Digital Product Passport (DPP) Glossary: Terms, Regulation and Architecture Explained

A Complete Guide for Manufacturers Building Trusted Digital Product Infrastructure with Nota Sign

The Digital Product Passport (DPP) represents a fundamental shift in how products are managed, documented, and verified across global supply chains.

With the introduction of the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), the European Union has established a framework to make structured product information digitally available throughout the entire product lifecycle.

The objective is to strengthen:

Product transparency;
Sustainable production;
Circular economy practices;
Regulatory compliance.

For manufacturers, product information is evolving from internal operational data into compliance-relevant digital assets.

Information that was previously managed through separate systems, documents, and internal databases now needs to become:

Structured;
Traceable;
Verifiable;
Accessible across value chains.

A Digital Product Passport is therefore not simply a QR code attached to a product or a digital version of existing documentation.

It is a digital information ecosystem connecting:

Product identity;
Lifecycle data;
Supply chain information;
Sustainability information;
Compliance documentation;
Verification mechanisms.

For companies operating in regulated markets, implementing a DPP requires more than collecting product data.

Manufacturers need a scalable digital infrastructure that connects existing enterprise systems, enables secure data exchange, manages lifecycle information, and creates trusted compliance evidence.

Nota Sign Digital Product Passport Platform helps enterprises establish this foundation through trusted product identity, lifecycle data management, electronic signatures, electronic seals, audit trails, and compliance-ready workflows.

General Concept of the Digital Product Passport

Digital Product Passport (DPP)

A Digital Product Passport is a product-specific digital dataset that consolidates defined information about a product throughout its lifecycle.

Its purpose is to support:

Sustainability objectives;
Circular economy models;
Regulatory compliance;
Transparent product information exchange.

A DPP creates a connection between a physical product and its digital information record.

Depending on the product category and applicable regulations, a Digital Product Passport can contain information such as:

Product identification information;
Unique Product Identifier (UPI);
Product origin information;
Supply chain information;
Compliance documentation;
Sustainability information;
Technical product information;
Material composition;
Repair information;
Recycling information;
Carbon footprint data.

The European Commission Digital Product Passport framework establishes DPP as a key mechanism for improving transparency and supporting circular product management.

A Digital Product Passport is not a single document.

Instead, it is a digital ecosystem consisting of:

Product identifiers;
Data models;
Access permissions;
Verification mechanisms;
Connected lifecycle information.

This distinction is essential.

Traditional product documentation usually represents a fixed point in time.

A Digital Product Passport represents a continuously managed digital record that evolves with the product.

Lifecycle Data

Lifecycle data represents the information generated and managed throughout the entire journey of a product.

A Digital Product Passport is built from information contributed by different stakeholders across the product value chain.

Depending on the product category, lifecycle data can include:

Product identification data;
Unique Product Identifier (UPI);
Product origin information;
Supply chain information;
Compliance and sustainability documentation;
Technical product information;
Maintenance information;
Repair information;
Material composition;
Disassembly instructions;
Recycling instructions;
End-of-life information;
Carbon footprint information.

The value of lifecycle data comes from continuity.

A product passport should not only describe a product when it leaves the factory.

It should support information management throughout:

Manufacturing;
Distribution;
Product usage;
Maintenance;
Repair;
Reuse;
Recycling.

For manufacturers, this requires a digital infrastructure capable of maintaining product information accuracy while allowing controlled updates throughout the product lifecycle.

A DPP therefore requires:

Reliable product identity;
Data ownership;
Secure information exchange;
Lifecycle updates;
Verification mechanisms.

Digital Twin

Within the context of the Digital Product Passport, a digital twin represents the digital counterpart of a physical product.

Unlike traditional engineering digital twin concepts that focus primarily on simulation and operational modelling, the DPP-related digital twin focuses on:

Product identity;
Digital information association;
Lifecycle data management;
Regulatory information tracking.

The purpose is to create a reliable connection between:

Physical Product

↓

Digital Product Record

↓

Lifecycle Information

A digital twin enables organizations to maintain an accurate digital representation of a product throughout its lifecycle.

For regulated industries, this creates a foundation for:

Better product transparency;
More efficient compliance management;
Improved lifecycle visibility;
Stronger circular economy processes.

