Knowledge / 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.
Orientation Why is the DPP being introduced?
The DPP is intended to help improve transparency across the entire product lifecycle and create the basis for more sustainable products and a stronger circular economy.
With the Digital Product Passport, the European Union aims to make important product information easier to access and better understood in the future. This includes, for example, information on materials, origin, repair, reuse or recycling.
The legal framework for this is the European ESPR Regulation (Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation).
Orientation What information does a DPP contain?
The content of a Digital Product Passport depends on the respective product group and future requirements.
Typical examples include information on materials, origin, repair, sustainability or recycling.
Which information is actually required is determined step by step by the European Commission, based on the ESPR Regulation, for each individual product group. This happens through so-called delegated acts, which define the specific requirements for a product group.
General DPP - data sheets - technical documentation - labels: What are the differences?
The Digital Product Passport does not fundamentally replace existing documents, data sheets, certificates or labels. Rather, it complements them and makes the relevant product information within them digital, structured and accessible throughout the entire product lifecycle. In short: the Digital Product Passport brings together information from these different sources in one shared information space.
In addition, the Digital Product Passport can contain information that only arises during a product's use or that changes over time. This includes, for example, information on energy consumption, spare parts, repairs, maintenance, reuse or recycling. As a result, important information that was previously often lost stays linked to the product throughout its entire lifecycle and can continue to be used even after sale, use or handover.
Orientation Which products (will) need a DPP?
In the long term, Digital Product Passports are to be introduced for many products placed on the market or put into service in the European Union. The focus is particularly on product groups with high economic significance and great potential for more sustainability, repair, reuse and recycling.
Frequently mentioned product groups include, for example:
Consumer goods / products for end consumers:
Textiles and clothing
Furniture
Household appliances
Electronic devices
Batteries
Industrial goods / products for commercial users:
Industrial batteries
Machinery and equipment
Construction products
Chemical products
Steel and aluminum products
Which product groups are actually affected and which information must be provided in each case — the affected product groups are determined step by step under the ESPR Regulation.
Currently, batteries in particular, textiles and various product groups with high environmental relevance are in focus. Further product groups are expected to follow in the coming years.
Orientation Is my company affected by a DPP obligation?
Whether your company is affected by the Digital Product Passport depends mainly on the products you manufacture, import, distribute or put into service. In principle, the ESPR provides that, in the long term, a DPP obligation will apply to a large share of products placed on the market or put into service in the European Union.
Product groups with high economic significance and relevant impacts on resource consumption, repairability, reuse, recycling or other aspects of the circular economy are particularly in focus. These include, for example, batteries, textiles, electronic products, furniture or certain construction products.
However, certain product groups are explicitly exempt from DPP requirements. These include, among others, food, feed, medicinal products, veterinary medicines, and live plants and animals.
Which product groups actually need a Digital Product Passport and which requirements apply is defined step by step in so-called delegated acts. You should therefore check whether your products belong to product groups for which requirements already exist or are planned for the future.
Orientation Who decides on the requirements for the DPP?
The requirements for the Digital Product Passport are set by the European Commission.
For individual product groups, the specific requirements are defined step by step in so-called delegated acts. These specify, for example, which information must be included and which products are affected.
The legal basis for this is the European ESPR Regulation (Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation).
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.
Orientation When will the DPP become mandatory?
There is no uniform deadline for all products.
The obligation for the Digital Product Passport is being introduced step by step for individual product groups. When a product group is affected is determined by the European Commission in so-called delegated acts.
For some product groups, such as batteries, concrete requirements already exist. For many other products, requirements and timelines will only be set in the coming years.
Product groups with high environmental relevance, such as batteries or textiles, are currently particularly in focus. Further product groups will follow step by step.
General Will the DPP be mandatory?
In principle, yes. The ESPR Regulation creates a framework for the circular economy in the European Union and sets requirements for sustainability and product information that are to apply, in the long term, to a large share of products placed on the market in the European Union. For these products, the Digital Product Passport will become a mandatory requirement.
Certain product groups, however, are explicitly exempt from DPP requirements. These include, among others, food, feed, medicinal products, veterinary medicines, and live plants and animals.
Which product groups actually need a Digital Product Passport and which requirements apply is defined step by step in so-called delegated acts.
Orientation Who has to provide the DPP?
The Digital Product Passport must be provided by the economic operator that places the relevant product on the European market or puts it into service.
The regulation also specifies that the economic operator who places the product on the market or puts it into service is responsible for the availability of the passport and must provide a backup copy of the Digital Product Passport.
