A Digital Product Passport (DPP) is becoming an increasingly important tool for product transparency and tracking throughout its entire life cycle. In the context of new European regulations, DPPs will soon play a central role in demonstrating product sustainability and meeting upcoming environmental standards. But did you know there are three levels of DPP? Each level offers a different degree of detail and tracking, affecting how you manage data and documentation for your products.
What is it?
Each individual product is assigned its own digital passport.
Enables the most detailed tracking, from production and servicing to recycling.
Who is it for?
Complex products requiring multiple service interventions and a clear usage history.
Examples include: cars, batteries, electronic devices, and any product needing service records and maintenance logs.
Advantages and Challenges
Advantage: Insight into every single unit (serial number, service records, ownership history).
Challenge: Implementation can be more demanding (more data, more complex IT solutions).
What is it?
All products in the same series (e.g., one production line, a daily batch of 500 items) share a single digital passport.
Records key information specific to that batch.
Who is it for?
Products manufactured in large quantities where it’s important to differentiate between batches, but tracking each individual unit is not necessary.
Examples include: pharmaceutical products, packaged goods, electronic components, and similar items.
Advantages and Challenges
Advantage: Less complex than an Item DPP, yet more detailed than the simpler Model level.
Challenge: Does not track each unit individually; provides a lower level of detail for possible service or repair activities.
What is it?
All products of the same model (e.g., washing machine “Model X1000”) share the same digital passport.
Data pertains to the general characteristics of that model.
Who is it for?
Standardized products that seldom require special service records or upgrades.
Examples include: basic household appliances, furniture, and simpler electronic devices.
Advantages and Challenges
Advantage: Easiest to implement, especially if dealing with long-lasting products with minimal need for individual tracking.
Challenge: There’s no possibility to track individual units within the same model.
At present, there is no legal requirement at the EU level for using any specific DPP tier. However, according to upcoming ESPR regulations, requirements will likely vary by product category. Complex products (such as cars, batteries, and electronic devices) will probably require Item DPP, while other categories can likely make do with Batch or Model levels.
1. Regulatory Requirements: Future delegated acts may mandate a specific level for certain product categories.
2. Type of Product: If a product requires frequent servicing, upgrades, or multi-stage recycling, Item DPP offers the best visibility.
3. Production Volume: Mass-produced, uniform products are often better suited to Batch or Model DPP.
4. Costs and Resources: A more detailed implementation (Item level) typically requires greater IT and organizational resources.
The Digital Product Passport (DPP) already opens doors for innovation in product tracking and sustainability. If you’re just starting to implement a DPP, consider the structure of your products and the long-term requirements for transparency and compliance with future regulations. Early preparation can significantly ease the transition to mandatory DPP use once EU regulations come into force.
Need help implementing a Digital Product Passport?
Contact us at info@nos.hr. We help companies adapt to new standards and successfully introduce DPPs into their operations.
