Digital Product Passport Sectors Guide

Digital product passports are soon to be introduced across Europe and beyond. However, they won’t be required in every sector, and you might be wondering whether they will apply to you. 
 

In this complete guide, we run through the industries that will be impacted and look at why DPPs are so important within each of them:
 

• Textiles
• Batteries
• Electronics
• Construction
• Automotive
• Cosmetics
• Toys
• Furniture
• Plastics
• Critical Raw Material
• Substances of Concern
• Industry 4.0
• Food

You can also check out our sector-specific guides, linked throughout, to find out more information about how you can prepare for DPPs in different sectors and roles. 

What are digital product passports?

Digital product passports are complete digital records of a product and its supply chain. 

They’re being introduced because of legislation such as The EU Green Deal and Circular Economy Action Plan which outline the need for companies to completely and transparently share key data. 
 

Across sectors, DPP’s will need to include information about:
 

• Product origin
• Materials
• Environmental impact
• Disposal
   

You can find full information about these details in our guide: What are the digital product passport requirements? 

In which sectors will digital product passports be required? 

Read on to discover which sectors digital product passports are required in and why.

Textiles 

The textiles industry produces tons of waste every year; reducing this figure means moving towards a circular economy where resources are used more sustainably and products are designed for reuse, repair, and recycling.
 

A digital product passport is the best way to ensure that all parties have access to detailed information about the materials, production processes, and lifecycle of textiles. This promotes transparency, accountability, and more circular practices across the supply chain.

Batteries

Digital product passports are being introduced in the battery industry to enhance transparency. 
 

Including detailed information on materials, manufacturing processes, and environmental impact, they will help manufacturers comply with regulations and improve recycling and end-of-life management.

Electronics 

Electronics waste is rapidly growing and assessing both lifecycle and carbon footprint data is increasingly critical for companies when staying compliant. 
 

The digital product passport streamlines the process by providing a single location for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) data and an outlet for companies to assess which areas of the supply chain are causing the most emissions.

Construction 

A few years ago, construction product regulation in the EU introduced passports to detail the information of materials used in projects. Now, with the introduction of digital product passports more widely, this scope needs to be expanded. 
 

The updated digital passports will go beyond traditional documentation by integrating more comprehensive lifecycle information and meeting data interoperability standards to ensure that information can be seamlessly shared between different stakeholders and systems

Automotive 

With increasing pressure being placed on the automotive industry to reduce carbon emissions and improve sustainability throughout the supply chain, DPPs provide an obvious solution. 
 

In one place, they consolidate data on the lifecycle of vehicles, including materials used, manufacturing processes, and energy consumption. This makes informed decision-making easier for manufacturers, companies and consumers. 

Cosmetics 

Companies in the cosmetics industry are often accused of greenwashing: presenting information that makes them seem more environmentally friendly than they are.
 

Soon, digital product passports will be introduced, providing a way for them to clearly showcase detailed information about the sourcing, composition, and environmental impact of cosmetic products. They’ll also make it easier for companies to show compliance with ingredients and product testing regulations. 

Toys 

To show a commitment to circular economy practices and material safety regulations, DPPs are being introduced in the toy industry. 
 

This will allow companies to provide customers with complete transparency and allow them to make more educated decisions. It will also be easier for them to understand recycling information.

Furniture 

Digital product passports in the furniture industry will provide comprehensive information about company details, raw materials, and manufacturing. 
 

This transparency will allow organizations to avoid greenwashing and support a circular economy by providing customers with the data to assess the recyclability of their items and choose more durable furniture. 

Plastics 

As well as helping companies stay compliant with an increasing amount of regulation, the introduction of digital product passports in the plastics industry could help the sector work more like a circular economy.  
 

Providing detailed information on the composition of plastics, including types of polymers and additives used, will streamline recycling and reusing efforts for consumers.

Critical Raw Material

When used in the critical raw materials industry (which includes materials that are important for the EU but risky to supply), DPPs have a significant impact on transparency. Manufacturers and organizations are able to measure and improve their environmental impact and identify opportunities for reducing carbon. 
 

At the same time, critical raw material manufacturers can comply with safety regulations more easily.

Substances of Concern 

In a highly regulated industry like substances of concern (chemical substances on the REACH list that protects human health and environment), digital product passports act as an essential tool for compliance, transparency, and risk management. 
 

Manufacturers can streamline the documentation and verification processes and provide consumers with clear, accessible information about the management of substances. DPPs also support the environment in this context by facilitating the tracking of extraction, production, and disposal. 

Industry 4.0

Within Industry 4.0, where intelligent technologies integrate into manufacturing in industrial processes, digital product passports are essential to improving visibility throughout the supply chain. 
 

All parties can accurately trace the origin of raw materials, track production processes, monitor inventory levels, and manage logistics. Building trust with consumers, DPPs can also help Industry 4.0 companies to remain compliant with quality and safety standards. 

Food

Customers are increasingly looking to understand the origin, quality, and sustainability of their food before purchasing and digital product passports are an easy way for companies to provide them with this. 
 

Digital product passports also support sustainability initiatives within the food industry by encouraging both customers and manufacturers to be more aware of carbon emissions. 

How to prepare for digital product passports in any sector

No matter which industry you’re working in, you’ll need the same key functionality in a digital product passport — a way to transparently and conveniently share information with people throughout the supply chain.
 

AuthentifyIt provides an easy way for you to do this with a single intuitive app where you can include all certifications and details. This automatically structures key information, ensures security, and enables your data to be read by all standardized data carriers.
 

Want to learn more? Book a call with our expert.