Orientation Who has to provide the data?
The information required for a Digital Product Passport often comes from various companies, departments and systems along the value chain.
Depending on the product, manufacturers, suppliers and other parties along the entire product lifecycle provide information on origin (materials, components), provenance, use, repair or recycling.
Which data is actually required depends on the respective product group and the requirements defined for it.
Implementation Where is the required data located?
Much of the information needed for a Digital Product Passport already exists within companies.
However, it is often spread across different departments, systems, documents, and stakeholders along the value chain. In addition, the information is often stored in different and heterogeneous formats. This can include, for example, information from development, purchasing, production, quality management, service or sustainability management.
Which data is actually required depends on the respective product group and the requirements defined for it. These are set by the European Commission in so-called delegated acts.
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, standardized and interoperable dataset.
Implementation How does implementation typically proceed?
The process usually starts with analyzing requirements, existing data sources and organizational 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 specialized service providers. Which tasks are handled internally and which are outsourced depends on the available resources, systems and expertise.
Orientation 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 themselves or get support from specialized 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 meeting the requirements generally remains with the company that must provide the DPP.
Implementation How is DPP data made available to users? How is the Digital Product Passport accessed?
Information from a Digital Product Passport is typically made accessible via a digital data carrier, for example a QR code.
By scanning the QR code, users are taken to a website or application through which the information released for them can be retrieved.
Implementation In what format must DPP data be provided?
The information in a Digital Product Passport must be provided in a structured, standardized, machine-readable and interoperable format.
The specific requirements are set for each product group in delegated acts by the European Commission.
Implementation Premium · Deep Dive Which standards play a role in the DPP?
Various European standards are currently being developed for the Digital Product Passport. Some foundational standards were published in Q1 2026, while others are still under development.
Already published standards cover, among other things:
Unique identification of products (digital identifier)
Data carriers (e.g. QR codes)
Data exchange protocols
Data storage and archiving
System interoperability
APIs for search, access and lifecycle management of DPP data
Further standards are currently (Q2 2026) undergoing standardization. These include, for example:
Access rights and permission concepts
Information security and confidentiality
Authenticity, reliability and integrity of data
Referencing of terms, concepts and data models
The goal of these standards is to ensure that DPP data can be provided and used across systems in a machine-readable and interoperable way.
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 standardized and interoperable formats.
Readiness What benefits does the DPP bring to companies?
The Digital Product Passport helps provide product information in a more structured, consistent and accessible way.
Many companies gain, as part of DPP implementation, for the first time a comprehensive overview of which product-related information already exists and where it is located within the company or along the value chain. At the same time, implementation promotes the harmonization of product data across departmental, system and company boundaries.
In addition, a DPP can improve transparency across the entire product lifecycle and support processes around sustainability, repair, reuse or recycling.
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.
Readiness Why should companies address the DPP early on?
Not because the EU requires it, but because companies need time to prepare data, processes, responsibilities and systems for future requirements.
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 organizational 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.
Orientation Does a company need a service provider for a DPP?
No. Whether a service provider is needed depends, among other things, on the available resources, expertise, data sources and systems within the company.
Some companies implement the DPP entirely with their own resources. Others use external support, for example for requirements analysis, data preparation, technical implementation or ongoing operations.
Which approach makes sense depends on the specific starting situation.
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.
OrientationCompliance Which products come first, which come later?
The requirements are not introduced for all product groups at the same time. The European Commission is implementing the ESPR step by step and initially prioritizes product groups of particular importance for sustainability and the circular economy.
Currently prioritized product groups include, among others, iron and steel, aluminum, textiles, furniture, mattresses and tires. In addition, further energy-related products are gradually being included in the regulatory process.
Which product groups are affected first, and when further product groups will follow, is specified through the European Commission's work plans and the respective delegated acts.
Compliance Premium · Deep Dive Which products come first, which come later?
The requirements of the Digital Product Passport are not introduced for all product groups at the same time. The European Commission follows a step-by-step approach and initially prioritizes product groups of particular importance for sustainability, resource use and the circular economy.
In the 2025–2030 Working Plan, the European Commission names in particular the following product groups as priorities:
End products: Textiles and clothing, furniture, tires, mattresses
Intermediate products: Iron and steel, aluminum
In addition, so-called horizontal requirements are being prepared for various cross-product topics, for example on repairability, recycled content and recyclability of electrical and electronic equipment.
