A Digital Product Passport (DPP) example is a structured digital record — accessed by scanning a QR code on a product — that shows material composition, environmental impact, repair instructions, and supply chain information in a standardized, machine-readable format. The most complete examples available today are the Catena-X battery passport viewer (open source, with full identification, performance, carbon, and due diligence data) and Studio Anneloes' textile DPPs via Tappr (live in production since late 2023). The gap between a compliance-only DPP and a well-designed one is significant — and determines whether the passport becomes a consumer engagement tool or a regulatory checkbox.
What Does a Digital Product Passport Look Like?
The consumer experience is straightforward. You pick up a product — a battery, a jacket, a bag of cement — and notice a QR code on the label. You scan it with your phone camera. A webpage opens showing the product's digital passport: structured sections for what the product is made of, where it was manufactured, its environmental impact, and how to recycle it.
This is fundamentally different from a product webpage or marketing brochure. A Digital Product Passport is standardized, machine-readable, and regulation-compliant. It follows a defined data schema, supports tiered access for different users, and registers with the EU's central DPP registry. Think of the difference between a restaurant's Instagram page and its health inspection report — both describe the same business, but one is marketing and the other is structured compliance data.
The visual presentation varies by platform and brand. Some DPPs look like clean, minimalist data cards. Others are brand-styled experiences with behind-the-scenes content alongside the regulatory data. But the underlying information architecture is consistent: identification, composition, environmental impact, supply chain, end-of-life.
What Are the Best Real-World DPP Examples?
Battery Passport (Catena-X / Eclipse Tractus-X)
The battery passport is the most mature DPP implementation available today, and it serves as the reference model for every other product category.
The Catena-X automotive data ecosystem — built on the Eclipse Tractus-X framework (the original repository was archived in October 2025, and successor projects including Industry Core Hub continue development) — includes a fully functional battery passport viewer. Here is what it displays:
- Identification: Unique serial number, manufacturer details, battery model, production date, and placing-on-market date
- Technical specifications: Battery type, cell chemistry, material breakdown with weight percentages, and sourcing information for critical raw materials
- Performance data: Charge-discharge cycle history, energy efficiency ratings, degradation trends, state-of-health percentage, and rated capacity
- Carbon footprint: Production emissions calculated and verified by third parties, categorized into performance classes (ranked from A downward, with thresholds to be determined by the Commission)
- Recycled content: Recovery percentages for cobalt, nickel, lithium, and lead, with verifiable tracking back to recycled material sources
- Supply chain due diligence: Ethical sourcing documentation, human rights compliance reports, and mineral extraction conditions per OECD guidelines
- End-of-life guidance: Repair procedures, second-life reuse instructions, recycling process requirements, and critical mineral recovery rates
Data access is controlled through Eclipse Dataspace Connectors. A consumer scanning the QR code sees the public-tier summary. Authorized recyclers and regulators authenticate through the dataspace to access restricted fields.
The battery passport viewer was released as open source on GitHub (eclipse-tractusx/digital-product-pass), though the original repository was archived in October 2025. Successor projects continue the work, and anyone can still inspect the data model, test the interface, and understand what a production-grade DPP looks like under the hood.
The battery passport is the reference implementation other product categories will follow. If you want to see what DPPs will look like for your industry, start here. Battery passports become mandatory in February 2027 under the Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 — they are setting the standard for everything that comes after.
Textile DPP (Studio Anneloes via Tappr)
While textiles do not have a mandatory DPP yet (the delegated act is expected around 2027, with application around 2028–2029), several brands are already running live pilots. Studio Anneloes, a Dutch fashion brand, launched DPPs across their collections starting in late 2023 with their @WORK collection, as documented through the Tappr platform (Tappr, 2023).
