Using a DPP
For stakeholders who use Digital Product Passport data: retailers, repairers, recyclers, customs authorities, market surveillance, and consumers.
With so much information available on Digital Product Passports (DPPs), finding the right information can be a challenge. CoE-DPP has brought together the key topics and linked them to content from official sources and trusted partners. Use the table of contents to quickly find the information you need.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for or you have other questions, please contact us at info@coe-dsc.nl. We’re happy to help you.
What can I do with DPP information?
A DPP makes product data accessible throughout the value chain. What you can do with it depends on your role:
- Verify product claims — Check whether sustainability or compliance claims are backed by data
- Make informed purchase decisions — Compare products on environmental performance
- Plan repair or maintenance — Access technical specifications, spare parts lists, and repair instructions
- Optimize recycling — Know exactly what materials a product contains and how to disassemble it
- Enforce compliance — Verify whether products meet regulatory requirements
As a retailer
As a retailer, a DPP helps you:
- Communicate verified product sustainability information to consumers
- Meet e-commerce platform requirements for product transparency
- Verify supplier compliance before listing products
- Differentiate products based on environmental performance
For online marketplaces, DPP data may become required to list products. The ESPR includes provisions for online marketplace obligations.
As a repairer
A DPP can provide:
- Repair manuals and disassembly instructions
- Spare parts availability and ordering information
- Technical specifications needed for diagnosis
- Product history (previous repairs, if recorded)
The ESPR mandates that repair-relevant information must be included in the DPP and accessible to independent repairers.
Who can write to a DPP?
The DPP is primarily created by the economic operator who places the product on the market. However, certain actors may add information during the product lifecycle:
- Repairers may record that a repair was performed
- Refurbishers may update product status
- Recyclers may register end-of-life processing
The rules for who can write what are defined in the ESPR and further specified in the DPP system architecture. Write access is controlled and auditable.
As a recycler
A DPP helps recyclers by providing:
- Material composition (what the product contains)
- Disassembly instructions
- Hazardous substance information
- Recyclability assessments
This data enables more efficient sorting, higher recovery rates for valuable materials, and safer handling of hazardous components.
As a customs officer
DPP data can support customs authorities in:
- Verifying that imported products comply with EU regulations
- Checking whether a product should have a DPP (and whether it does)
- Identifying potentially non-compliant shipments
- Cross-referencing product data with declarations
As a market surveillance authority (ACM/ILT)
Market surveillance authorities can use DPP data to:
- Verify compliance of products on the EU market
- Identify products that do not meet ecodesign requirements
- Trace products back to the responsible economic operator
- Access non-public compliance data reserved for authorities
As a consumer
Consumers can scan a product’s QR code or data carrier to access the DPP and find:
- Environmental footprint information
- Durability and repairability scores
- Recycling instructions
- Origin and material composition
- Verified sustainability claims
Not all DPP data is consumer-facing — some information is reserved for professionals or authorities.
When does a refurbished product need a new DPP?
A product that has been substantially modified may need a new DPP. The ESPR defines “substantial modification” as a change that affects the product’s compliance with the applicable requirements. In that case, the entity performing the modification becomes the new economic operator responsible for the DPP.
Routine repairs or maintenance do not trigger the need for a new DPP.
Which sectors does the DPP target first?
The ESPR Work Programme 2025–2030 prioritizes:
- Iron and steel
- Textiles (apparel, footwear, accessories)
- Furniture
- Tyres
- Electronics (servers, displays)
- Photovoltaic panels
Batteries already have a mandatory DPP (from Feb 2027). Construction products follow a separate regulation (CPR).
DPP on e-commerce platforms and online marketplaces
Online marketplaces will be required to ensure that products listed on their platforms have a valid DPP (where applicable). The ESPR includes specific provisions for the responsibilities of online marketplace operators.
This means if you sell on platforms, you’ll need to provide DPP-linked product data as part of your listing.
Relevant sources for this section
Help us improve this page
The DPP landscape is evolving rapidly — regulations change, new standards emerge, and practical experience grows every day. If you notice something on this page that is incorrect, outdated, or incomplete, please let us know.
Your input helps us keep this knowledge hub accurate and useful for everyone in the DPP ecosystem.