What is a Digital Product Passport – and Why It Matters

In our earlier posts, we’ve mentioned the upcoming Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation and its role in shaping how products are made, used, and recycled across Europe. One of its most innovative elements is the Digital Product Passport (DPP) – a new tool designed to make circular economy practices more transparent, traceable, and data-driven.

Simply put, a DPP is a digital record that travels with a product throughout its life. It contains key information about the product’s materials, origin, and recyclability – helping everyone in the value chain, from manufacturers to recyclers, make informed decisions.

Each product covered by the DPP system will have a unique digital identity. The passport stores essential data, such as:

• material composition (fibres, polymers, dyes, and additives);
• manufacturing origin and date;
• repairability and recyclability details;
• carbon and water footprint;
• instructions for reuse, repair, or recycling.

DPPs are expected to be implemented in two main forms:

• For consumers: a visible scannable code (like a QR tag) that provides accessible information about the product’s materials, care, and end-of-life options.
• For industry and recyclers: a built-in chip or advanced digital marker that can be read automatically during sorting or processing, linking directly to databases for materials management and compliance tracking.

For recyclers, DPPs can be a game-changer. They allow the identification of materials before processing even begins, making sorting faster, cleaner, and more efficient. Knowing the exact type of polymer or fibre helps prevent contamination and ensures that recycled materials meet quality requirements. In the long run, DPPs can also support automation through AI-driven sorting systems, help verify recycled content for Extended Producer Responsibility schemes, and provide the reliable data needed for sustainability reporting. Beyond recycling, DPPs will also benefit producers and consumers by increasing transparency, traceability, and trust across the entire value chain.

At RMP, we see Digital Product Passports as an important step toward a more connected and efficient recycling ecosystem. By linking data with materials, they bridge the gap between design and end-of-life management. While implementation across the EU will take several years, early understanding and cooperation between producers, recyclers, and policymakers can make the transition smoother – and ensure that the Baltic region stays aligned with Europe’s circular future.