Their platform is Tappr (usetappr.com) — a drag-and-drop passport builder that requires no coding. The consumer-facing interface displays:
- Materials information: Fiber composition by percentage, origin of raw materials, certifications
- Traceability data: Factory locations, supply chain map from raw material to finished product
- Compliance information: Regulatory status, substances of concern declarations
- Sustainability data: Environmental impact metrics, recycled content percentages
- Care instructions: Washing, drying, and ironing guidance to extend product lifespan
- Repair guides: Instructions for common repairs, links to repair service providers
- Resale options: Integration with secondhand marketplaces for the product's second life
What makes this example instructive is the design approach. The passports reflect Studio Anneloes' brand identity — they are not generic data dumps. The interface includes behind-the-scenes content like styling tips, exclusive offers, and product journey storytelling alongside the compliance data. Data is centralized from PLM, PIM, and ERP systems, with automated care label generation and compliance tracking.
Tappr offers a live demo at usetappr.com/demo-experience — you can scan a QR code to see a real textile DPP in action. It is one of the few ways to experience a consumer-facing product passport without buying a product from a participating brand.
Construction Products (EU CPR 2024/3110)
Construction products received their own DPP requirements through the revised Construction Products Regulation (CPR) — Regulation (EU) 2024/3110 — which entered into force on January 7, 2025. This regulation runs parallel to the ESPR and provides another concrete example of what product passports look like in a different industry.
A construction product DPP must include:
- Unique product identification using GS1 GTIN standards
- Declaration of Performance and Declaration of Conformity — the regulatory compliance documents
- Installation, use, and handling instructions specific to the product
- Safety precautions including hazard information
- Environmental and lifecycle data including recyclability percentages and carbon footprint
- Durability and maintenance information tied to the product's expected service life
Data carriers can be QR codes, RFID tags, barcodes, or direct URLs. A key difference from other product categories: construction product DPPs require a minimum 10-year data retention period, reflecting the long lifecycle of building materials. The digital infrastructure for construction product passports is expected to be operational by 2026–2027.
What Data Can Different Users See on a DPP?
Not everyone sees the same information on a DPP. The ESPR — Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 — establishes differentiated access rights designed to balance transparency with commercial confidentiality.
| Access Level | Who | What They See |
|---|---|---|
| Public | Consumers, anyone who scans the QR code | Durability and repair scores, carbon footprint summary, recycling instructions, certifications, material composition overview |
| Restricted | Recyclers, repairers, supply chain partners | Detailed chemical composition (Bill of Materials), disassembly instructions, specific supplier data, batch-level manufacturing details |
| Regulatory | Market surveillance authorities, customs | Full dataset including proprietary manufacturing data, compliance documentation, audit trails, conformity assessments |
This three-tier system serves a practical purpose. Customs authorities at EU borders can perform automatic checks on DPP existence and data authenticity for imported products. National market surveillance authorities verify data accuracy through spot checks and audits. Recyclers get the chemical composition details they need for safe dismantling without accessing commercially sensitive pricing or supplier contract data.
Personal data relating to customers cannot be stored in the DPP without their explicit consent (ESPR Article 10). The access tier system is designed to protect both consumer privacy and commercial confidentiality. This is not optional — it is a legal requirement built into the regulation itself. For a deep dive into how GDPR intersects with DPPs, see our DPP and GDPR data privacy guide.
Anatomy of a Textile DPP: Data Fields Explained
To make this concrete, here is an annotated walkthrough of what a textile DPP contains — using the fictional Luma Apparel organic cotton t-shirt from our step-by-step DPP creation guide.
Product Identification
├── GTIN: 4012345678901
├── Model: LMA-TEE-001
├── Batch: 2026-Q1-B003
└── Manufacturer: Luma Apparel, Berlin, Germany
Material Composition
├── Organic cotton: 95.2% (GOTS certified, Aegean region, Turkey)
├── Elastane: 3.1% (synthetic, Portuguese supplier)
└── Reactive dyes: 1.7% (OEKO-TEX compliant)
Environmental Impact
├── Carbon footprint: 7.2 kg CO₂e (cradle-to-gate)
├── Water usage: 2,495 L (cultivation through finishing)
└── Recycled content: 0%
Supply Chain
├── Assembly: FabricaPorto Lda, Porto, Portugal
├── Fabric: TecelMinho S.A., Guimarães, Portugal
└── Cotton farm: Aegean region, Turkey
Care & End of Life
├── Machine wash 30°C, do not tumble dry
├── Recyclable: Yes (mono-material after removing elastane)
└── Collection: Textile collection bins or retailer take-back
Certifications
├── OEKO-TEX Standard 100
└── GOTS (organic cotton component)
Every field in this passport maps to a specific data requirement in the ESPR framework. The product identification section enables unique tracking. Material composition feeds recycling infrastructure. Environmental impact metrics inform consumer purchasing decisions. Supply chain data supports due diligence verification. Care instructions extend product lifespan — a core goal of the circular economy.
