Digital Product Passport Example: What a DPP Looks Like in Practice
Digital Product Passport example: what does a DPP actually look like? Practical examples for batteries, textiles and electronics with data fields, QR-code access and the views seen by businesses and consumers.
Digital Product Passport Example: What a DPP Looks Like in Practice
Key takeaways
The Digital Product Passport (DPP) sounds abstract in EU regulations. In practice it is a structured digital data record that can be accessed through a QR code on the product. But what does that look like concretely? What information does a DPP contain, who can see it, and how do the requirements differ by product category? This article uses concrete examples for batteries, textiles and electronics to show how a Digital Product Passport works in practice.
If you first want to understand what the DPP fundamentally is, we recommend the article Digital Product Passport in 15 Minutes.
How do you access the DPP?
Every product covered by the DPP obligation carries a data carrier — usually a QR code following the GS1 Digital Link standard. This QR code is placed directly on the product, on the packaging or on the rating plate.
The process for the user:
- Scan the QR code — with any smartphone camera or a barcode scanner
- Redirect to the DPP — the QR code leads to a web page with the product data
- View the information — depending on access rights, the user sees different data
Why GS1 Digital Link and not an ordinary QR code? GS1 Digital Link connects the QR code with a unique product identifier (GTIN) and at the same time enables access to different data sources. For details see QR Code vs GS1 Digital Link: Differences for the DPP.
Who sees which data?
A DPP is not aimed at a single audience. The ESPR foresees different access levels:
| Access level | Audience | Visible data |
|---|---|---|
| Public | Consumers, general public | Basic product information, repairability, recycling instructions, carbon footprint |
| Business | B2B customers, retailers | Extended technical data, material composition, supply-chain data |
| Regulatory | Market surveillance, customs authorities | Full compliance data, test reports, certificates |
This tiering matters because companies do not have to make all data public. Trade secrets and sensitive supply-chain data are only visible to authorised parties.
Example 1: Battery passport for a traction battery (electric vehicle)
The battery passport is the most advanced DPP. From February 2027, every traction battery must have such a passport. Here is how a battery passport could look in practice:
Public view (consumer scans QR code)
| Data field | Example value |
|---|---|
| Product name | Li-Ion traction battery EV-7800 |
| Manufacturer | BatteryCorp GmbH |
| Rated capacity | 78 kWh |
| Rated voltage | 400 V |
| Weight | 485 kg |
| Carbon footprint | 61 kg CO2e/kWh |
| Carbon footprint class | Class B |
| Expected service life | 8 years / 160,000 km |
| Recyclability | Yes, via certified collection points |
| Collection points | Link to locations |
Business view (B2B customers)
| Data field | Example value |
|---|---|
| Cell chemistry | NMC 811 (nickel-manganese-cobalt) |
| Recycled content cobalt | 16% |
| Recycled content lithium | 6% |
| Recycled content nickel | 6% |
| Cycle life | 1,500 cycles to 80% SoH |
| Energy density | 161 Wh/kg |
| Maximum charge rate | 2C (fast charging) |
| Serial number | BC-2027-EV7800-00412 |
| Date of manufacture | 2027-03-15 |
| Manufacturing plant | Wroclaw, Poland |
Regulatory view (market surveillance)
| Data field | Example value |
|---|---|
| EU declaration of conformity | CE-2027-BC-0412 |
| Supply-chain due-diligence report | Link to report |
| Test certificates | IEC 62619, UN 38.3 |
| Carbon footprint study | Verified by TUV Rheinland |
| Mineral origin (cobalt) | DR Congo, verified (RMI) |
For detailed information on the battery passport see Battery Passport: EU Requirements and Timeline.
Example 2: DPP for a textile product (winter jacket)
The DPP for textiles is expected to become mandatory around 2027-2028. Here is an example of how it could look for a winter jacket:
Public view (consumer)
| Data field | Example value |
|---|---|
| Product name | Outdoor winter jacket “Alpine Pro” |
| Brand | TextilHaus |
| Size | M |
| Fibre composition, outer shell | 100% recycled polyester |
| Fibre composition, lining | 80% polyester, 20% elastane |
| Filling | 200 g/m2 synthetic down alternative |
| Carbon footprint | 18.4 kg CO2e |
| Water use in production | 32 litres |
| Recyclability | Partial (outer shell: yes, filling: no) |
| Repairability | Repair guide available |
| Care instructions | Machine wash 30 degrees, do not bleach, low tumble dry |
| Country of assembly | Portugal |
| Durability (abrasion test) | 40,000 Martindale cycles |
Business view (retailer)
| Data field | Example value |
|---|---|
| Supplier, outer shell | RecyTex Fabrics, Taiwan |
| Supplier, filling | SynthDown Ltd., Turkey |
| Certifications | OEKO-TEX Standard 100, bluesign |
| REACH compliance | Yes, no SVHC above threshold |
| Article number | TH-WJ-2027-AP-M |
| EAN/GTIN | 4012345678901 |
| Minimum order quantity | 50 units |
| Available colours | Black, dark blue, olive |
What the consumer sees
Imagine a customer scans the QR code on the jacket’s label with their smartphone. They see a clear web page with:
- A summary of the key environmental data (carbon footprint, water use)
- The full material composition
- Recyclability information and instructions on how to dispose of the jacket correctly
- A link to the manufacturer’s repair guide
- The country of manufacture and relevant certifications
That is considerably more than today’s care label offers, and it is digital, updatable and standardised.
