Industrial traceability is evolving rapidly. Across Europe, manufacturers are preparing for new sustainability and transparency requirements driven by the upcoming Digital Product Passport (DPP).
For many companies, this is not only a regulatory topic. The DPP will directly impact how products are coded, identified and connected to digital information across the supply chain.
As a result, technologies such as 2D codes, QR codes and industrial traceability systems are becoming increasingly important in manufacturing environments.
What is the Digital Product Passport?
The Digital Product Passport is a digital identity linked to a physical product that provides access to information throughout its lifecycle.
This may include:
- Product origin.
- Material composition.
- Sustainability information.
- Recycling instructions.
- Traceability and batch data.
- Compliance documentation.
The DPP is part of the European sustainability framework linked to the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR).
Why the Digital Product Passport matters for manufacturers
The DPP introduces a new level of product transparency and connected traceability.
Manufacturers will increasingly need systems capable of linking products with dynamic digital information throughout production and distribution processes.
This affects areas such as:
- