What is a digital product passport, and why is it becoming essential?
The digital product passport (DPP) is set to become a core requirement for selling goods in Europe and beyond. But what exactly is it, what detailed information does it provide about products—and how to create a digital product passport that meets upcoming regulations?
In short, a digital product passport is a standardized way of making detailed data available to anyone who scans a code on the product. That includes consumers, regulators, retailers, and everyone else involved in the supply chain. It supports transparency, circularity, safety, and regulatory compliance across industries.
But here’s the twist: the official EU requirements are still being finalized. So, how can brands get ready?
Can I create a digital product passport before EU rules are finalized?
Yes, and in fact, you should. The direction is clear, and waiting until the last minute will only create stress and technical debt, making it harder to ensure compliance. That’s why Digital Link already offers a flexible, future-ready solution that businesses can use today.
Rather than guessing what the final DPP framework will look like, our platform offers customizable templates for different product categories. Whether you’re working in food and beverages, wine and spirits, baby products, cosmetics and skincare, supplements and sports nutrition, or apparel and textiles, there’s a tailored option ready for you. These templates already meet current global e-labeling requirements and are easily adaptable as new regulations come into play.
What should a digital product passport include?
While the specifics will vary by category and region, a solid digital product passport usually includes a core set of information to meet regulatory requirements and ensure transparency and compliance.
Product name and description
This is the foundation of the passport. It tells the user what the product is and outlines its key characteristics.
Ingredients or materials
Consumers and regulators need to know what the product is made of, whether it’s food, cosmetics, or textiles.
Country of origin
Clear visibility into where the product was produced or assembled supports both traceability and consumer trust.
Manufacturing and batch information
This helps with quality assurance and enables targeted recalls if needed.
Recycling or disposal instructions
Essential for meeting environmental labeling laws and promoting responsible consumer behavior through sustainable practices.
Certifications and sustainability data
Highlighting certifications or eco-friendly practices can support brand values and customer expectations.
Safety information and warnings
Any product that could present a risk must include relevant usage instructions or hazard symbols.
On Digital Link, all of this content is managed through a centralized dashboard. You can build landing pages, add media, and translate everything into multiple languages, all tied to one single, scannable code.
What is the Sustainable Products Regulation, and how is it connected to DPPs?
The EU’s upcoming Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) aims to make sustainable products the norm across the European market. It sets requirements for product durability, reusability, energy efficiency, and, most notably, information transparency through the Digital Product Passport.
The DPP acts as the delivery mechanism for many of these obligations. It allows brands to display repair instructions, sourcing details, environmental impact scores, and recycling options without overcrowding packaging. By embedding this data in a data carrier like a next-generation QR code, brands can stay ahead of sustainability rules while offering more value to consumers.
The regulation is broad in scope and will impact industries ranging from fashion and electronics to furniture and food. Getting started now allows you to align your DPPs with the ESPR roadmap before enforcement kicks in.
How does the QR code work with a digital product passport?
The QR code on your packaging is the entry point. When scanned, it reveals the DPP as a mobile-friendly landing page customized for the user’s language and location. One scan gives access to everything: ingredients, allergens, origin, sustainability details, usage tips, and even videos.
Unlike static codes, Digital Link’s dynamic QR codes can be updated anytime without changing the packaging. This lets brands react to new rules, correct errors, or run seasonal campaigns, even after the product is on the shelf.
How does Digital Link ensure data security?
When brands start linking product-level data to scannable codes, questions around data security and data transparency naturally arise. What happens to the information once it’s scanned? Who controls the content? How is it protected?
Digital Link was built with enterprise-grade security in mind for effective digital product passport implementation. Our infrastructure ensures that encryption, access controls, and GDPR-compliant privacy practices shield your digital product passports (and the information they carry).
From version tracking to user permissions, you have full control over who can edit or view your product pages. This protects your compliance strategy, customer relationships, and brand reputation.
What does DPP implementation involve?
Implementing digital product passports starts with organizing your product data: batch numbers, ingredients, certifications, and so on. Digital Link helps you manage this through easy integrations with your ERP or PIM systems, enabling secure and automated data collection.
As part of the DPP process, your brand must consider the product’s entire lifecycle, from raw material sourcing to end-of-life. Our platform supports this with item-level traceability, dynamic pricing capabilities, and real-time updates enabled through end-of-line integration with printing systems.
How does this impact the supply chain?
Digital product passports offer complete supply chain visibility. From manufacturing process to point of sale, every stakeholder in global supply chains can access the same reliable product information. This supports supply chain traceability, enhances resource efficiency, and allows for precise action in case of recalls or fraud.
Moreover, businesses can collect valuable insights and data points across the entire supply chain, improving planning, inventory control, and forecasting.
Can DPPs be used for electric vehicle batteries?
Yes, and they already are. The European Commission has made electric vehicle batteries one of the first product groups to require a Digital Product Passport under the new Battery Regulation.
Each EV battery must carry a unique, scannable code that links to a product passport detailing its materials, origin, repairability, expected lifespan, and carbon footprint. This helps regulators enforce sourcing rules and supports circular economy efforts like second-life reuse and recycling.