Further information on the textile DPP is available at DPP in Textiles: What the Digital Product Passport Changes.
Example 3: DPP for an electronic device (smartphone)
The DPP for electronics is expected to become mandatory around 2028-2030. Here is how it could look for a smartphone:
Public view (consumer)
| Data field | Example value |
|---|---|
| Product name | PhonePro X12 |
| Manufacturer | ElectroniCo AG |
| Model number | PP-X12-256-BK |
| Energy efficiency class | A |
| Repairability score | 7.2 / 10 |
| Spare-part availability | 7 years from market launch |
| Guaranteed software updates | 5 years (until 2032) |
| Battery capacity | 4,800 mAh |
| Expected battery life | 800 charge cycles to 80% |
| Recycling note | Return via electronics collection points |
| Critical raw materials | Cobalt, tantalum, indium, rare earths |
Business view (B2B customers, repair shops)
| Data field | Example value |
|---|---|
| Disassembly guide | Link to technical manual |
| Spare-part list | Display, battery, charging port, speaker |
| Spare-part prices | Display: EUR 89, battery: EUR 35 |
| Estimated repair time | Display: 45 min, battery: 30 min |
| Material composition | Aluminium 22%, glass 18%, plastic 14%, copper 8%, … |
| Critical raw materials (detail) | Cobalt: 8 g, tantalum: 0.4 g, indium: 0.02 g |
| REACH compliance | Yes |
| SCIP database ID | SCIP-2027-EP-00891 |
The repairability score and the guaranteed availability of spare parts are particularly relevant for electronics. They give consumers a clear basis for decisions and encourage repair over disposal.
What all DPP examples have in common
Despite the differences per product category, there are core elements that appear in every DPP:
Common structural elements
- Unique product identifier (e.g. GTIN, serial number)
- Data carrier (QR code with GS1 Digital Link)
- Manufacturer and product identification
- Material composition
- Environmental data (carbon footprint, recyclability)
- Compliance data (CE marking, test reports)
- Tiered access rights (public, business, regulatory)
Technical requirements
- Machine-readable: data must be provided in a standardised format (JSON-LD, XML or similar) so it can be read automatically.
- Human-readable: at the same time a visual presentation for end users must be available.
- Linked to the EU registry: every DPP must be connected to the central EU DPP registry.
- Updatable: the DPP is not a static document. Data can be updated (e.g. state-of-health data for batteries).
- Durable: the data must remain available at least for the lifetime of the product plus a defined period.
How do you create a DPP in practice?
Creating a DPP requires three components:
1. Capture and structure product data
Most companies already have a large part of the required data in existing systems (ERP, PIM, PLM). The challenge lies in structuring and completing it. Data from suppliers (material composition, carbon footprint) often needs to be additionally sourced. More on this in DPP and PIM: Why Product Data Is the Foundation.
2. Use a DPP platform
A DPP software such as myDPP handles:
- Creating the structured data record per product
- Generating QR codes with GS1 Digital Link
- Managing the access levels (public, business, regulatory)
- Connecting to the EU DPP registry
- Integrating with existing systems (ERP, PIM) via APIs
- Providing the human-readable web view
3. Attach the data carrier to the product
The QR code must be physically attached to the product — on the product itself, the packaging or the rating plate. For textiles it can be integrated into the label, for electronics on the back of the device or in the battery compartment, for batteries on the housing.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
How does a DPP differ from a product data sheet?
A product data sheet is a static document (often a PDF) that the manufacturer provides voluntarily. A DPP is a structured, machine-readable data record that is legally required, must be accessible via a QR code and is linked to the EU registry. The DPP is dynamically updatable and follows a standardised schema.
Can a consumer read the DPP without an app?
Yes. The QR code leads to a web page that is displayed in the browser. No special app is required. Any smartphone with a camera and a browser is enough.
Does every single product need its own DPP?
That depends on the product category. For batteries a DPP per individual item (serial number) is required. For textiles a DPP per product model (i.e. per SKU/GTIN) is expected to be sufficient, not per individual item. The delegated acts define the granularity.
What does it cost to create a DPP?
Costs depend on the complexity of the data capture and the number of products. DPP platforms such as myDPP offer scalable pricing models that are also accessible to SMEs. The biggest effort typically lies not in the software but in capturing and structuring the data.
Read on
- EU Digital Product Passport: Timeline, Scope and Compliance
- Digital Product Passport Requirements: What You Need to Know
- How to Implement a DPP: Checklist
- DPP and PIM: Why Product Data Is the Foundation