Digital Product Passports

A revolution in product identification for circularity.

The success of Digital Product Passports (DPP) hinges on the consistent and reliable exchange of product information throughout the entire lifecycle.

GS1 standards play a critical role in enabling this by ensuring consistent product identification and data exchange.

This empowers all stakeholders, from manufacturers and retailers to consumers and recyclers, to interact effectively with the product and contribute to its circular journey.

What is DPP?

Digital Product Passports have been introduced by the European Union legislators to ensure products are fully transparent, traceable throughout their lifecycle.

A DPP is a digital record of a unique product’s complete life cycle, storing key traceability data about the product.

Benefits of DPP

Contributes to sustainability

Consumers and professional buyers receive product data that enables sustainable choices.

Increased traceability

Unique identities and standardised data make it visible that all parties in the supply chain meet sustainability requirements.

Enhanced transparency

Open sustainability data provides greater international visibility for the brand and towards consumers.

Consumer and product safety

Reliable and verified data helps protect products, consumers and patients.

Optimised supply chain

Buyers and producing companies avoid unnecessary manual administration and data management.

Regulatory compliance

Standardised information ensures that brand owners comply with regulations and industry requirements.

This data support the circular economy, decarbonisation and sustainability. DPPs do not exist in isolation – they are part of a wide set of regulatory initiatives within the EU green deal:

DPP regulatory framework

How is the EU making sustainable products the norm? This diagram shows the key initiatives including DPP:

DPP categories

In April 2025, the first working plan will be adopted and will likely include the following items:

End use products	Intermediary items
Textiles	Iron & steel
Mattresses	Aluminium
Detergents	Chemicals
Furniture
Tires
Lubricants
Paints
Energy-related products
Electronics

GS1 standards powering DPP

Global Trade Item Numbers

Global Trade Item Numbers (GTINs) are essential for DPP, providing unique product identification to link physical products to their digital information. These identifiers form the foundation of DPPs, enabling reliable access to product-specific information. GTINs bridge the gap between product and DPP, directing users to information when scanned. As a global standard, they ensure DPP accessibility and understanding across systems, crucial for data sharing and accuracy.

QR codes powered by GS1

QR codes powered by GS1 acts as a gateway to DPPs, providing direct access to relevant, up-to-date information like lifecycle details and sustainability credentials. It facilitates a richer user experience with diverse content formats, supports supply chain transparency by enabling easy sharing of product journey information, and empowers consumer engagement with usage and recycling information.

DPP demo tool

Explore how Digital Product Passports will impact your business with our free interactive demo tool.

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An introduction to Digital Product Passports

This session will help you understand DPPs.

We provide a regulatory overview, discuss why its happening and who it will effect and when. Then we explain how GS1 standards support implementation and how to get started. Whether you're a beginner or looking to refine your approach, gain insights and next steps to prepare for the circular economy.

Let's build a sustainable future together

Get in touch to explore how GS1 UK can support your sustainability journey.