On May 27th, the European Council took another step towards passing Digital Product Passport (DPP) legislation. As we inch closer to a more circular economy, I thought I’d briefly recap what’s happened so far, the new updates, and how you can start preparing for the upcoming changes.

Quick recap

It all starts with the European Green Deal, a commitment to reach climate neutrality by 2050. As part of that, a circular economy action plan was created. Ecodesign for Sustainable Product Regulation (ESPR) is one of the initiatives being introduced to deliver on this.

The regulation, part of the EU Green Deal, will replace the Eco-design Directive and empower the European Commission to set eco-design requirements for all goods placed on the EU market. It will start with 31 priority product groups with the highest energy or material efficiency potential.

 

The Ecodesign Regulation has three key highlights:

 

  • Enhanced product sustainability: manufacturers need to integrate sustainable design principles into their products from the start, considering recycled content, durability and the removal of substances of concern
  • Digital product passports (DPP): introducing a digital twin of the physical product linked to a digital platform that gives detailed information on a product's lifecycle from raw material to reuse, recycling, and repair.
  • Boosting the circular economy: by encouraging product reuse and refurbishment as well as recycling for waste reduction and resource efficiency, we can move towards a more circular economy.

 

Read: Digital Product Passport Guide

 

The Commission proposed the new regulation in 2022, and in 2023, the Council adopted its general approach and reached a provisional agreement with the Parliament in December of the same year. At the end of May, the regulation moved on to the next stage…

ESPR: what’s new?

On May 27th, the European Council approved the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). The ESPR came into force on July 18th, 2024, and is seen as the cornerstone of the commission’s approach to more environmentally sustainable and circular products.

The Ecodesign requirements are being developed via an Ecodesign Forum, including impact assessments and stakeholder consultations. This will affect businesses across the chain, from manufacturers (EU and non-EU) and importers to distributors and fulfillment service providers.

Each EU member state will enforce the rules, and customs authorities will control products entering the EU market. Reporting requirements on unsold products and the ban on their destruction are expected to also be announced, covering unsold textiles and footwear.

Anyone putting a product onto the market will need to make sure that they're complying with these sets of rules across a selection of product aspects, which include things like durability, reusability, repairability, energy use, and more.

 

Read: EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation

 

Getting ready for the future

Sustainability starts with design

The main aim of regulations like ESPR is to encourage brands to design with sustainability in mind to improve circularity, energy performance, and environmental impact. Labeling partners like the team at Checkpoint have sustainability-focused project frameworks like our Planit Process, a collaborative, five-step process with sustainability at its core. It’s a great way to get expert guidance on making sustainability a primary focus in your labeling and packaging projects.

Read: How to start the journey to sustainable packaging

 

Gemini Tags®

Digital Product Passports haven't been passed yet, but the earlier you plan for them, the better. Our teams developed the Gemini Tag® specifically for DPP rollouts to help tackle retailers' most common challenges with the initiative.

The Gemini Tag utilizes two twinned QR codes — one printed on the tag for easy customer access and one printed on the sewn-in care label for lifetime access. This is just one solution you can explore before the legislation rolls out.

 

Would you like to discuss Digital Product Passports? Get in touch—we’re listed on the CIRPASS website as an official solution provider. It’s a project consortium made up of 31 partners who have come together, funded by the European Commission, to manage the DPP rollout. Do you have questions about how to start preparing your labeling for the DPP and ESPR rollouts? We’d love to hear from you. Get in touch and tell us how we can help.