How does GS1 relate to the Digital Product Passport?

GS1 provides the global language of business, offering fundamental standards like GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) and GLN (Global Location Number). These standards are crucial for uniquely identifying products and locations, forming the universal foundation for data identification and retrieval within the DPP ecosystem and ensuring interoperability.

What is the Battery Regulation (EU 2023/1542)?

The EU Battery Regulation is the first product-specific regulation to make the Digital Product Passport mandatory for industrial and electric vehicle (EV) batteries by 2027. It focuses on the carbon footprint, ethical sourcing, performance, and material recovery of batteries, aiming to enhance circularity and sustainability in the battery value chain.

What is Interoperability in the context of DPP?

Interoperability refers to the ability of different systems and platforms to exchange and utilize data seamlessly. For the DPP, this means that product information generated by one supplier or system can be easily accessed and understood by brands, consumers, repairers, recyclers, and regulatory authorities globally, ensuring a cohesive and functional digital ecosystem.

What is the role of AAS (Asset Administration Shell) in DPP?

The Asset Administration Shell (AAS) acts as a standardized digital container or 'envelope' for all technical and regulatory information of a product. It serves as the basis for an Industrial Digital Twin, aggregating data from various sources throughout the product's lifecycle, and enabling structured access for authorized operators like repairers or recyclers.

The Essential Digital Product Passport (DPP) Glossary

Q: What is the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR)?

The ESPR is a landmark EU framework regulation that mandates the Digital Product Passport (DPP) for most physical goods sold in the EU. Its goal is to make products more durable, reusable, reparable, and energy-efficient, driving the transition towards a circular economy by providing transparency on product sustainability.

Navigating the Digital Product Passport Landscape

As the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) transforms the global market, the Digital Product Passport (DPP) has emerged as the essential bridge between physical products and their digital life cycles. For businesses, this transition is more than a compliance hurdle—it is a strategic shift toward circularity, transparency, and data-driven value.

However, the DPP ecosystem is dense with technical standards (GS1, EPCIS), emerging regulations (ESPR, CBAM, Battery Pass), and a new generation of software solutions (LCA, PIM, Digital Link). Understanding this language is the first step for "Solution Seekers" to identify the right partners and technologies.

This glossary provides a comprehensive roadmap to the terms defining the future of sustainable trade.

DPP GLOSSARY

AAS (Asset Administration Shell) Standardized digital container (the "envelope") that holds all technical and regulatory information of a product, serving as the basis for its Industrial Digital Twin.

AGEC Law The French "Anti-Waste for a Circular Economy" law. A pioneer in environmental labeling and traceability that foreshadowed many EU DPP requirements.

Authorized Operator An actor (repairer, recycler, customs authority) with specific access rights to the non-public technical data stored within a DPP.

Battery Regulation (EU 2023/1542) The first product-specific regulation making the DPP mandatory (by 2027) for industrial and EV batteries, focusing on carbon footprint and material recovery.

Blockchain Distributed ledger technology ensuring data immutability. It certifies a product's history and origin, providing a definitive defense against greenwashing.

CBAM Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. A regulation linked to the DPP that imposes carbon pricing on imports of carbon-intensive goods into the EU to prevent carbon leakage.

CEN / CENELEC European standardization bodies tasked with defining the harmonized technical standards (via JTC 24) that all compliant DPPs must follow.

CMMS Computerized Maintenance Management System. Software used to track repair history and plan maintenance to extend a product's physical lifespan.

CPR (Construction Products Regulation) EU regulation framework integrating DPPs to ensure the durability, safety, and traceability of building and construction materials.

CSDDD / CSRD EU directives (Due Diligence and Sustainability Reporting) that rely on DPP data to prove ethical sourcing and corporate environmental accountability.

Digital Link (GS1) A standard URL structure that makes a QR code "smart." It can direct a consumer to a marketing page while sending a professional to technical DPP data via a single scan.

DPPSP (Service Provider) A specialized provider (e.g., Fabacus) that offers the technical platform to generate, host, and distribute Digital Product Passports.

EPCIS (Electronic Product Code Information Services) A GS1 standard that allows supply chain partners to share visibility about the movement and status of objects (What, When, Where, Why).

ESPR Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation. The landmark EU framework regulation that makes the DPP mandatory for most physical goods sold in the EU.

GS1 Standards The global language of business. Standards like GTIN and GLN provide the universal foundation for identifying products and locations within the DPP ecosystem.

GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) The global standard for identifying products. It serves as the primary "key" to retrieve product data in global databases.

Interoperability The ability of different systems to exchange data seamlessly, ensuring a DPP created by a supplier can be read by brands, consumers, and recyclers worldwide.

IoT (Internet of Things) Connected sensors that transmit real-time data (usage, condition, shocks) to enrich the DPP content throughout the product's life.

ISO/IEC 15459 The international standard for unique identifiers. It ensures that a product's UID is structured to be recognized by global customs and regulatory authorities.

LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) Software used to calculate the total environmental impact of a product, a core data requirement for the DPP.

PEF (Product Environmental Footprint) | The official EU methodology for calculating a product's environmental impact (carbon, water, etc.) for display in the DPP.

PIM / PLM / PDM Categories of software (Information, Lifecycle, or Data Management) that serve as the primary sources of truth for the data populating a DPP.

RAIN Alliance A global alliance promoting RAIN RFID (UHF). Its standards ensure RFID tags are readable worldwide for large-scale DPP logistics and sorting.

RMS / RaaS Repair Management and Resale as a Service. Platforms that use DPP data to facilitate circular services like professional repair or branded second-hand markets.

Smart Contract Self-executing contracts on a blockchain that can automate actions like ownership transfers, deposit-refunds, or recycling rewards based on DPP data.

Sunset 2027 (GS1) The global initiative to transition from 1D barcodes to 2D codes (like QR codes) at point-of-sale by 2027, allowing the DPP to become the primary data carrier.

Toy Safety Regulation Upcoming EU rules requiring a DPP for toys to ensure they are free from hazardous chemicals and safe for children.

UID (Unique Identifier) A unique digital "address" assigned to an individual product or batch to link it unambiguously to its digital passport.

VC (Verified Credentials) A digital standard for sharing tamper-proof claims (e.g., "Organic Certified"), ensuring that the data issuer is legitimate and the information is authentic.