The Digital Product Passport: A Scalable Foundation for EU Compliance and Circularity

The European Union is embedding sustainability directly into product regulation through the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). Starting in 2026, manufacturers across approximately 30 sectors will be required to implement Digital Product Passports (DPPs), standardized digital records that provide product-specific lifecycle data. These records will be accessible to regulators, manufacturers, and end-users to support regulatory compliance and enable a more circular economy. 

As part of this phased regulation, early enforcement will begin with batteries, electronics, and textiles. Full adoption is expected by 2030 across all regulated sectors. 

Understanding the Digital Product Passport 

A Digital Product Passport is a structured digital profile linked to an individual product, providing comprehensive information throughout its lifecycle. It captures data on materials, manufacturing processes, usage, repairability, recycling potential, and environmental impact. Each passport is tied to a unique identifier, such as a QR code or RFID, and is digitally accessible. 

DPPs are designed to serve three primary functions: 

• Enable transparency across supply chain tiers 

• Support regulatory compliance with standardized data 

• Facilitate circular practices like reuse, repair, and material recovery 

This framework not only supports EU oversight but also helps manufacturers embed sustainability into their operations and reporting systems. 

Regulatory Momentum and Industry Implications 

The shift toward DPPs is no longer optional. Manufacturers failing to comply risk losing access to the €1.8 trillion European market. This mandate applies to both EU-based and international producers selling in Europe. 

Sector-specific timelines include: 

Sector	Priority Product	Draft Rule Expected	Earliest Enforcement	Notes
Electronics & ICT	Smartphones, tablets, laptops	2024–2025	2026–2027	High priority. Digital Product Passport (DPP) likely mandatory.
	Servers, data centers	2025	2027–2028	Already covered by existing Ecodesign rules; ESPR will expand scope.
Appliances & White Goods	Washing machines, refrigerators, ovens	2025–2026	2027–2028	Updates to existing Ecodesign requirements under ESPR.
Textiles & Apparel	Clothing, footwear	2024–2025	2026–2027	Second-highest ESPR priority. DPP likely for fiber content and durability.
Furniture	Desks, chairs, sofas	2025	2027	Focus on modularity, recyclability, and DPP.
Construction Materials	Insulation, flooring, doors, windows	2025–2026	2027–2028	Harmonization with CPR (Construction Products Regulation).
Packaging	All packaging types	2024–2025	2026–2027	Covered under parallel PPWR (Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation).
Batteries & Vehicles	EVs, industrial and portable batteries	Already adopted (Battery Regulation)	2025–2030	Separate regulation; DPP for batteries mandatory in phases from 2026.
Steel, Cement, Aluminum	Structural components, building materials	2025–2026	2028+	Likely later phase; high-impact sectors but complex to standardize.
Retail/E-commerce	All consumer goods sold in EU	Continuous	2026 onward	Responsible for compliance of products they import/sell under own brand.

Delegated acts finalizing these requirements are in development between 2025 and 2027. The window for strategic preparation is narrow. 

Challenges: Data Fragmentation and Scale 

While the regulatory direction is clear, the ability to comply is constrained by structural challenges. Most manufacturers operate within fragmented digital environments, where product and supply chain data are scattered across disconnected systems, formats, and geographies. 

In addition: 

• Scope 3 emissions tracking requires data from multi-tiered suppliers, many of whom lack digital maturity. 

• DPP mandates will apply to thousands of SKUs, materials, and suppliers across regulated sectors. 

• Industry estimates suggest manufacturers will need to invest €200,000 to €500,000 to become digitally ready for compliance. 

Without a scalable and interoperable system, DPP adoption risks becoming a costly and inefficient burden. 

An Integrated Solution: Sustain360°™, Viamedici, and SiOtu™ 

To address these challenges, Sustain360°™, Viamedici, and SiOtu™ have developed a joint solution that is modular, scalable, and designed for rapid deployment. 

Core components include: 

1. Viamedici ePIM  Provides centralized Product Information Management (PIM) and Master Data Management (MDM), aggregating technical product data across systems. It connects with ERP and supply chain platforms via APIs to maintain a consistent data structure. 

2. Sustain360°™ Platform  Performs Life Cycle Assessments (LCA), Scope 3 carbon accounting, climate risk modeling, and generates compliant product metadata aligned with EU DPP specifications. It automates emissions reporting and integrates environmental data into product records. 

3. SiOtu™ Tokenization  Sustain360°™’s proprietary blockchain protocol, SiOtu™, anchors each DPP to a secure token and NFT wallet. This ensures data integrity and enables decentralized, tamper-proof verification across all stakeholders. 

Together, these components offer a repeatable blueprint for DPP implementation, minimizing disruption to existing IT infrastructure while supporting global scalability. 

Case Study: Metabo, Germany 

Power tool manufacturer Metabo implemented the Sustain360°™ DPP solution in under a month. The system integrated seamlessly with the company’s SAP ERP and Viamedici ePIM, ingesting product data and generating fully compliant DPPs. Each passport was secured with a SiOtu™ blockchain token to ensure traceability and verification. 

This deployment required no custom development and limited internal change management. It is now being scaled across additional product lines, demonstrating the architecture’s repeatability. 

What Comes Next 

With enforcement timelines quickly approaching, manufacturers must act now to ensure uninterrupted access to European markets. Building a secure and integrated DPP framework is not only a compliance requirement, but also a foundation for improved data governance, supply chain visibility, and environmental accountability. 

Sustain360°™, in partnership with Viamedici and powered by SiOtu™, delivers the infrastructure manufacturers need to comply confidently and operate transparently in a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape.