EU Digital Product Passport: What You Need to Know
What is the Digital Product Passport?
The EU Digital Product Passport (DPP) is a regulatory framework requiring products sold in the EU to carry a machine-readable identifier (typically a QR code or RFID tag) that links to detailed product information including materials, carbon footprint, repairability, and recyclability data.
Which Products Are Affected?
The DPP will roll out in phases:
- Batteries — First category, starting February 2027
- Textiles & footwear — Expected 2027-2028
- Electronics — Expected 2028-2029
- Construction products — Expected 2029-2030
Eventually, most physical products sold in the EU will require a DPP.
The Role of Barcodes
The DPP leverages existing product identification standards. GS1's GTIN (the number encoded in EAN/UPC barcodes) is the recommended product identifier. The DPP data will be accessible via a URI — perfectly aligned with GS1 Digital Link QR codes that are being rolled out as part of Sunrise 2027.
How to Prepare
Ensure your products have valid GS1 GTINs. Start collecting the sustainability data that the DPP will require. Consider implementing GS1 Digital Link on your product packaging to future-proof your barcode strategy.