Product Identification and Unique Product Identifier (UPI)

A Digital Product Passport requires a reliable method to connect digital information with a specific physical product.

This is achieved through a Unique Product Identifier (UPI).

The UPI creates the connection between:

Physical Product

↓

Digital Dataset

↓

Authorized Information Access

The Unique Product Identifier ensures that organizations can determine:

Which passport belongs to which product;
Which information belongs to that product;
Which stakeholders can access specific information.

Product identification is one of the most important foundations of DPP implementation.

Without reliable identity management, manufacturers cannot guarantee:

Data accuracy;
Traceability;
Product association;
Lifecycle continuity.

For enterprises managing thousands or millions of products, scalable product identity management becomes a critical technical capability.

Data Carrier

Digital Product Passport information needs to remain accessible throughout the product lifecycle.

A data carrier provides the connection between the physical product and its digital passport.

The data carrier is the access point that allows users and systems to retrieve digital product information.

Common data carrier technologies include:

QR Code

A QR code is one of the most widely used data carriers for Digital Product Passport implementation.

It provides:

Simple access;
Low deployment cost;
Smartphone compatibility;
Standardized identification.

QR codes are practical because they can be easily integrated into:

Product labels;
Packaging;
Documentation;
Manufacturing processes.

However, the QR code itself is not the Digital Product Passport.

It is only the gateway.

The actual value exists in the trusted digital information connected behind the QR code.

NFC Tag

Near Field Communication (NFC) enables short-range wireless access to digital product information.

NFC is particularly relevant when manufacturers require:

Easy user interaction;
Durable product identification;
Product authentication;
Long-term physical integration.

Compared with visual codes, NFC provides a more automated connection between physical products and digital systems.

RFID

RFID enables contactless data retrieval through radio-frequency technology.

It is especially useful in:

Industrial manufacturing;
Logistics operations;
Warehouse management;
Supply chain processes.

RFID enables automated identification without requiring direct visual scanning.

For industrial environments, RFID can improve operational efficiency by connecting physical products with digital information systems.

Serial Number

A serial number is not a data carrier in the strict technical sense.

However, it is an important element of product identification.

In practice, serial numbers are often combined with:

QR codes;
NFC tags;
RFID technologies;

to establish a secure relationship between the physical product and its Digital Product Passport.

The combination of product identity and data carrier technology enables reliable access to product information throughout the lifecycle.

Regulatory Framework of the Digital Product Passport

The Digital Product Passport is supported by a broader European regulatory strategy focused on sustainable products, circular economy principles, and transparent value chains.

The objective is to create a digital information layer that allows products to carry trusted information throughout their lifecycle.

Several major European initiatives contribute to the development of the DPP framework:

European Green Deal;
Circular Economy Action Plan;
Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR);
Product-specific regulations such as the EU Battery Regulation.

Together, these initiatives define the regulatory direction, technical foundation, and implementation approach for Digital Product Passports.

European Green Deal

The European Green Deal is the European Union’s long-term strategy to achieve climate neutrality and transform its economy toward sustainable development.

It introduces broad objectives across:

Climate action;
Energy transition;
Industrial transformation;
Sustainable production;
Circular economy.

A key principle behind the European Green Deal is that products must become more sustainable throughout their entire lifecycle.

This requires better information about:

Materials;
Manufacturing processes;
Environmental impact;
Product durability;
Repairability;
Recycling possibilities.

Digital Product Passports support this objective by creating a structured way to collect, manage, and share relevant product information.

Instead of sustainability information remaining fragmented across manufacturers, suppliers, and documentation systems, DPP creates a connected digital information framework.

For enterprises, this means sustainability data becomes part of the product lifecycle management process rather than a separate reporting activity.

Circular Economy Action Plan

The Circular Economy Action Plan is one of the key components of the European Union’s sustainability strategy.

Its objective is to move away from the traditional linear model:

Extract → Produce → Use → Dispose

toward a circular model:

Design → Produce → Use → Repair → Reuse → Recycle

A circular economy requires reliable information.

Without access to product information, stakeholders cannot effectively determine:

What materials a product contains;
How a product can be repaired;
Which components can be reused;
How products should be recycled.

