Digital Product Passport – Prepare for New Requirements
Written by Jenni Tähtinen
Huld Leader
The EU’s Ecodesign Regulation (ESPR) entered into force this summer. The regulation introduces significant reforms to product design, such as the Digital Product Passport (DPP). What does DPP mean in practice, how should you prepare for it and what benefits does it bring to consumers, businesses and the environment?
As stated in my previous blog, ESPR defines new minimum requirements for product design, manufacturing, and product information. If your product does not meet these requirements, you can’t place it on the market in the EU.
As part of the new Ecodesign Regulation, the EU introduces a Digital Product Passport that brings together all relevant information about the product and its life cycle in digital format. Starting next year, the passport will be gradually introduced for all products covered by the regulation.
What Does the Digital Product Passport Contain?
DPP’s goal is to help customers make more informed choices, while supporting importers, distributors, repairers, recyclers and other actors in the value chain. It enables products to be utilized in accordance with ESPR requirements as efficiently and sustainably as possible.
The Digital Product Passport must contain, among other things, the conformity documents related to the product, such as the declaration of conformity, certificates and technical information. The most important for product development is the technical documentation, which includes:
- A general description of the product and its intended use.
- Design and manufacturing drawings and diagrams of components, subassemblies and circuits, including explanations necessary for the understanding of operation.
- A list of the applied standards or, if no standards have been used, a description of the solutions adopted to meet them.
- Results of design calculations and inspections.
- Measurement results related to eco-design requirements.
- Test reports and data according to data requirements.
Example: SIX Mobile Work Machines pilot with IOXIO.
The manufacturer shall provide the digital instructions in downloadable and storable format so that the user can consult them at any time. The instructions shall remain available online for the expected lifetime of the product, but at least ten years after the product has been placed on the market. In practice, the unique identifier of the passport (QR code or similar) must be affixed either to the product or its packaging or published on the website.
What Happens Next?
The objectives of the Digital Product Passport follow the ESPR schedule. The first Digital Product Passports will be introduced in July 2025 at the earliest. Pilot projects are already underway to create examples of building the passport. In addition, the EU-funded Cirpass 2 project aims to solve challenges related to the technology and process of the passport.
The national FINNPASS coordinated by VTT, is also underway in Finland, with the aim of bringing together actors and solutions working with Digital Product Passports and identifying best practices for their use. The project is expected to publish a guide in early 2025, which will compile key findings and recommendations.
Master the DPP – Huld’s Expert Tips
- Identify your value chain and your role in it. Prepare in advance by finding out how the DPP applies to your business.
- Be aware. Stay up to date on current issues related to ESPR delegated settings.
- Check if your product documentation is already in digital format or if you need to do something about it.
- Check out existing examples of Digital Product Passports. Take advantage of the FINNPASS project’s guide!
- Rely on experts! Huld’s product development professionals are ready to help you.
Huld is Here for You!
Huld’s experts are professionals in high-quality, durable and compliant products. We take into account the requirements of the Digital Product Passport and ESPR throughout product design, from concept development to the market launch.
We help you ensure the competitiveness of your products in Finland and everywhere in the EU also in the future. Let’s go through your product group together and think about how you can prepare for future requirements.