Digital Product Passports: Preparing for the future of manufacturing
Join us and discover how to stay ahead in an era defined by product transparency.
What is a Digital Product Passport? – and how to get started
Digital Product Passport (DPP) is not just about compliance, starting early can be your competitive advantage
As the race to net-zero accelerates and sustainability regulations tighten, manufacturers are under increasing pressure to prove the origin, impact, and lifecycle of their products. Enter the Digital Product Passport (DPP) - a transformative tool that brings transparency, traceability, and trust to the forefront of modern manufacturing.
But what exactly is a Digital Product Passport, and how can your organization get started?
Josef Szekeres
International Business Development Director of 9altitudes
What is a Digital Product Passport?
A Digital Product Passport is a dynamic digital record that contains comprehensive information about a product’s entire lifecycle - from raw material sourcing and manufacturing to usage, recycling, and end-of-life options. Think of it as digital “birth certificate” that continuously gets updated and travels with the product, offering transparency, traceability, and sustainability insights at every stage.
DPPs are designed to:
- Track environmental impact (e.g., carbon footprint, recyclability).
- Ensure regulatory compliance (e.g., CSRD, ISO 14067).
- Support circular economy practices.
- Empower consumers and businesses to make informed, sustainable choices
For example, in the manufacturing sector, each component of a product can have its own Digital Object Passport (DOP). These DOPs merge into a unified DPP when the product is assembled, offering full traceability and lifecycle documentation.
Why Digital Product Passports matter
The urgency to adopt DPPs is not just regulatory - it’s strategic. As highlighted in recent insights from Josef Szekeres and Niels Stenfeldt, DPPs are becoming essential for navigating the complexities of Industry 5.0, the metals boom, and the data fragmentation plaguing modern manufacturing.
1. Securing Critical Raw Materials (CRMs)
The clean energy transition is driving unprecedented demand for metals like lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements. DPPs help manufacturers trace these materials from mine to product, identify supply chain risks, and validate sustainable sourcing claims—turning transparency into a competitive edge.
2. Enabling circularity and compliance
With legislation like France’s AGEC law and the EU Green Deal, manufacturers must design products for longevity, repairability, and recyclability. DPPs document these attributes, making it easier to comply with regulations and support circular economy practices.
3. Connecting the Digital Common Thread
Manufacturers often struggle with fragmented data across ERP, MES, CRM, and sustainability tools. DPPs, when integrated into a digital thread, unify this data - enabling real-time insights, streamlined reporting, and smarter decision-making.
4. Empowering human-centric manufacturing
Industry 5.0 emphasizes human creativity and resilience alongside automation. DPPs support this shift by making sustainability data accessible to workers, customers, and regulators - fostering collaboration and informed action.
How to get started with Digital Product Passports
Getting started with DPPs doesn’t require a massive overhaul. Here’s a practical roadmap inspired by early adopters:
Start small
Choose one product - ideally a top-seller or high-impact item - and begin mapping its material and supplier data.
Build a simple Data Model
Focus on core fields like material type, origin, batch number, and CO₂ footprint. Tag each field as “mandatory” or “nice-to-have” to guide data collection.
Use what you already have
Leverage your existing digital infrastructure - PLM, ERP, MES - to host and update DPP data. Manual entry is fine to start; automation can come later.
Collaborate with suppliers
Run a short “data bootcamp” to align on templates and expectations. Show suppliers how DPPs can streamline their own compliance and reporting.
Make it visible
Attach a QR code to the product that links to its DPP. Let stakeholders scan it at key touchpoints - assembly, QA, shipping, even repair.
Dive deeper in the digital product passport
In this whitepaper we go through an example of how a digital product passport could be implemented in your manufacturing company.
Scaling Up: From Pilot to Program
Once your pilot is live, scale gradually:
- Add 2–3 new products per quarter.
- Expand your data model to include recycled content, repair instructions, or CO₂ impact.
- Automate data flows via system integrations.
- Train teams with quick-reference guides and “lunch-and-learn” sessions.
- Share your progress with customers and regulators to build trust and momentum.
Final thought: From compliance to competitive advantage
Digital Product Passports are more than a regulatory checkbox - they’re a strategic lever for resilience, transparency, and innovation. By embedding DPPs into your operations today, you’re not just preparing for tomorrow’s rules - you’re building a smarter, more sustainable business.