How Do Consumers Access a DPP?
The access flow is designed for zero friction — no apps, no accounts, no special equipment.
- Spot the QR code — printed on the care label, hangtag, packaging, or product itself
- Scan with your phone camera — no dedicated app required; the built-in camera app works
- QR code contains a GS1 Digital Link URI — something like
https://id.gs1.org/01/04012345678901/21/2026Q1B003 - URI resolves through a GS1 resolver — the standardized infrastructure that routes the request to the correct DPP hosting provider
- Consumer sees public-tier data — displayed in a styled web interface on their phone browser
- Authorities authenticate for restricted data — the same URI serves different data depending on who is accessing it
The GS1 Digital Link standard is what makes this work. It turns product identifiers into standard web addresses, so any device with a camera and a browser can access a DPP. No proprietary readers, no middleware, no friction.
What Makes a Good DPP vs. a Bad One?
Not all DPPs are created equal. Once the regulations take effect, some brands will treat this as a checkbox exercise. Others will build something genuinely useful.
| Aspect | Compliance-Only DPP | Well-Designed DPP |
|---|---|---|
| Data scope | Minimum required fields only | Comprehensive data with context and explanation |
| Design | Generic data table, raw values | Brand-styled, consumer-friendly, scannable layout |
| Consumer value | Regulatory checkbox, uninviting | Engagement tool with care tips, repair info, resale links |
| Updates | Static, rarely refreshed | Living document updated per batch with current data |
| Access levels | Single level, public only | Three-tier access properly configured per ESPR |
| Additional content | None | Behind-the-scenes, styling tips, brand story |
The brands that treat DPPs as a consumer engagement opportunity — not just a compliance burden — will extract real business value from the regulation. A 2025 Blue Yonder survey found that only 20% of consumers fully trust brand sustainability claims (Blue Yonder, 2025) — DPP-verified data bridges that credibility gap in a way marketing copy cannot. Meanwhile, the global secondhand apparel market reached $230 billion in 2024 (ThredUp, 2024), growing 3x faster than the overall market, and DPP data on material composition and care history directly enables that circular economy. A well-designed passport builds trust, reduces returns (through better product information), and creates a post-purchase relationship that marketing emails alone cannot achieve.
What Are Current DPP Examples Still Missing?
The examples above represent the best available DPP implementations — but even these pilots have gaps when measured against the full ESPR framework. Understanding what is missing helps brands plan ahead rather than assuming current examples represent the final standard.
