Digital Product Passport
A structured, verifiable electronic record containing the canonical information of a product throughout its life cycle. Regulated by Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 (ESPR), Chapter III.
Context
The Digital Product Passport (DPP) is a structured, machine-readable electronic record containing canonical information about a product throughout its life cycle. It is regulated by Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 (ESPR) in Chapter III, Arts. 9-11.
Regulatory origin
Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 of the European Parliament and of the Council, published in OJEU L 188 (28 Jun 2024). It enters into force 20 days after publication. Sector-specific application to textiles is envisaged in the delegated act of the Working Plan COM(2025) 187 final, with an estimated timeline of Q1-Q3 2027.
«Products may only be placed on the market or put into service if a digital product passport is available, in accordance with the applicable delegated act, and the passport data must be accurate, complete and up to date.»
View verbatim quote in English
“products may only be placed on the market or put into service if a digital product passport is available... the data included in the digital product passport shall be accurate, complete and up to date”
Essential requirements of Chapter III
Connected to a persistent unique product identifier.
Based on open standards · interoperable · machine-readable · structured · searchable · transferable through an open network with no technological dependence on the provider.
Prohibits storing personal data without explicit consent in accordance with Art. 6 of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR).
The economic operator provides a digital copy of the data carrier to distributors and online marketplace operators, plus a free web link, within a maximum of 5 working days.
Free access for customers, manufacturers, importers, distributors, repairers, refurbishers, recyclers, market surveillance authorities, customs authorities, civil society organisations and trade unions.
Timeline
Regulation adopted
Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 approved by Parliament and Council.
OJEU publication
Published in OJEU L 188 · enters into force 18 Jul 2024.
Minimum deadline for 1st delegated act
Art. 4.7 establishes that the first delegated act shall not enter into force before this date.
Estimated textile application
Working Plan COM(2025) 187 final §2.2.1 prioritises textiles-footwear as the first category.
Applied case
A textile brand that markets garments in the EU market is an economic operator under Art. 2.46 ESPR. When the textile delegated act becomes applicable, it must issue a DPP per product, model, batch or item with the data of Annex III ESPR.
Connects the DPP to a persistent unique identifier (Art. 2.30) accessible via a data carrier (Art. 2.29) present on the product, packaging or documentation.
Maintains a back-up through a "digital product passport service provider" (Art. 2.32 + Art. 10.4).
Ensures free access for recyclers, market surveillance authorities and customs authorities (Art. 11.b).
Reports the 16 regulable ecodesign aspects (Art. 5): durability, reusability, reparability, recycled content, environmental footprint, expected waste.
Common mistakes
The DPP is not a decorative digital label.
Art. 9.1 ESPR requires the data to be "accurate, complete and up to date", and Art. 10.1.d requires it to be based on open standards, machine-readable, structured and transferable without vendor lock-in. A QR code linking to a PDF does not meet the essential requirements of Chapter III.
The DPP is not reduced to the carbon footprint.
Art. 5 ESPR lists sixteen product aspects covered by ecodesign requirements — durability, reliability, reusability, upgradability, reparability, maintenance, presence of substances of concern, energy, water, resources, recycled content, remanufacturing, recyclability, material recovery, carbon footprint and environmental footprint, and expected waste. The carbon footprint (Art. 2.25) is one of those dimensions, not the entire DPP.
The DPP does not exempt from parallel obligations.
Complying with the DPP does not replace sustainability reporting obligations (CSRD), due diligence on human rights and the environment (CSDDD), nor specific sectoral prohibitions. These are overlapping regimes that coexist.
The DPP does not apply from the entry into force of the ESPR.
Although the ESPR has been in force since 18 July 2024, the DPP by product category is only required when the corresponding sectoral delegated act is adopted and becomes applicable. Art. 4.7 establishes that the first delegated act shall not enter into force before 19 July 2025, and Art. 4.4 that its effective application requires at least 18 additional months from that entry into force.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Digital Product Passport?
The Digital Product Passport (DPP) is a structured, machine-readable electronic record containing canonical information about a product throughout its life cycle, regulated by Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 ESPR. In accordance with Art. 9.1: only products covered by a delegated act may be placed on the market if the DPP is available.
To whom does the DPP obligation apply?
It applies to manufacturers, importers and distributors of products covered by sectoral delegated acts of the ESPR (Art. 9 of Regulation 2024/1781). For textiles, the DPP will enter into force from 2027 according to the Working Plan 2025-2030 (COM 2025/187, §2.2.1).
How is a product's DPP accessed?
Through a persistent unique identifier connected via a data carrier (QR code, GS1 Data Matrix, NFC, RFID), in accordance with Art. 10.1.a of the ESPR. The canonical syntax uses the GS1 Digital Link Standard v1.1.1 with resolvable https URLs that open the structured DPP information.
What is the difference between the DPP and traditional textile labelling?
Traditional labelling (Reg. 1007/2011) covers fibre composition and geographical origin in a physical sewn-in format. The DPP covers >35 ESPR-native fields (composition, origin, processes, durability, end-of-life, environmental impact) in an interoperable digital format. Both coexist — the DPP does not replace physical labelling.
What minimum data must a textile DPP contain?
According to the 16 aspects of Art. 5.1 ESPR applicable to textiles: durability, reparability, substances of concern (SVHC), recycled content, recyclability, carbon footprint and environmental footprint, expected waste generation. The sectoral delegated acts will specify the exact datapoints.
When does the textile DPP enter into force?
The textile delegated act is in preparation according to the Working Plan 2025-2030 COM(2025) 187 §2.2.1 (Tier 1 textile priority). Estimated application Q1-Q3 2027 (18 months after adoption of the delegated act according to Art. 4.4 ESPR). Footwear is dealt with separately in §2.2.3.
Fuentes oficiales
- European Parliament and Council · OJEU L, 28 Jun 202413 jun 2024Regulation — legislation in force
- European Commission · Brussels16 abr 2025Communication — working plan
- European Parliamentary Research Servicejun 2024Sectoral study
- Joint Research Centre · European Commission2024Technical study — prioritisation analysis
