry?
The EU DPP Registry is the European Union’s central registry for Digital Product Passports (DPPs). It is used to register DPPs and link a product’s unique digital identifier to the location where its DPP is stored.
As a rule, the DPP Registry does not store the actual product data. This data generally remains with the respective economic operators or commissioned DPP service providers. The DPP Registry points to the location where the DPP is stored and supports verification that the information required for registration is complete and available.
This enables authorised users to reliably access the respective DPP through a single access point, even when the DPP data is stored in a decentralised manner. For individual product groups, the delegated acts may stipulate that certain additional information must be stored in the DPP Registry.
The DPP Registry is also intended to support market surveillance and customs clearance. Once connected to the EU customs systems, customs authorities will be able to automatically verify whether the registration identifiers submitted for imported products match the information in the DPP Registry. This connection must be operational by 6 August 2030 at the latest.
The European Commission made the DPP Registry available on 20 July 2026.
Readiness Why should you address the DPP at an early stage?
Because companies need time to prepare data, processes, responsibilities, and systems for future requirements.
The DPP affects not only individual data fields or IT systems, but also regulatory, organisational, and technical interrelationships. Companies that do not address the topic until shortly before the requirements take effect often have to familiarise themselves with many new issues at the same time. Preparing early makes it easier to understand these interrelationships and approach implementation step by step.
In addition, this enables companies to benefit from the advantages of data harmonisation sooner.
Readiness What are the first steps on the way to a DPP?
A good first step is checking whether your own product group is affected.
Next, existing data sources, involved departments and organisational responsibilities should be identified.
On this basis, it is possible to assess which information already exists and which prerequisites still need to be created for implementing a Digital Product Passport.
Readiness Where is the required data located?
Much of the information required for a Digital Product Passport is already available within companies.
However, it is often distributed across different departments, systems, and documents, as well as among stakeholders along the value chain. In addition, the information is often stored in different and heterogeneous formats. This may include, for example, information from development, procurement, production, quality management, service, or sustainability management.
The data actually required depends on the respective product group and the requirements of the applicable EU legislation. These may be established through delegated acts based on the ESPR (Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation) or through sectoral EU regulations and, where applicable, supplementary delegated or implementing acts.
Orientation What information does a DPP contain?
The content of a Digital Product Passport (DPP) depends on the respective product group. For example, the specific mandatory information requirements for textiles differ from those for furniture.
Typical examples include information about materials, origin, repair, sustainability, or recycling. In addition to the mandatory information, voluntary information may also be provided in the DPP, provided that this does not impair data quality, interoperability, or the functionality of the Digital Product Passport. Voluntary information must be clearly distinguished from the mandatory information.
The information that is actually required is defined by the applicable EU legislation—either through delegated acts based on the ESPR (Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation) or through sectoral EU regulations and, where applicable, supplementary legal acts.
Orientation How is DPP data made available to users? How is the Digital Product Passport accessed?
Information from a Digital Product Passport (DPP) is generally made digitally accessible via a (free-to-use) data carrier, such as a QR code.
By scanning the QR code, users are directed to a website or application that displays the information made available to their respective user group.
If a product is offered through an online sales platform, a link to the DPP must also be available there. In addition, the European Commission will provide an EU web portal. This will serve as a central search and comparison platform through which users can search for and compare product information from DPPs.
For more information about the EU web portal, see the FAQ “What is the DPP web portal?”
Readiness In what format must DPP data be provided?
The data of a Digital Product Passport (DPP) must be provided in a structured, standardised, machine-readable and interoperable format.
The technical foundations for this are established in the European DPP standards. Additional product-specific requirements for data formats may arise from the applicable EU legislation in each case —either from delegated acts based on the ESPR (Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation) or from sectoral EU regulations and, where applicable, supplementary delegated acts or implementing acts.
For more information on the technical foundations and the European DPP standards, see the FAQ “Which European standards are relevant to the DPP?”.
Compliance & Standards Which European standards are relevant to the DPP?
Eight European standards have been developed for the Digital Product Passport. Six standards were cited in the Official Journal of the EU on 15 July 2026. The two standards on access rights and data security were published in mid-September 2026. Their reference in the Official Journal of the European Union is still pending and, according to the current schedule, is planned for November 2026. This means that all eight European DPP standards are available, but not all of them have yet been cited as harmonised standards in the Official Journal of the European Union.
The standards cover:
- unique identifiers for products, economic operators and facilities,
- data carriers, such as QR codes,
- data exchange protocols,
- data storage, archiving and permanent data availability,
- application programming interfaces for searching and lifecycle management of DPPs,
- system interoperability,
- access rights, information security and confidentiality, as well as
- data authenticity, reliability and integrity.
Together, they form the horizontal (cross-product-group) technical framework of the DPP system. They are intended to ensure that DPP data can be provided and used across systems in a machine-readable and interoperable manner.
