A digital product passport is a digital record of a physical product that contains all the information that users need to know while purchasing any product. The European Commission is leading its implementation, which is why it is also referred to as the digital product passport EU. The digital product passport regulation ensures that every product aligns with the European Commission’s sustainability goals.
As of now, digital product passports apply only within the EU region, but other countries may adopt them to promote sustainable living. So you should have knowledge about DPP and how to create a product passport.
Here is a complete guide for you on how to create an EU digital product passport, what information to include in it, and the benefits of the DPP digital product passport.
What to Include in Digital Product Passport?
When creating a DPP, make sure that you have included all the information that is required throughout the product’s lifecycle. The digital product passport contains the following information about the product:
Product Name And Description
The first and foremost thing to include in DPP is the product name and description, which tells the users about the product. A brief description that tells about the main features is necessary to help users understand the product in detail.
Include the following points in the product description:
- Product identifier, e.g serial number, barcode, QR code, etc.
- Manufacturing and expiry date (if applicable)
- User guide/manual on how to use the product
- Manufacturer contact details
Ingredients and Materials
Name all the ingredients and the materials from which the product is made. It ensures the product transparency and helps with reuse and recycling.
Manufacturing Country
Mention the country name to let users know where the product is from, in which country, and the city it was made in. It helps to ensure traceability of the supply chain and helps customers to make informed purchasing decisions.
Manufacturing Information
Include the manufacturing and batch information to ensure the quality of the product for consumers. It helps in defect tracking and regulatory audits. Mentioning the manufacturing and batch information facilitates the product maintenance and warranty claims in case of any defect.
Recycling Instructions
Mention the disposal instructions to guide users for disposal and recycling methods. It ensures compliance with environmental law and waste management regulations. It promotes a sustainable environment and encourages responsible consumer behaviour.
Certifications and Sustainability Data
Name any certifications that your product has. It demonstrates the product’s compliance with sustainability and safety standards. When customers see that the product is verified by third parties, it builds their trust in your product.
Safety Guidelines and Warning
Safety is the priority of the customer. It’s important to mention the safety instructions to inform users about when and who can use the product, and the potential hazards. It prevents the misuse of the product and ensures consumer protection.
How to Create a Digital Product Passport?
Step1: Gather the Product Data
The first step is to gather all the essential data and information about the product. You should know every detail of the product (materials name, manufacturing details, origin, repair, recycle, reuse and safety info). Ensure all the data collected about the product is correct, and no incorrect information should be added.
Step 2: Set a Standard Format
Use as a standard recognized format ( ISO Standards, GS1 or EU DPP guidelines). Setting a standard format ensures product compatibility across global platforms and makes its DPP interoperable.
Step 3: Select a Digital Platform
Choose a platform to create a digital product passport. The digital product passports platform helps you to store and manage your products DPP securely. You can easily access real-time data and updates about your product on these platforms.
There are different DPP platforms available for each industry (food, pharmacy, fashion, supply chains, etc. Some of the most popular digital product passport platforms are:
- GS1 Digital Link
- Circularise
- IBM Blockchain
- iPoint Systems
- Authentique
Each DPP platform has its requirements; choose the one that best suits your requirements.
Step 4: Create and Assign Unique Product ID
Assign each product a separate product ID ( serial number, QR code, RFID tag). It helps to track each product separately, and products can be easily linked to their digital records, ensuring data accuracy in DPP.
Step 5: Add Supply Chain Information
The next step is to integrate the supply chain data to track the product lifecycle. It ensures regulatory compliance and supports the maintenance and repair of the product.
Step 6: Set Access Controls
After you have completed the above steps to create the digital product passport, next, you have to set the access controls. Access control means who can view, edit or update the product information. This step is mandatory to comply with data privacy and security standards. It protects the product data and ensures only authorized people can access or edit it.
Step 7: Ensure Legal Compliance and Requirements
This step is to ensure that your product’s DPP aligns with legal compliance and standards. Following the environmental and legal regulations builds consumers’ trust and lets users know that you support sustainable environments, as more people now support sustainable living. This step helps you avoid industry and legal regulation penalties.
Step 8: Update the Product Information as Needed
All the steps completed…your digital product passport is ready. But make sure to update the product information when needed. It is necessary to update the DPP to let consumers know about any new changes that have been made to the product. This step is necessary to tell consumers about the current condition of the product and its history.
Benefits of Digital Product Passport
Digital product passport EU has a number of benefits, which is why it is recommended to create a DPP for your product.
- Digital product passports help consumers stay informed about the products they are using. They can easily track product information, e.g. country of origin, materials used for manufacturing, etc. So it helps to make a more informed decision when buying any product.
- It increases the product’s transparency among consumers.
- It helps to identify the potential risks in the supply chain by providing clear information and data about the product.
- It helps the product owners to track the product’s journey, which helps to optimize and improve the product’s efficiency over time.
- With DPP, businesses can easily comply with the regulatory standards, which helps them attract more customers and build a strong brand by gaining consumers’ trust.
- DPP is an act that supports a sustainable environment by bringing awareness among people about the responsible consumption, reuse and recycling of the product.
This was a precise yet complete guide to understand digital product passport and how to create a dpp. By following these steps you can ensure that your product is aligned with regulatory and legal standards.
FAQ
What is the product passport EU?
The Product Passport EU is an EU initiative that provides digital records of product details like materials, origin, and environmental impact. It ensures transparency, sustainability, and compliance across the supply chain.
How does a digital product passport work?
A digital product passport stores key product details in digital form, making it easy to track, recycle, and reuse products.
Why is creating a European digital product passport important?
Creating a European digital product passport is important to ensure compliance with upcoming EU regulations. It builds customer trust, and supports circular economy practices by making product data easily accessible for recycling, reuse, and repairs.