Digital Product Passports and the Circular Economy
How product passports keep information with the product, so it can be repaired, resold and recycled.
The circular economy aims to keep products and materials in use through repair, reuse, refurbishment and recycling. Missing or inaccessible information can make these activities harder. Digital Product Passports are intended to help close that information gap.
The information gap in the circular economy
Repairers may need disassembly instructions and spare-part references. Second-hand buyers may value product history. Recyclers need relevant material and substance information. These records are not always easy to find or pass on.
A DPP links information to the product through a data carrier. What each user can access and how long the record must remain available depend on the applicable rules.
How a DPP supports each circular strategy
Repair and maintenance
Disassembly instructions, spare part references and repair guides help independent repairers and customers extend a product’s life instead of replacing it.
Reuse and resale
Reliable information about a product and its materials can help buyers assess second-hand goods. A DPP does not by itself verify authenticity or certify the information it contains.
Recycling
Accurate material composition and information on substances of concern allow recyclers to sort products correctly and recover materials at a higher quality.
The regulatory push
ESPR provides a framework for product-specific performance and information requirements, including durability, repairability and recycled content. The relevant acts determine the actual duties and application dates. Battery passports are separately governed by the Battery Regulation.
New circular business models
Beyond compliance, product passports open the door to new revenue streams:
- brand-run resale and refurbishment programmes
- take-back schemes with easy product identification
- repair services and spare part sales linked directly from the product
- product-as-a-service models, where the manufacturer keeps ownership and tracks each item’s condition
From linear to circular, one passport at a time
Useful product information starts with good preparation. DPPVIEW helps organise the data and evidence that can support future passports. Our hosting platform is in development.