The individual standards and their functions are explained in detail in the Deep Dive “The eight European DPP standards in detail.”
Orientation Who has to provide the data for the DPP?
The information required for a Digital Product Passport (DPP) often comes from different companies, departments and systems along the value chain.
Depending on the product, manufacturers, suppliers and other stakeholders throughout the entire product lifecycle provide information on production (materials, components), origin, use, repair or recycling.
The data actually required depends on the specific product group and the requirements of the relevant EU legislation. These requirements may be established through delegated acts under the ESPR (Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation) or through sector-specific EU regulations and, where applicable, supplementary delegated or implementing acts.
For more information on the various roles and their obligations within the DPP ecosystem, see the Deep Dive "What exactly are the roles of manufacturers, importers and other economic operators?"
Orientation Does a company need a service provider for a DPP?
Not generally for the development and operation of the DPP. Whether a service provider is needed depends, among other things, on the company's existing resources, expertise, data sources and systems.
Some companies implement the DPP largely using their own resources. Others rely on external support, for example, to analyse requirements, prepare data, implement technical solutions or manage ongoing operations. Which approach is most suitable depends on the company's individual circumstances.
However, an external service provider is required for the mandatory back-up copy: Under Article 10(4) of the ESPR, the responsible economic operator must ensure that a back-up copy of the DPP is made available through an independent DPP service provider – even if the economic operator operates the DPP itself.
Support & Services What support does the EU offer small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) on the topic of the DPP?
The European Commission plans to offer various types of support to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in particular, implement the Digital Product Passport (DPP). These include:
- Guides specifically tailored to the needs of SMEs,
- Free digital tools to support implementation,
- Support services for onboarding and registering DPPs in the European DPP system. The use of the EU DPP registry is to be supported, among other things, by a helpdesk available from 08:00 to 20:00 CET and an automated technical support tool available around the clock.
Since July 2026, the European Commission has also provided a central information page on the Digital Product Passport. Among other things, companies can find information there on the legal foundations, the gradual introduction of the DPP, product-specific requirements, and how the DPP system works. The offering is supplemented by a timeline, FAQs, technical guides, current news and events, and contact options.
In addition, Member States are required under Article 22 of the ESPR to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in particular, in complying with ecodesign requirements. To this end, they must provide at least central contact points or comparable structures. Additional support measures may include, for example, training or financial support programmes.
Orientation Why is the DPP being introduced?
The DPP is intended to help improve transparency throughout the entire product life cycle and create the foundation for more sustainable products and a stronger circular economy.
With the Digital Product Passport, the European Union aims to make important product information more easily accessible and easier to track in the future. This includes, for example, information on materials, origin, repair, reuse, or recycling.
The legal framework for the DPP is being established in different ways: For many product groups, the European ESPR (Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation) provides the foundation. For certain product groups, however, the DPP is introduced through separate sectoral EU regulations. The Deep Dive “Which DPP requirements apply to which product groups?” explains which regulation applies to which product group.
DPP obligation & Requirements Which products come first, and which later?
The requirements will not be introduced for all product groups at the same time. The European Commission is implementing the ESPR (Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation) step by step and is initially prioritising product groups of particular importance for sustainability and the circular economy.
The product groups currently prioritised include, among others, iron and steel, aluminium, textiles, furniture, mattresses, and tyres. In addition, sectoral EU regulations are already introducing the DPP for certain product groups, such as batteries, toys, construction products, and detergents and cleaning products. A separate digital vehicle circularity passport is planned for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles up to 3.5 t.
Which product groups will be affected first and when additional product groups will follow is specified in the European Commission’s working plans and the applicable EU legislation in each case.
A detailed overview is provided in the Deep Dive “Which DPP requirements apply to which product groups?”.
Compliance & Standards Who decides on the requirements for the DPP?
The requirements for the Digital Product Passport (DPP) are established by EU legislation.
Under the ESPR (Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation), the European Commission specifies the requirements for individual product groups through delegated acts. These acts specify, for example, which products are covered and what information the DPP must contain.
In addition, sectoral EU regulations adopted by the European Parliament and the Council contain their own DPP requirements, for example for batteries, construction products, toys, and detergents and cleaning products. Further details may be regulated through subsequent delegated or implementing acts of the European Commission.
Orientation Does a DPP have to be built according to specific standards?
Yes. So that information can be exchanged between companies and systems, DPP data must be provided in standardised and interoperable formats.
Implementation Does the information in the DPP refer to individual products, batches, or product models?
Which information must be recorded in the DPP (Digital Product Passport) at the model, batch, or individual product level depends on the respective product group.
The European Commission specifies the specific requirements in the product-specific delegated acts. Depending on the product group, the individual pieces of information may refer to product models (Model-Level), batches (Batch-Level), or individual products (Item-Level).
