Understanding the digital product passport: impact and challenges

How can we encourage responsible consumption? How can we limit the impact of our consumption on the environment? Today, transparency and traceability are the watchwords for consumers. Supported by the European Union within the framework of the ESPR (Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation), the Digital Product Passport (DPP) offers concrete answers. More than just a regulation, it’s a revolution. A breakthrough that transforms not only the shopping experience, but also companies’ obligations towards consumers and the planet. What are the implications? For retail players, rethinking product data management and complying with the new requirements is becoming essential. Here’s how.

What is the Digital Product Passport?

Imagine that by 2027, in the European Union (EU), it will be possible to access a wealth of information on what we consume with a simple scan, thanks to the Digital Product Passport (DPP). Take, for example, a consumer looking to buy a new washing machine. Aware of the impact of his choices on the planet, he is looking for the most sustainable product. Fortunately for them, products are equipped with QR codes. By scanning this QR code, he or she immediately discovers essential information such as components, source of materials, manufacturing conditions, the product’s carbon footprint and so on.

What information will appear in the passport?

• The product’s technical performance
• Materials and their origin
• Repairability and recycling options
• Life-cycle environmental impacts

The EU’s Goal is Clear: strengthening product traceability, encouraging eco-design, and supporting the circular economy. The Digital Product Passport (DPP) is a certificate assigned to each product, consolidating all essential information to help consumers make informed and responsible choices. But that’s not all. One of its biggest advantages? Serving as proof of a product’s authenticity. For instance, a piece of clothing can be resold with complete transparency, as its digital passport provides its origin and ensures traceability. Welcome to the era of the Digital Product Passport, where every product sold across the European Union is unique, secure, and verifiable throughout the entire value chain—from product design to end-of-life management.

Which products are affected by the Digital Product Passport?

The regulation applies to physical goods and their key components. As of today, the European Commission has not yet finalized a definitive list of covered products.

The first sectors impacted include:

• Textiles and apparel
• Furniture and home decor
• Electronics and household appliances
• Electric vehicles
• Batteries
• Construction materials and products
• Chemicals

Why is the Digital Product Passport important for retail?

• Enhancing transparency for consumers

As consumer expectations evolve towards greater transparency, businesses must adapt. Thanks to this regulation, customers will gain better visibility into their environmental impact.

• Regulatory compliance and CSR

For businesses, the Digital Product Passport ensures compliance with regulations and validates their commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). This is particularly crucial as, under the European Green Deal, the EU has committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

• Optimizing inventory and simplifying logistics

With real-time updated information, the DPP helps optimize supply chains. It improves logistics by enabling efficient inventory management and reduces losses through complete traceability. This holistic view allows retailers and all stakeholders to be more productive and responsive.

• Supporting the circular economy

Providing consumers and repair professionals with essential data—facilitating recycling, repair, and resale—enables businesses to promote more sustainable economic models.

• A competitive advantage for retail companies

Businesses that anticipate the Digital Product Passport transition will stand out from the competition. How? By maintaining customer relationships after purchase, creating innovative interactions, and offering new experiences. This is an opportunity to strengthen brand image, boost customer loyalty, and seize new market opportunities.

How to prepare for the Digital Product Passport?

While the Digital Product Passport offers promising benefits, its implementation comes with challenges.

• Anticipating regulations and organizing data

The first step is to fully understand DPP requirements and assess their impact on the organization. Businesses must structure and centralize product data to ensure reliability and ease of access.

• Ensuring data compliance

Robust processes for data collection, verification, and updates are essential. These steps guarantee the accuracy and regulatory compliance of product information.

• Using the right tools

It’s a large-scale task, which calls for efficient, appropriate processes. Investing in the right solutions is essential to ensure smooth, efficient compliance. Equadis PIM is indispensable, as it enables the collection and precise processing of large quantities of complex data, and ensures compliance, while providing a structured framework.

• Training teams

Integrating the Digital Product Passport into business operations requires collaboration across departments, including supply chain, marketing, IT, and more. The key? Informing, raising awareness, and training teams for a successful transition.

• Working closely with stakeholders

Finally, it is crucial for organizations to collaborate with suppliers, partners, and distributors to ensure a seamless and effective integration of the Digital Product Passport across the entire value chain.

Equadis PIM: THE solution for anticipating and successfully implementing the Digital Product Passport

The implementation of the DPP is fast approaching. To meet these challenges, companies must rely on high-performance solutions for data management and analysis. In this context, the Equadis PIM becomes a strategic ally, helping to structure, ensure compliance, and accurately distribute product information while adapting to the specific needs of each distributor, retailer, and wholesaler.

With the Equadis PIM:

• Businesses ensure consistency and accuracy of product information across all sales channels, strengthening customer trust.
• Product data is continuously updated to maintain optimal compliance with the latest regulations.
• Seamless synchronization between manufacturers, distributors, and e-commerce platforms enables simplified and reliable management.
• Sustainability information is integrated into product sheets, facilitating repair, recycling, and resale—contributing to the circular economy.
• Agile data collection accelerates project deployment and provides a decisive competitive advantage.

At Equadis, human expertise is at the heart of our service, ensuring a smooth and successful adoption of the Digital Product Passport within your organization.