French consumers demand more product traceability ahead of 2027 regulations

A July 2026 GS1 France barometer reveals a significant gap between consumer demand for product transparency and corporate readiness for upcoming regulations. Approximately 64% of French consumers desire more information regarding product origins, particularly in the food sector, and over half believe current information across all sectors is insufficient.

While 78% of respondents trust brands regarding product safety, only 55% trust them regarding environmental claims. This highlights a critical need for the Digital Product Passport (DPP), a mandatory regulatory framework set to take effect in 2027. The DPP aims to document a product's journey from manufacturing to distribution, enhancing both environmental accountability and food safety by allowing for faster identification of contaminated lots.

Despite 96% of consumer goods companies viewing traceability as essential, a major preparedness gap exists: 90% of companies report they do not know how to implement the Digital Product Passport. Current tracking methods, such as barcodes and RFID, are used by 65% of businesses but often remain fragmented across different systems, complicating the transition to the new standardized requirements.