Orientation DPP - Data sheets - Technical documentation - Labels: What are the differences?
The Digital Product Passport (DPP) does not fundamentally replace existing documents, data sheets, certificates, or labels. Rather, it complements them and makes the relevant product information they contain digitally, in a structured format, and accessible throughout the entire product life cycle. In short: The DPP brings together information from these different sources in a shared information space.
In addition, the DPP can contain information that is only generated during a product’s use or that changes over time. This includes, for example, information on:
- Energy consumption
- Spare parts
- Repairs
- Maintenance
- Reuse
- Recycling
As a result, important information that would often get lost remains linked to the product throughout its entire life cycle and can continue to be used even after sale, use, or transfer.
Support & Services Does a company placing a product on the market have to implement the DPP itself?
No. Companies that place an affected product on the market can implement a Digital Product Passport (DPP) themselves or obtain support from specialised service providers.
Which tasks are handled internally and which are outsourced depends, among other things, on the available resources, systems, and expertise.
Regardless, responsibility for compliance with the requirements generally remains with the company that must provide the DPP.
Information on EU support services for SMEs is available in the FAQ “What support does the EU offer small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) on the topic of DPP?”
DPP obligation & Requirements Can information in the DPP be updated / is it required to be updated?
Yes. A fundamental technical requirement for the Digital Product Passport (DPP) is that information can be updated and supplemented with new information. This is an essential prerequisite for ensuring that relevant product information remains available and up to date throughout the entire life cycle.
Whether and which information must actually be updated depends on the respective requirements for the product group and the applicable legal provisions.
Orientation What does the DPP have to do with sustainability and the circular economy?
The Digital Product Passport is intended to help make information on materials, repair, reuse, recycling and other sustainability aspects easier to access, making products more transparent throughout their entire lifecycle.
This transparency creates an important foundation for the circular economy. Products and materials can be used longer, repaired better, reused, and recycled more efficiently at the end of their lifecycle.
The Digital Product Passport is thus a central instrument of the European sustainability and circular economy strategy.
DPP obligation & Requirements When do the requirements apply to my products?
The requirements for a Digital Product Passport (DPP) do not apply to all products at the same time. Whether and from when technical, content-related, or organisational requirements apply to your products depends on the respective product group and the legislation enacted for it.
The specific requirements are established step by step in the applicable EU legislation. Depending on the product group, these may be delegated acts based on the ESPR (Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation) or sectoral EU regulations. Only those measures define which information must be provided, how it must be structured, and what other requirements apply to the DPP.
It is therefore important for your company to monitor developments in the legislation relevant to your products at an early stage.
A detailed overview of the legal foundations, product groups, and timelines is provided in the Deep Dive “Which DPP requirements apply to which product groups?”.
Orientation What is the DPP web portal?
The DPP web portal is a public platform planned by the European Commission through which consumers, businesses and authorities can search for and compare product information from Digital Product Passports (DPPs).
It supplements direct access via QR codes and is intended to facilitate easy access to DPPs. The EU web portal is scheduled to be introduced in the coming years.
DPP obligation & Requirements Will the DPP be mandatory "for everyone"?
In the long term, likely for many product groups, but not for all products.
The ESPR (Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation) establishes a legal framework under which sustainability and product information requirements can be defined for numerous product groups. Whether a Digital Product Passport will also be mandatory for a product group is determined by the relevant product-specific legislation.
Sector-specific EU regulations also introduce the DPP for certain product groups, such as batteries, toys, construction products, and detergents and cleaning products.
Among those expressly exempt from the ESPR’s DPP requirements are food, feed, medicinal products, veterinary medicinal products, and live plants and animals.
The product groups for which a Digital Product Passport will actually be mandatory and the specific requirements that will apply will be established step by step by the relevant EU legislation.
Orientation How does the DPP support the circular economy?
The Digital Product Passport makes information about materials, components, repair, reuse and recycling easier to access.
This allows products, components and raw materials to be used longer, repaired, reused or recycled more effectively throughout their entire lifecycle.
The DPP is thus intended to help keep materials and products in the economic cycle for as long as possible and to support the circular economy.
Orientation Can the Digital Product Passport also create competitive advantages—and if so, how?
In addition to meeting legal requirements, the Digital Product Passport (DPP) can also help companies present their products more transparently and attractively.
The ESPR (Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation) allows voluntary information to be provided in the DPP in addition to the mandatory information, provided that it does not impair the data quality, interoperability or functionality of the DPP and is clearly distinguished from the mandatory information.
For example, companies can provide additional information on sustainability, repair, spare parts, services or other product characteristics. Such information can build trust, make products easier to compare and positively influence purchasing decisions.
This means that the DPP is not only a compliance tool, but can also become a tool for customer communication and product differentiation.