The Digital Product Passport (DPP) will carry information about a product throughout its lifecycle, helping improve traceability and transparency on its sustainability performance, and strengthening regulatory compliance. According to the European Commission (EC), the digital tool also aims to drive digital innovation and help consumers make more informed, sustainable choices. However, as its implementation moves closer, many questions from industry sectors remain:
- How can data requirements be harmonised across industries?
- What’s the best timing for implementation?
- And how can the DPP align with existing EU legislation across different value chains?
These were some of the key themes discussed at a recent hybrid workshop organised by Cefic and the European Association of Chemical Distributors (FECC). The event gathered over 100 stakeholders, both in Brussels and online, to explore what lies ahead for this digital tool.
A Digital Passport for Products: Implementation questions and sector-specific challenges
The DPP is designed to store detailed, product-specific data, from environmental performance and legal compliance to information on circularity and technical performance. Anchored in the European Commission’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), the DPP supports the EU’s broader ambitions for a circular and more digital economy.
As the EC drives the development of the DPP, industry stakeholders are weighing in on what’s needed to make it work. The rollout will start with large batteries in 2027 and expanding to other sectors like textiles, toys, and detergents. A clear message emerged from the recent workshop: consistent, harmonised data requirements across sectors will be essential to avoid fragmentation and unnecessary complexity, especially for smaller companies. While key legislative details are being finalised, many participants also called for greater clarity on the rollout timeline, and sufficient time to put the system in place. Questions also remain about the long-term durability of data carriers like QR codes over a product’s lifespan.
Different sectors face specific hurdles. The battery re-use and recycling industry see potential in the DPP’s ability to provide important technical data for the refurbishment and repair and second-life options, such as into energy storage systems. The benefit for the recycling sector though is very low, especially for the smaller size batteries found in the portable and Light Means of Transport (LMT) categories due to the volumes of batteries received at a facility on a given day. Practical concerns include the need for consistent data standards, solutions for handling damaged or partially dismantled batteries, and broader challenges such as the integrity of a QR code after a year in-use, let alone the expected life time of batteries being >10+ years.
Professionals from the detergent sector emphasised the need for a balanced and pragmatic approach, advocating for a gradual implementation of DPP. The industry is committed to advancing sustainability and compliance, but it is essential that new requirements and timeline allows proper implementation—particularly for smaller businesses—so that innovation can continue to thrive across the sector.
Since the chemical industry plays an integral role in the value chains of batteries, detergents, and many other products that will require a DPP, collaboration across value chains will be essential for its successful implementation, ensuring the system works in practice and delivers its full potential in driving transparency, sustainability, and innovation.
What’s next? Key milestones on the horizon
A public consultation on the requirements for DPP service providers took place recently, giving stakeholders an opportunity to shape the upcoming rules. The central DPP registry is expected to launch in July 2026. From February 2027, certain large batteries will be the first products required to carry a passport. By the end of 2027, the DPP is expected to expand to cover a wider range of products, including textiles, toys, detergents, and construction materials.