Published on: 18 June 2026

audaxes at “NRW kann DPP! Gemeinsam bereit für den Digitalen Produktpass”

On 16 June 2026, audaxes participated in an insightful conference on the Digital Product Passport (DPP) at the Ruhr West University of Applied Sciences (HRW). The event, “NRW kann DPP! Gemeinsam bereit für den Digitalen Produktpass”, was organized by HRW in cooperation with the Circular Economy Coordination Office CE.NRW (NRW.Energy4Climate) and supported by several partners, including the project #dzr | digital.zirkulär.ruhr funded by the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and the European Union (EU).

The interactive conference brought together experts from industry, academia, and policymaking to explore the status of DPP. Discussions focused on the regulatory framework and policy developments surrounding the DPP, the technological requirements for data management and interoperability, the opportunities DPP creates for circular value chains, as well as the challenges associated with its practical implementation across complex, multi-stakeholder supply chains.

What is the Digital Product Passport?

The Digital Product Passport (DPP) is a key initiative of the EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). It introduces a standardized digital dataset for products, capturing essential information such as material composition, origin, carbon footprint, repairability, and recycling instructions.

Accessible via technologies like QR codes or NFC tags, the DPP functions as a digital identity for each product, accompanying it throughout its entire lifecycle—from manufacturing to end-of-life processing. Its primary goals are to increase transparency, enable circular economy practices, and support informed decision-making for businesses, regulators, and consumers alike.

The DPP requirement will take effect for selected product categories from 2027, and the framework is expected to expand progressively across a wide range of industries in the years ahead.

Which Industries Are Affected?

The introduction of the DPP is being implemented in stages: initially, the focus is on industries with particularly high sustainability and transformation potential. In the long term, however, the DPP is expected to become a cross-sector standard. The industries currently in focus include:

• Batteries
• Iron and steel
• Aluminum
• Textiles/Apparel
• Tires
• Furniture
• Mattresses
• Electronics and ICT Products
• Chemicals

Ultimately, the DPP is set to become a cross-industry requirement, impacting nearly all products sold in the EU market.

Implications for Industry

For businesses, the DPP introduces both opportunities and challenges:

Opportunities include:

• Greater transparency and traceability across supply chains
• Improved lifecycle and material management
• Enablement of circular business models such as repair, reuse, and resale
• Stronger alignment with upcoming EU sustainability regulations

Challenges include:

• Integrating data across fragmented and global supply chains
• Establishing common standards and governance frameworks
• Ensuring high data quality and interoperability between systems
• Building and managing the necessary IT infrastructure

For many companies, the DPP represents not just a compliance requirement, but a strategic transformation toward digital and circular operations.

Event Highlights and Key Discussions

The interactive conference at HRW placed strong emphasis on dialogues within and across industries, creating space for exchanging perspectives on both the opportunities and the practical hurdles of DPP implementation in complex supply chains—not only within industries but also across ecosystems.

Key discussion points included:

• How to ensure interoperability of systems and data standards across different sectors
• The role of AI and digital platforms in enabling and benefiting from DPP implementation
• Balancing transparency requirements with data protection and intellectual property concerns
• Concrete use cases and pilot approaches already emerging in industry

Conclusion

The Digital Product Passport is rapidly moving from concept to implementation, with tangible regulatory timelines already approaching. Companies that begin preparing now—by strengthening their data foundations, aligning with emerging standards, and engaging in ecosystem collaboration—will be best positioned to benefit from this transformation.

For organizations across industries, the message is clear: The time to act is now.

audaxes has an experienced team of experts specializing in the supply chain digitalization using cutting‑edge SAP solutions. With a comprehensive service portfolio, we support corporations of all scales in achieving operational excellence in logistics and supply chain management. Contact audaxes to learn more.