Additionally, numerous energy-related products are gradually being included in the regulatory process. These include, among others, household dishwashers, washing machines, refrigeration appliances, displays, mobile phones and tablets, as well as charging stations for electric vehicles.
For most of these product groups, there are currently no binding DPP requirements yet. The specific requirements will only be set with the respective delegated acts. However, the work plan provides an important indication of which product groups the European Commission intends to prioritize for regulation in the coming years.
The introduction of the Digital Product Passport is currently not happening exclusively through the ESPR. While batteries and toys are already covered by their own sectoral regulations, the ESPR prioritizes, among others, textiles, furniture, tires, mattresses, iron and steel, and aluminum. As a result, several DPP systems with different timelines and regulatory foundations will emerge in the coming years.
For your company, it is therefore advisable to monitor the development of regulations relevant to your products early on and to check the availability of the required product data even before specific requirements come into force.
OrientationCompliance Can / must information in the DPP be updated?
Yes. It is a fundamental technical requirement for the Digital Product Passport 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 lifecycle.
Whether and which information actually needs to be updated depends on the respective requirements of the product group and the applicable legal provisions.
OrientationCompliance From when do the requirements apply to my products?
The requirements for a Digital Product Passport do not apply to all products at the same time. Whether and from when technical, content-related or organizational requirements apply to your products depends on the respective product group and the legal provisions enacted for it.
The specific requirements are set step by step in the respective delegated acts or other product-specific regulations. Only there is it defined which information must be provided, how it must be structured, and which further requirements apply to the Digital Product Passport.
For your company, it is therefore important to monitor the development of regulations relevant to your products early on.
Compliance Premium · Deep Dive What roles do manufacturers, importers and other economic operators play exactly?
The ESPR Regulation distinguishes between different economic operators who, depending on their role, take on different tasks and obligations in connection with products and the Digital Product Passport. These operators include, in particular, manufacturers, suppliers, importers, distributors, authorized representatives, DPP service providers, as well as companies in the fields of repair, reuse, upcycling and recycling.
Manufacturers
Manufacturers are natural or legal persons who manufacture a product or have it developed and market it under their own name or brand.
They generally bear the greatest responsibility for providing product-related information and must ensure that the requirements applicable to their products are met. This also includes providing the information required for the Digital Product Passport.
Suppliers
Suppliers provide materials, components or assemblies for products and often have important information about their properties, origin or composition. Even though they are not directly responsible for providing the Digital Product Passport, they play an important role in providing information along the supply chain. Much of the information required for a DPP originally comes from suppliers.
Importers
Importers bring products from third countries onto the European market. They must ensure that the products they import comply with the applicable requirements. This also includes checking whether the required product information and — where mandated — a Digital Product Passport are available.
Distributors
Distributors make products available on the market without being the manufacturer or importer. Before making a product available, they must check whether the required information is present and the applicable requirements are met. Where a Digital Product Passport is mandatory for a product group, distributors must in particular check whether it is present.
Authorized representatives
An authorized representative is a natural or legal person established in the European Union who has been mandated in writing by a manufacturer to carry out certain tasks on their behalf. Which tasks are carried out depends on the respective mandate and the applicable legal provisions.
DPP service providers
Digital product passport service providers (DPP service providers) support companies in creating, managing, storing, updating and providing Digital Product Passports. They take on technical and organizational tasks related to operating the DPP. However, legal responsibility for compliance with statutory requirements remains with the responsible economic operator.
Repair, reuse, upcycling and recycling companies
These companies are generally not responsible for providing the Digital Product Passport. However, they can generate or use important information that arises during the use and end-of-life phase of a product. This includes, for example, information on repairs, maintenance, spare parts, reuse, refurbishment or recycling. The Digital Product Passport is intended to help ensure that such information remains available throughout the entire product lifecycle.
Who bears responsibility for the DPP?
Responsibility for compliance with statutory requirements remains assigned to a responsible economic operator. This is generally the economic operator that places the product on the European market or puts it into service. Depending on the product and market situation, this can be the manufacturer or the importer, for example. Even if information comes from numerous parties along the supply chain or tasks are outsourced to DPP service providers, legal responsibility generally remains with this responsible economic operator.
Orientierung (Wie) kann der Digitale Produktpass auch einen Wettbewerbsvorteil schaffen?
Neben der Erfüllung gesetzlicher Anforderungen kann der Digitale Produktpass (DPP) Unternehmen auch dabei unterstützen, ihre Produkte transparenter und attraktiver zu präsentieren.
