„In short, we were impressed by the modularity and scalability with which you can work in the system. "
Siegfried SchneiderCMO, Red Dot Design
product media
9 min
From 2026, the digital product passport will be mandatory for the first product groups. You can find out what you need to look out for here.
Sustainability is no longer just a buzzword, but an urgent field of action for companies, consumers and political decision-makers. Global challenges such as climate change, resource scarcity and the ever-increasing amounts of waste require innovative solutions.
One such solution is the digital product passport (DPP), which goes far beyond conventional product information. By providing standardized data from all phases of the product life cycle, it enables well-founded decisions to be made.
Consumers receive detailed information about the product, such as the material composition, reparability or durability. In turn, companies can use the digital product passport to make their entire value chain transparent and effectively implement their sustainability goals.
The digital product passport (DPP) displays all relevant information about the entire life cycle of a product – from raw material extraction, production and use through to disposal or recycling.
Compared to an analog type plate or operating instructions, the DPP is much more comprehensive and provides an important basis for traceability. The data comes from various sources and is used for different purposes.
Technologies such as blockchain or cloud systems ensure that the data they contain is securely stored and easily retrievable. Standardized product data can help to improve safety and sustainability, particularly in the case of complex electrotechnical systems or chemical products.
The introduction of digital product passports is part of European regulations such as the Ecodesign Regulation and the Ecodesign Directive. The EU is pursuing the goal of making sustainable products the norm and creating transparency along the entire value chain.
Standardization is an important prerequisite for success. Organizations such as DIN, IEC, CEN and CENELEC are working to develop norms and standards that ensure the interoperability of digital product passports.
Delegated acts and legal changes define the requirements that companies must meet. This standardization gives small and medium-sized companies in particular better access to Industry 4.0 and allows them to benefit from the digitalization of their value chains.
The implementation of the DPP requires a robust technical infrastructure. Companies should rely on standardized data formats to avoid isolated solutions and ensure interoperability. Data originates from all phases of the product life cycle and contains information about the origin, chemical substances, material composition and repair and recycling options.
Blockchain technologies lend themselves to secure traceability along the entire value chain. The European Commission is calling for these systems to be transparent and tamper-proof.
Companies should also use digital nameplates and user-friendly platforms to give consumers and other stakeholders easy access to the relevant information.
Digital product passports are particularly relevant in the electronics industry, where the traceability of raw materials and components is crucial. Information on the individual components, such as chemical substances or information on recyclability, facilitates recycling and the efficient use of valuable resources. Tracing the supply chain is simplified for manufacturers and disposal companies.
The fashion industry benefits from the transparency created by digital product passports. Information about the origin of materials, working conditions and the sustainability of products helps consumers to make more conscious decisions. Companies can use this transparency to increase their credibility and develop innovative business models.
In mechanical engineering and the furniture industry, digital product passports can contain information on spare parts, material compositions and repair options. This makes maintenance easier and helps to extend the product’s service life. This is a decisive advantage, especially for complex products such as machines or electrotechnical systems.
The digital product passport is also becoming increasingly important for software. It can provide central information about software versions, license conditions, updates and security standards. The traceability of software components is becoming increasingly important, particularly in the area of cyber security, in order to identify and rectify vulnerabilities at an early stage.
Software manufacturers benefit from standardized documentation that promotes the interoperability and reusability of software components. At the same time, the DPP helps to document the life cycle of digital products and ensure compliance with legal requirements, such as the GDPR.
A key advantage of the DPP is the recyclability of materials. Companies and disposal companies can use the data it contains to determine exactly which materials are recyclable and how they can be reused.
Thanks to standardized data and traceability, companies can make their processes more efficient and reduce waste. This has a positive effect on the entire value chain.
The targeted recycling of materials and the optimization of supply chains help to reduce waste volumes and CO2 emissions. Sustainable products that are identified by digital product passports make a decisive contribution to environmental protection.
Companies should ensure that all relevant information along the supply chain is recorded and processed centrally. Standardization is an important success factor here in order to bring together data from different phases of the product life cycle.
The implementation of the DPP often requires a realignment of production processes. Legal changes and standards developed by organizations such as DKE or ETSI must be complied with.
Digital product passports create the basis for new use cases and innovative business models. One example is the product-as-a-service model, in which products are not purchased but used. Companies can offer maintenance and repair services based on the data they contain, which promotes product longevity and improves recyclability.
Digital product passports are a key instrument for the sustainable transformation of the economy. They offer a central platform for the provision of relevant information and help companies to make their value chains more transparent and efficient.
Consumers, manufacturers and waste management companies benefit equally from standardization and digitalization, which enable a more sustainable and innovative future.
Daniel Luecke
Director Software Solutions
I work together with my colleagues to make our product a little better every day – and to be a partner who helps our customers work successfully with their media and product data.