Digital Product Passports provide the information infrastructure required to support circular business models.

By making product information accessible across the value chain, DPP enables:

Better resource management;
More efficient recycling;
Improved product lifecycle decisions;
Greater transparency between stakeholders.

For manufacturers, this creates a new requirement: product information must remain available beyond the point of sale.

Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR)

The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) establishes the main legal framework for Digital Product Passports.

ESPR expands the previous ecodesign approach beyond energy-related products and introduces sustainability requirements across a wider range of physical products.

The regulation creates a framework for:

Product sustainability requirements;
Digital product information;
Lifecycle transparency;
Circular economy objectives.

Under ESPR, Digital Product Passport requirements are introduced through product-specific delegated acts.

This means there is not one universal DPP requirement that applies identically to every product.

Instead, each product category receives its own requirements regarding:

Required data;
Product information scope;
Access rights;
Data carrier requirements;
Technical implementation;
Application dates.

For manufacturers, ESPR changes the way product compliance is managed.

Product information is no longer only used internally.

It becomes a structured digital asset that must support external stakeholders across the value chain.

EU Battery Regulation

The EU Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 is one of the first regulations introducing mandatory Digital Product Passport requirements for a specific product category.

The regulation establishes the Battery Passport framework for:

Electric vehicle batteries;
Light means of transport batteries;
Industrial batteries above 2 kWh.

From 18 February 2027, covered batteries placed on the European market or put into service must have a Battery Passport.

The Battery Passport introduces specific requirements related to:

Battery identity;
Battery composition;
Sustainability information;
Performance characteristics;
Lifecycle records;
Recycling information.

Although the Battery Passport is a specific implementation for batteries, it follows the same fundamental principles as the wider Digital Product Passport framework:

Persistent product identity;
Structured data;
Controlled access;
Lifecycle information;
Interoperability.

For manufacturers, the Battery Passport represents both a compliance requirement and an opportunity to establish reusable digital product infrastructure.

Companies building Battery Passport capabilities today can create a foundation that supports future DPP requirements across additional product categories.

Delegated Acts

Delegated acts are an essential part of how the European Union implements Digital Product Passport requirements.

Because different products have different characteristics, the EU does not define identical passport requirements for every product category.

Instead, delegated acts specify detailed requirements for individual product groups.

These requirements determine:

Which products require a DPP;
What information must be included;
Which stakeholders can access information;
How data must be structured;
Which technical standards apply;
When requirements become mandatory.

For manufacturers, monitoring delegated acts is critical.

A company cannot prepare for DPP requirements by looking only at the general ESPR framework.

It must understand the specific obligations applicable to each product category.

This requires organizations to continuously evaluate:

Product portfolio impact;
Regulatory timelines;
Data availability;
Technical readiness.

A scalable DPP architecture allows manufacturers to adapt to these changing requirements without rebuilding their entire digital infrastructure for every new product category.

Technical Architecture, Data Structure and Ecosystems

A successful Digital Product Passport implementation requires more than storing product information.

It requires a technical ecosystem that enables:

Data exchange;
System interoperability;
Identity management;
Access control;
Data governance;
Lifecycle updates.

The architecture must connect different organizations and systems while maintaining data integrity and trust.

A DPP ecosystem typically includes:

Manufacturers;
Suppliers;
Customers;
Service providers;
Regulators;
Recycling organizations.

Each participant contributes information and interacts with the product passport according to their role.

Interoperability

Interoperability is one of the most important principles of Digital Product Passport architecture.

DPP ecosystems involve many different stakeholders using different systems.

For example:

A manufacturer may manage product information in:

ERP systems;
PLM systems;
MES platforms.

A supplier may maintain:

Material information;
Certification data;
Sustainability documentation.

A recycling company may require:

Material composition;
Disassembly information;
End-of-life data.

Without interoperability, every organization would create isolated information systems that cannot communicate effectively.

A successful DPP ecosystem requires systems to exchange information through:

Common standards;
Structured data formats;
Compatible interfaces;
Shared semantic models.

Interoperability enables manufacturers to maintain control over their data while allowing authorized stakeholders to access the information they need.

