EU Digital Product Passport implementation faces data challenges

The European Union is implementing the Digital Product Passport (DPP) to provide reliable information regarding product sustainability and circularity throughout their lifecycles. Under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), goods sold in the EU will eventually require a code detailing material composition, durability, repairability, and disposal instructions. The first major deadline is set for February 2027 for large-scale batteries, with other sectors like steel, aluminum, textiles, and furniture expected to follow between 2026 and 2029.

In Italy, the national standards body UNI has officially adopted the first European standards for the DPP, including protocols for data exchange, unique identifiers, and system interoperability. However, manufacturers face significant operational hurdles. Data from the platform On Page suggests that product information is often fragmented across multiple disconnected archives—averaging eight different sources per product—making it difficult for companies to maintain the single, unified version of information required by the new regulations.