Digital Product Passports in 2026: Preparing Data, Barcodes and RFID
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The European Union’s Digital Product Passport is turning product traceability into a strategic data requirement. Created under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, the DPP is intended to make relevant product information available to businesses, public authorities and consumers. In July 2026, the European Commission announced a DPP registry and testing environment, an important step toward practical implementation.
For manufacturers and supply-chain operators, this is not only a compliance topic. It is also a data architecture and identification challenge: how will the correct digital record remain connected to the correct physical product throughout its lifecycle?
What is a Digital Product Passport?
A DPP is a structured digital record associated with a product. Depending on the product group and future delegated requirements, it may include identity, material, sustainability, durability, repair, recycling or compliance information. Different users may receive different levels of access.
The European Commission is developing the implementation framework progressively. Businesses should therefore avoid assuming that one static web page or one generic QR code will satisfy every future requirement. The durable foundation is governed product data, stable identifiers and a controlled link between the physical item and its digital record.
The role of barcode and RFID
A data carrier provides the bridge between product and passport. The right choice depends on lifecycle, environment, reading distance, automation level and whether identification is at model, batch or individual-item level.
- QR codes: easy for consumers to scan with smartphones and suitable for connecting products to online information.
- GS1 DataMatrix: compact, structured and useful where space is limited or production data must be encoded.
- RAIN RFID: supports non-line-of-sight and bulk reading for logistics, inventory and lifecycle events.
- NFC: enables short-range interaction and can support selected authentication or engagement use cases.
These technologies are complementary. A product may use a visible 2D code for universal access and RFID for automated operational visibility. The identifier and data model should remain consistent across both.
What organisations should do now
Map product data. Identify where material, component, compliance, repair and lifecycle data currently resides. Document owners, formats, quality issues and access rules.
Strengthen identifiers. Confirm that product, batch and serial identifiers are unique, persistent and consistently used across ERP, manufacturing, warehouse and service systems.
Choose carriers by workflow. Test codes and tags on real materials and in real operating conditions. Consider print durability, scan accessibility, expected lifecycle and the needs of consumers as well as automated systems.
Design governed links. Avoid hard-coding critical information into a solution that cannot be maintained. Use controlled identifiers and resolvers so the destination data can evolve while the physical carrier remains useful.
Start with a traceability pilot. Select one product family and connect physical identification to a trusted digital record. Test creation, updates, permissions, scanning and end-of-life access before scaling.
How LENASYS can help
LENASYS helps organisations connect product identification technologies with operational systems and reliable data. Our approach covers barcode, RFID, mobile capture and integration so that DPP preparation supports both compliance readiness and everyday process improvement.
Contact LENASYS to discuss product identification and traceability readiness.
Sources
Photo: CHUTTERSNAP / Unsplash.
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