| ESPR Requirement | Battery Passport (Catena-X) | Textile Pilot (Tappr/Studio Anneloes) | Construction (CPR) | Gap Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EU DPP Registry integration | Not yet — registry launches July 2026 | Not yet | Not yet | No product passport is currently registered in the EU central registry because it does not exist yet |
| Three-tier access control | Yes — via Eclipse Dataspace Connectors | Partial — public tier implemented; restricted/regulatory tiers in development | Planned but not fully operational | Most pilots implement public access well but lack the full three-tier ESPR architecture |
| Machine-readable structured data (JSON-LD) | Yes — full structured data model | Partial — human-readable interface prioritized over machine-readable output | Under development | Consumer-facing design is ahead of machine-readable interoperability |
| GS1 Digital Link as data carrier | Supported but not universally deployed | QR codes used but GS1 Digital Link compliance varies | GS1 GTIN required | Standardization on GS1 Digital Link is progressing but not yet universal across all pilots |
| Carbon footprint with verified methodology | Yes — third-party verified, performance class system | Limited — some environmental data but methodology not standardized | Environmental data included but methodology varies | Carbon footprint methodology is the biggest open question for non-battery products |
| Independent backup requirement (Article 11) | Under development | Platform-dependent | Under development | ESPR Article 11 requires independent data backup — most pilots have not explicitly addressed this |
| Full product lifecycle data persistence | Planned for battery lifecycle | Not yet tested at scale (products are recent) | 10-year minimum retention specified | Long-term data persistence (10+ years) is an infrastructure challenge that no pilot has fully proven |
The gap between current DPP examples and full ESPR compliance is not a criticism — these are pilots and early implementations, and they are building the foundation that final systems will use. But brands should not assume that deploying a DPP platform today means they are automatically ESPR-compliant. The EU DPP registry, standardized access controls, and long-term data persistence requirements will add layers that current implementations do not yet address. Plan for these requirements in your platform selection and budget.
Get Started Now
You do not need to wait for your product category's delegated act to start preparing. The data collection effort is the same regardless of the final regulation details, and the brands that start early avoid the scramble when deadlines hit.
- Check your readiness — Our free assessment identifies your specific data gaps and gives you a prioritized action plan
- Learn how to create a DPP step by step — Practical walkthrough from audit to deployment
- Understand the data requirements — Detailed breakdown of what to collect and when
- Find out which products need a DPP — Product scope guide covering 7+ EU regulations and timelines
- Understand the real costs — Realistic cost breakdown for small brands, from GS1 fees to platform pricing
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an example of a digital product passport?
The most complete example available today is the Catena-X battery passport, which displays identification data, performance metrics, carbon footprint, recycled content percentages, and supply chain due diligence information — all accessible via QR code. The viewer was released as open source on GitHub (eclipse-tractusx/digital-product-pass), though the original repository was archived in October 2025 and successor projects continue development. For textiles, Studio Anneloes runs live DPPs through the Tappr platform, showing material composition, care instructions, and resale options in a brand-styled interface.
How does a digital product passport look?
A DPP appears as a structured web page that opens when you scan a QR code on a product. It displays organized sections for material composition, environmental impact, manufacturing details, care instructions, and recycling guidance. It is not a PDF or a marketing page — it is a standardized data interface that follows a defined schema. The visual design varies by platform and brand, but the underlying data categories are consistent across implementations.
Can I see a DPP demo right now?
Yes. Tappr offers a live textile DPP demo at usetappr.com/demo-experience where you can scan a QR code to experience a real product passport. The Catena-X battery passport viewer is also available as open-source software on GitHub, which you can run locally. These are the two most accessible ways to see a functioning DPP without purchasing a product from a participating brand.
Are all Digital Product Passports the same format?
No. While the ESPR sets minimum data requirements and mandates machine-readability, the visual presentation varies by platform and brand. A battery passport from Catena-X looks different from a textile passport on Tappr. The underlying data must follow standardized schemas for interoperability with the EU registry and market surveillance systems, but the consumer-facing interface can be fully customized to reflect the brand's identity.
What happens when I scan a product passport QR code?
Your phone opens a web page showing the product's digital passport data. The QR code contains a GS1 Digital Link URI — a standardized web address that encodes the product's identifier. This URI resolves through a GS1 resolver to the DPP hosting page, where you see the public-tier data. No app download is required. Authorities and supply chain partners can authenticate through the same URI to access restricted data tiers.
What information does a consumer see on a DPP?
Consumers see the public-tier data: product composition (materials and percentages), sustainability scores, carbon footprint summary, repair and recycling instructions, certifications, and manufacturer information. Detailed chemical breakdowns (Bill of Materials), specific supplier identities, and proprietary manufacturing data are restricted to authorized users like recyclers, repairers, and market surveillance authorities. This tiered access is mandated by the ESPR to protect commercial confidentiality.
