The EU Digital Product Passport (DPP) is a mandatory electronic record designed under the EU Green Deal legislation, a part of the European Commission’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), aiming to meet Europe’s commitment to the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) . 

The requirement is to create a “digital product passport to electronically register, process and share product-related information amongst supply chain businesses, authorities and consumers”, enabling clear, structured and accessible information on the environmental sustainability characteristics of products. 

The proposed regulation covers almost all physical products on the European market, in all product categories, with the exception of food , pet food and medical products, which are subject to other legislation with similar requirements. The regulation was adopted in April 2024, the rules will be rolled out gradually and in full operation by 2030 - meaning, at that point, all companies exporting, producing or selling products in Europe need to embrace the DPP regulation.

The Digital Product Passport with GS1 Standards

A Digital Product Passport efficiently creates a digital twin of a physical product, and securely records and shares essential information about a product throughout its lifecycle. The digital twin is commonly associated to the physical product through a QR code and can be accessed via a smart device.

GS1 standards enable digital product passports to work in practice, without reinventing the wheel, by leveraging shared global rules already used by more than 2 million companies in the GS1 community worldwide. GS1 Digital Link and 2D barcodes are particularly relevant to the DPP. These standards enable product information to be accessed online and scanned via a single barcode, by consumers with a smartphone, at the checkout and by all those involved in the supply chain.

GS1 HK aims to support companies to fulfill EU Digital Product Passport requirements and build a digital ecosystem for sharing ESG data. The DPP is not just a regulatory requirement, it is an opportunity for companies to build trust, stand out in the market and achieve your sustainability goals. By consistently managing product data, you open the door to enhanced consumer interaction, greater transparency and added value at every step of the product lifecycle.
 

Empower Your Products with a Digital Identity

Find shortcuts to new EU regulations, reports and publications related to Digital Product Passport.

•  Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR)
•  GS1 Standards enabling the EU digital product passport – Whitepaper by GS1 in Europe

•  The impact of open, international standards on circularity in Europe - Deloitte