Sources: euractiv.com
Another EU regulation on Ecodesign for Sustainable Products (ESPR) comes into force. However, a massive restructuring of data management across supply chains is required over a certain period.
All products sold in the EU, except food and medicines, must have a unique identifier with a machine-readable mechanism that tracks the product through its lifespan and advises consumers on best practices for recycling. The first round of products required to comply with DPP includes batteries. By 2027, every battery in the EU marketplace will require a DPP data carrier with an embedded web link to a DPP database.
Digital Product Passports (DPP) is not just a regulatory requirement but a significant step toward a more sustainable and transparent future. By improving information exchange on product data, the DPP aims to encourage recycling and foster trust between consumers and businesses in the era of digitalization.
The DPP (Digital Product Passport) is a powerful tool for understanding a product’s composition, function, and future. This knowledge empowers the recipient to make informed decisions about the product’s end-of-life. Manufacturers can use the information from the business or consumers that buy their products to create a more accurate supply of repair products, thereby improving product lifespan.
Although the compliance deadlines may seem distant, the preparation and IT infrastructure needed to meet the Commission’s timeline are huge. The DPP must streamline key datasets for consumers, manufacturers, and waste disposal services to use and communicate with non-EU manufacturers to ensure all products imported to the EU align with the DPP. There is also the enormous task of aligning member states with the new infrastructure and testing the DPP’s functioning at scale with its massive data requirements.
This seems to be a costly exercise for the entire supply chain, which I am afraid will raise the product’s MSRP.
