23 February 2026 at 03:25 pm IST
On February 24, 2026, the European Union reinforced its plan to overhaul global supply chain transparency with the upcoming Digital Product Passport (DPP) rules, which are expected to come into force by 2027 under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). The regulation will require producers and importers to attach digital product passports to most goods sold in the EU, containing detailed lifecycle and sustainability data that follows items from origin to recycling. The passport framework aims to enhance sustainability and circularity in product design and management by making key information — such as material composition, carbon emissions, durability, and repairability — accessible via machine-readable data. This transparency is intended to support compliance, encourage greener manufacturing practices, and help consumers and regulators make better informed decisions about product impacts on the environment. The new rules will apply to sectors including textiles, construction materials, batteries, and electronics, requiring companies exporting to the EU to ensure their products carry a compliant digital record. Failure to meet these requirements could jeopardise market access for exporters, making DPP compliance a strategic priority for global producers targeting the EU market. The Digital Product Passport initiative is expected to fundamentally reshape how products are designed, tracked and reported across global supply chains by promoting accountability and enabling circular economy practices. By embedding lifecycle data into product passports, the EU aims to strengthen product traceability, reduce waste, and support long-term sustainability goals across industries.