API Interfaces

Product information is usually created and stored across multiple enterprise systems.

Common systems include:

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP);
Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES);
Product Lifecycle Management (PLM);
Quality Management Systems;
Supplier Management Platforms.

API interfaces allow these systems to exchange information automatically.

Through API integration, manufacturers can:

Synchronize product information;
Update lifecycle data;
Connect suppliers;
Automate compliance workflows;
Reduce manual data management.

For enterprises, API-based architecture is essential because Digital Product Passport implementation should extend existing digital investments rather than replace them.

A scalable DPP platform connects existing systems and creates a trusted information layer above current enterprise infrastructure.

Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

Digital Product Passports contain information that is valuable to different stakeholders.

However, not every participant should access the same information.

Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) enables organizations to define:

Who can access information;
Which data can be viewed;
Which actions users can perform.

For example:

Manufacturers

Manufacturers may manage:

Complete product records;
Manufacturing information;
Compliance documentation.

Suppliers

Suppliers may provide:

Material information;
Component data;
Supporting documentation.

Customers

Customers may access:

Approved product information;
Sustainability information;
Product documentation.

Regulators

Regulators may require:

Compliance evidence;
Verification records;
Audit information.

RBAC enables organizations to achieve transparency without compromising sensitive business information.

Data Governance

Data governance defines how product information is created, managed, verified, and maintained.

Because Digital Product Passport data comes from multiple organizations, clear ownership and responsibility are essential.

Effective data governance answers:

Who creates the data?
Who verifies the data?
Who can update information?
Who can access specific records?
How are changes tracked?

Strong data governance helps organizations maintain:

Data accuracy;
Data consistency;
Regulatory compliance;
Long-term information reliability.

For manufacturers, DPP implementation is not only a technology project.

It is also a data management transformation.

Semantic Standards

Semantic standards ensure that different systems and organizations understand product information consistently.

A Digital Product Passport ecosystem includes information from many sources.

Without common meanings, data exchange becomes unreliable.

For example, terms such as:

Carbon footprint;
Material composition;
Recyclability;
Product durability;

must have consistent definitions.

Semantic standards enable:

Automated data exchange;
Machine-readable information;
Accurate reporting;
Cross-platform interoperability.

For manufacturers operating across global supply chains, semantic consistency is essential for building scalable DPP ecosystems.

How Nota Sign Enables Digital Product Passport Implementation

Digital Product Passport implementation requires a trusted foundation connecting:

Product identity;
Lifecycle data;
Enterprise systems;
Compliance evidence.

Nota Sign Digital Product Passport Platform helps manufacturers establish this foundation through:

Trusted digital product identity;
Secure data exchange;
Electronic signatures;
Electronic seals;
Audit trails;
Enterprise workflow integration.

Trusted Digital Product Identity

Nota Sign enables organizations to create digital product records connecting:

Physical products;
Product information;
Compliance documentation;
Lifecycle data.

This creates a trusted relationship between physical products and their digital representations.

Secure Digital Trust with eSeal and Electronic Signatures

Product information must remain authentic and verifiable throughout its lifecycle.

Nota Sign supports digital trust workflows through:

Electronic signatures;
Electronic seals;
Digital certificates;
Audit records.

These capabilities help enterprises:

Authenticate corporate records;
Protect document integrity;
Establish compliance evidence;
Support trusted data exchange.

Learn more:

Explore Nota Sign eSeal Solution

Enterprise Integration for DPP Infrastructure

Digital Product Passport systems must connect with existing enterprise environments.

Nota Sign supports integration with:

ERP systems;
MES platforms;
PLM systems;
Enterprise data platforms.

This allows manufacturers to build DPP capabilities while protecting existing technology investments.

Build Your Digital Product Passport Strategy with Nota Sign

Digital Product Passport requirements represent a fundamental change in how manufacturers manage product information.

The future of product compliance requires more than storing documents.

Manufacturers need trusted digital infrastructure that connects:

Product identity;
Lifecycle information;
Supply chain data;
Compliance evidence.

Nota Sign helps global enterprises build scalable Digital Product Passport ecosystems for transparent, connected, and sustainable products.

Request a Demo →

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