A massive shift in product transparency is on the horizon, and it’s not just for Europe. Although the Digital Product Passport (DPP) is an EU regulation, it directly impacts any U.S. manufacturer that sells goods in the EU market. More importantly, it represents the future of providing the deep product transparency that modern consumers demand. This shift is very similar to the GS1 Sunrise 2027 initiative which transitions retail checkouts from 1D barcodes to data-rich 2D barcodes like QR codes. Both initiatives use data carriers to embed more information, enhance traceability, and meet new consumer and regulatory demands.
If you produce, ship, or sell physical goods, the DPP is a change you need to understand. Let’s break down what it is and how you can prepare your business.
What is a Digital Product Passport (DPP)?
Think of a DPP as a birth certificate and a living diary for every single product. It’s a digital record that contains detailed information about an item’s entire lifecycle, from the origin of its raw materials to its manufacturing process, and all the way to its potential for repair and recycling.
This information isn’t stored on a piece of paper but is linked to the physical product via a data carrier, such as a unique QR code, 2D barcode or an RFID tag. By scanning this carrier, anyone from a customs agent to an end consumer can access a wealth of verified data about that specific item.
The goal is to drive the transition to a circular economy, where products are used longer, reused, and recycled more effectively. By making a product’s journey and environmental impact transparent, the DPP empowers everyone to make more sustainable choices.
How Does the DPP Affect Your Business?
While the DPP is an EU regulation, its impact is global. Any company, regardless of where it’s based, that wants to sell certain products within the EU market will have to comply by 2030. The responsibility for creating and maintaining the DPP will fall on the businesses placing the goods on the EU market.
This presents a major operational challenge: How do you reliably link every physical item to its unique digital passport?
The biggest hurdle isn’t just collecting the digital data; it’s deploying a robust system to attach and manage a unique identity for every single product that leaves your factory. This is where proven expertise in data carriers becomes essential.
Since 1981, MSM Solutions has been a leader in helping the world’s most recognizable brands Identify.Track.Count.Manage from point-of-origin to point-of-sale. We provide the data carriers and deliver the critical physical-to-digital bridge required for DPP compliance. Our expertise in system integration ensures that the unique ID on your product, whether a 2D barcode, QR code or an RFID tag, perfectly and reliably connects to its digital passport every time.
As a proud member of GS1, the organization that sets the global standards for identification, we are uniquely positioned to guide you through this transition.
Your DPP Questions, Answered
Here are answers to some of the most common questions about the upcoming regulation.
What type of Tag is required for Digital Product Passport?
No specific tag has been officially required for the Digital Product Passport (DPP) yet, but the most likely options are QR codes and RFID tags. The main rule is that the tag must be easy for anyone to scan with a smartphone to access the product’s information. Because of this, the most common solution will be a label that includes both: a QR code on the outside for customers. Manufacturers can combine data carriers by embedding a RAIN RFID tag on the inside for supply chain and inventory tracking. Smart phone manufacturers such as Qualcomm plan to embed UHF reading technology into mobile smartphones.
What information is required in a Digital Product Passport?
While specifics will vary by product category, the DPP will generally require information such as:
- General Product Data: Name, model, batch number, manufacturing date.
- Materials & Sourcing: Origin of raw materials, composition, and supplier information.
- Sustainability & Footprint: Carbon footprint, resource efficiency, recycled content, and presence of harmful substances.
- Circularity Data: Information on repairability, reusability, and detailed recycling instructions.
What is the DPP data protocol?
MSM Solutions collaborates with data platform experts such as TrusTrace, which provides a great overview of the complete Digital Product Passport Data Protocol including all the 105 data attributes and their correlating Info Groups alongside definitions and attributes.
Which industries will be impacted first?
The European Commission has prioritized several product categories to be among the first required to comply. These include:
- Batteries (especially for electric vehicles and industrial use)
- Textiles (garments and footwear)
- Electronics
- Furniture
- Iron, Steel, and Aluminum
- Tires, Detergents, Paints, and Chemicals
This list is expected to expand over time to include most physical goods sold in the EU.
What is the timeline for DPP implementation?
The rollout is gradual, but key deadlines are approaching fast:
- January 2026: The rules for textiles are expected, with compliance likely required by mid-2027.
- February 2027: The Battery Passport regulation takes full effect, requiring DPPs for all EV, industrial, and transport batteries on the EU market.
- 2028: The DPP requirement is planned to expand to other products, including construction materials and footwear.
- 2030: The EU aims for comprehensive coverage, requiring around 30 product categories to have DPPs.
Get Ahead of the Curve and Learn More
The Digital Product Passport represents a significant change, but it’s also an opportunity to build a more efficient, transparent, and sustainable business. Getting your data carrier strategy right is the first and most critical step.
The DPP framework is built on global standards for product identification. To help you dive deeper and learn directly from the experts shaping these regulations, we invite you to attend the upcoming free GS1 Standards Virtual Event, from September 22-25.
Register for the FREE GS1 Standards Event Here
Additional Resources
To learn more about Digital Product Passport, check out these helpful resources:
- European Commission: ESPR and the Digital Product Passport: The official source for the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), which establishes the DPP framework.
- GS1: Digital Product Passport Explained: An overview from the global standards organization on how DPPs will work and the standards involved.
- Digital Product Passports: What You Need to Know: Impinj DPP newsletter with the latest developments, and how to prepare with RAIN RFID.