Die ESPR (Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, im Deutschen oft "Ökodesign-Verordnung") erlaubt, neben den verpflichtenden Angaben auch freiwillige Informationen im DPP bereitzustellen, sofern diese die Datenqualität, Interoperabilität und Funktionsfähigkeit des DPP nicht beeinträchtigen und klar von den Pflichtinformationen unterschieden werden.
Dadurch können Unternehmen beispielsweise zusätzliche Informationen zu Nachhaltigkeit, Reparatur, Ersatzteilen, Serviceleistungen oder weiteren Produkteigenschaften bereitstellen. Solche Informationen können Vertrauen schaffen, Produkte besser vergleichbar machen und Kaufentscheidungen positiv beeinflussen.
Damit wird der DPP nicht nur zu einem Instrument der Compliance, sondern kann auch zu einem Instrument der Kundenkommunikation und Produktdifferenzierung werden.
Orientierung Was ist das DPP-Webportal?
Das DPP-Webportal ist eine von der Europäischen Kommission geplante öffentliche Plattform, über die Verbraucher, Unternehmen und Behörden Produktinformationen aus Digitalen Produktpässen (DPP) suchen und miteinander vergleichen können.
Es ergänzt den direkten Zugriff über QR-Codes und soll den einfachen Zugang zu DPPs erleichtern. Die Einführung des EU-Webportals ist in den kommenden Jahren vorgesehen.
Orientierung Was ist das DPP-Register der EU (DPP Registry)? Wozu dient das DPP-Register?
Das DPP-Register der EU ist das zentrale Register der Europäischen Union für Digitale Produktpässe (DPP). Es dient dazu, DPP zu registrieren und den eindeutigen digitalen Identifikator eines Produkts mit dem Speicherort seines DPP zu verknüpfen.
Das DPP-Register speichert dabei grundsätzlich nicht die eigentlichen Produktdaten. Diese verbleiben in der Regel bei den jeweiligen Wirtschaftsteilnehmern oder beauftragten DPP-Service-Providern. Das DPP-Register verweist auf den Speicherort des DPP und unterstützt die Prüfung, ob die für die Registrierung erforderlichen Angaben vollständig und vorhanden sind.
Dadurch können berechtigte Nutzer über einen einheitlichen Zugang zuverlässig auf den jeweiligen DPP zugreifen, auch wenn die DPP-Daten dezentral gespeichert sind. Für einzelne Produktgruppen können die delegierten Rechtsakte festlegen, dass zusätzlich bestimmte Informationen im DPP-Register gespeichert werden müssen.
Die Europäische Kommission hat das DPP-Register am 22. Juli 2026 bereitgestellt.
Orientierung Welche Unterstützung bietet die EU kleinen und mittleren Unternehmen (KMU) zum Thema DPP?
Die Europäische Kommission plant verschiedene Unterstützungsangebote, um insbesondere kleine und mittlere Unternehmen (KMU) bei der Einführung des Digitalen Produktpasses (DPP) zu unterstützen. Dazu gehören unter anderem:
+ Leitfäden, die speziell auf die Bedürfnisse von KMU zugeschnitten sind,
+ frei zugängliche digitale Werkzeuge zur Unterstützung der Umsetzung,
+ Unterstützungsangebote für das Onboarding und die Registrierung von DPP im europäischen DPP-System. Für die Nutzung des DPP-Registers der EU sind unter anderem ein Helpdesk von 8:00 bis 20:00 Uhr MEZ und ein rund um die Uhr verfügbares automatisiertes technisches Supporttool vorgesehen.
Darüber hinaus sind die Mitgliedstaaten verpflichtet, KMU durch Informations- und Beratungsangebote zu unterstützen. Je nach Mitgliedstaat können hierzu beispielsweise Anlaufstellen, Schulungen oder finanzielle Fördermaßnahmen gehören.
Umsetzung Beziehen sich die Informationen im DPP auf einzelne Produkte, Chargen oder Produktmodelle?
Welche Informationen im DPP (Digitalen Produktpass) auf Modell-, Chargen- oder Einzelproduktebene erfasst werden müssen, hängt von der jeweiligen Produktgruppe ab.
Die konkreten Anforderungen legt die Europäische Kommission in den produktspezifischen delegierten Rechtsakten fest. Je nach Produktgruppe können sich die einzelnen Informationen auf Produktmodelle (Model-Level), Chargen (Batch-Level) oder einzelne Produkte (Item-Level) beziehen.