Digital Link’s system is flexible enough to handle high-complexity use cases like EV batteries. Our platform supports structured data fields, secure updates, and multilingual compliance, all essential for this sector.
What are the benefits beyond compliance?
Creating a digital product passport isn’t just about meeting EU regulations. It’s about building smarter, more transparent products that reflect ethical and sustainable practices and that consumers actually want to engage with.
Tell your brand story through video, text, and images
The DPP becomes a canvas for your narrative, letting you share what makes your product unique in richer formats.
Add interactive content like loyalty programs or reviews
These features create engagement loops and turn one-time buyers into repeat customers.
Measure engagement and scan locations
With built-in analytics, you can see exactly how people are interacting with your product, and where.
Localize product information by region
Show different content depending on where the QR is scanned, without needing multiple codes.
Reduce packaging clutter while adding more value
By moving data off the label and into the cloud, you can reduce visual noise and still meet all legal requirements.
How does DPP contribute to sustainability?
By highlighting material composition, environmental footprint, and the product’s carbon footprint, a digital passport enhances transparency and enables consumers to make more sustainable choices.
It also aligns with circular economy goals by making information about recycling, reuse, or return schemes easily accessible. This empowers consumers while reducing the environmental impact of waste and overproduction.
What role does the DPP play in product lifecycle management?
The digital product passport allows you to manage the product’s entire lifecycle digitally. From raw materials and production methods to usage and end of life, you can provide accurate data and updates without changing packaging. This supports more sustainable business practices and enhances product lifecycle management.
How does a DPP improve supply chain transparency?
One of the Digital Product Passport’s most powerful impacts is its ability to create supply chain transparency. With a single scan, downstream actors—retailers, consumers, and even recyclers—gain insight into how a product was made, where it traveled, and who handled it.
This transparency fosters trust and enables more efficient resource use and better risk management. For example, if a defect is discovered in a batch of components, the DPP makes it easier to trace those products and act quickly.
Digital Link’s resolver technology connects all this data through the GS1 Digital Link standard, ensuring that every stakeholder, from raw material supplier to end user, sees the right information at the right time.
Can this unlock new business models?
Absolutely. The digital product passport system enables circular business models such as reuse, resale, and subscription, supporting a sustainable future. It also supports new revenue streams based on services or digital experiences linked to each product.
By making the entire value chain more transparent, brands can identify ways to improve energy efficiency, track energy consumption, and optimize operations.
How do I start creating a digital product passport?
The easiest way to get started is to go to digital-link.com and create your first digital link. If your product already has a GTIN (barcode number), we can auto-generate a compliant DPP with just a few clicks.
Using our intuitive builder, you can customize the look, language, and layout. You can also add images, videos, links, documents, and anything your customer needs.
And if you’re a larger company, we offer integrations with your existing PIM or ERP so everything flows seamlessly.
What if I sell in multiple countries?
No problem. Digital Link supports automatic content localization. A user in France will see the page in French with France-specific recycling info, while a user in the US will get English and FDA-compliant labeling.
This makes global compliance easier without the need for different QR codes or packaging variations.
What should companies know about the EU market?
Selling in the EU market means more than translating a label. It means complying with region-specific sustainability, labeling, and transparency laws. The European Union is leading the global push for product traceability and digital labeling through initiatives like the Digital Product Passport and the ESPR.
Digital Link was designed to meet the expectations of the EU market from day one. That includes supporting multilingual product pages, country-specific recycling instructions, and regulatory fields that align with EU Green Deal targets.
Whether you’re based in the EU or exporting into it, having a DPP-ready system means fewer delays, lower risk of noncompliance, and a better experience for European consumers.
Will this work with physical packaging constraints?
Absolutely. That’s the whole point. Rather than printing every detail on the label, a single QR code unlocks the whole product story. This frees up space for design while meeting labeling rules in a smart, scannable way.
In fact, many companies use Digital Link to remove multiple codes (e.g., EAN, nutrition, recycling, regulatory) and replace them with a single next-gen barcode.
What if the rules change again?
Then, you simply update your pages in the dashboard. There is no need to reprint or relabel, and your QR code stays the same.
This flexibility is why our system is already being used in pilots for Digital Product Passports in Europe, including for wine, cosmetics, seafood, and baby goods.
What makes Digital Link a good solution for DPPs?
We’re not just a barcode provider. We offer:
- Pre-built templates by industry
- Smart landing page builder
- Support for multiple data formats (text, video, PDF, API)
- GTIN validation
- Context-aware localization
- Robust analytics and insights
We also offer world-class customer support to help you get started, stay compliant, and unlock your products’ marketing potential.
Is it too early to act?
Not at all. It’s the perfect time to build your foundation.
The EU Digital Product Passport may not be fully defined yet, but the direction is clear. Early movers will be ready before the deadlines hit to meet market demands, and they’ll benefit from better product data, improved traceability, and stronger customer relationships.
What comes next?
Whether you want to get ahead of regulations or make your products smarter, the first step is creating your digital link.
You can test it for free, with no commitment, and start building digital product passports today.
Let your packaging do more for compliance, for customers, and for your brand.
