What is a digital product passport?
Digital product passport (DPP) is like a digital product identity card. It can be, for example, a QR code on the product packaging, behind which you can find comprehensive information in electronic form about, for example, the product's origin, the materials and methods used in manufacturing, environmental effects and recyclability.
The product passport can be used throughout the product's life cycle, from design and manufacturing to use and recycling, to improve the transparency and sustainability of supply chains and to help consumers make more informed purchasing decisions.
Why is a product passport needed?
Digital product passports belong to the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation proposed by the European Commission and are one of the key measures in the Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP). The goal of the initiative is to create a basis for the gradual introduction of digital product passports in at least four key markets starting in 2024. These markets include textiles, the construction sector, industrial and electric vehicle batteries, and at least one other key market defined in the circular economy action plan, such as consumer electronics, packaging and foodstuffs.
With the product passport, consumers can get information about the product's environmental impact and make more informed choices. The goal is to increase the transparency of products and their supply chains and promote more sustainable consumption.
How does the digital product passport appear to the average consumer?
Currently, product passports have been tried with batteries and textile products. The product has a QR code that the consumer scans to open a digital file on their smartphone, i.e. a product passport, which provides various information about the product's manufacturer, origin and safety.
Depending on the product, there may be, for example, the product's serial number and product type, material composition, information about the manufacturing process or compatibility with other devices, environmental and social impacts, or instructions for use, maintenance and repair.
With the help of information, the consumer can make his decision with confidence and buy a safe product.
What are the advantages of a digital product passport?
The digital product passport offers many advantages for different parties:
- Manufacturers can improve the environmental efficiency of their products, facilitate the recycling and reuse of products and reduce their environmental impact with the help of product passports. The transparency and traceability of products along the entire supply chain will also improve. In addition, manufacturers can make it easier to fill out product compliance information and build a stronger brand.
- Importers and retailers can use information about the origin and legality of the products, which improves the transparency and reliability of their operations.
- Consumers get more information about the product and its environmental effects and are able to make more informed, better and safer choices.
- Authorities can monitor the environmental impact of products more easily. Quality and safety control also improves, as defective products are easier to identify and trace.
What are the future prospects of DPP?
The concept of the digital product passport is just at the beginning, but its potential is enormous. In Finland, the digital product passport has been tested with batteries and textile products. In the future, one can well imagine the product passport expanding to other product groups, such as toys, clothes, foodstuffs and medicines. This would further increase consumer awareness and reduce the spread of harmful products in the market.
In the future, for example, a product manufacturer could use a product passport to track the movement of materials in its supply chain and to identify areas where the manufacturer could reduce its environmental impact. The state authority could use the DPP to ensure that the product complies with environmental regulations and can be put on sale. The consumer, on the other hand, could consult the product passport to get information about the environmental impact of the product before buying it. Ultimately, a waste management company could use a digital product passport to identify the best way to recycle or dispose of a product.
How can Adeona PIM help in creating a digital product passport for products?
There is still no precise information on how the digital product passports will eventually be implemented. However, you should already prepare for the fact that the requirements and importance of product information attached to products will grow even more within a couple of years. That's why you can already start taking advantage of Adeona PIM's possibilities for collecting structural product data according to different standards, so you'll be ready when product passports are sometimes required.
