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- July 10, 2026

Digital Product Passport (DPP): What Does This Mean for Your Business?

Chances are you’ve already heard of it: the Digital Product Passport (DPP). Until recently, it was mainly a policy concept, but now it’s becoming a reality. The first European DPP standards were published in early June, and starting in 2027, the passport will become mandatory for the first product groups. In this article, you’ll learn what the DPP entails, how its implementation is proceeding, and what you can do right now.

What is the Digital Product Passport?

At its core, it’s simple: the DPP is a digital record linked to a product. It contains information about the product’s composition, origin, materials used, intended use, and options for reuse or recycling. Think of it as a kind of “maintenance manual 2.0,” but covering the entire lifespan of a machine or component.

Why is this happening now?

The DPP is an important part of the European Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). The European Union aims to better steer policies toward circularity and the use of raw materials. This requires reliable product information, which must be available digitally. For manufacturers and importers, this means they must increasingly record and share product data digitally.

The regulations will not take effect all at once but will be implemented product group by product group through so-called delegated acts. The European Commission has established a multi-year plan for this and is currently further developing the product-specific requirements.

First step taken: the standards for the DPP system are in place

To facilitate this effectively, the central European DPP infrastructure will be established in 2026, allowing companies to prepare technically. In early June, the first DPP standards were published via NEN. These standards address the system behind the product passport, including identification, data exchange, and storage.

What is the schedule?

The implementation will take place in phases by product group, each consisting of three steps:

  • Step 1: EU regulations by product group. The EU determines, via a delegated act, which products fall under the DPP and what information is required.
  • Step 2: A transition period of approximately 18 months. Companies will be given time to adapt their systems and data.
  • Step 3: Mandatory. From that point on, the product may no longer be marketed without a DPP.

Based on the current schedule, the rollout will look like this for each product group:

  • Starting in February 2027: batteries. The DPP will become mandatory for electric vehicles and industrial batteries exceeding 2 kWh;
  • In 2027: tires, textiles, furniture, and mattresses;
  • Starting in 2028: iron, steel, aluminum, and electronics/ICT.

Please note: After the rules for each product group are published, there is always an implementation period of approximately 18 months before the DPP actually becomes mandatory.

What does this mean for you?

The biggest change isn’t in the passport itself, but in the data behind it. Companies need to better document what their products are made of and share that information throughout the supply chain. For many Fedecom companies, this isn’t entirely new, but it does require structure. Those who start now will maintain a clear overview later on and avoid having to do everything all at once.

We’ll keep you updated through this newsletter, of course. For more information about the Digital Product Passport, visit the knowledge base on the Fedecom website (under the “Sustainability” category).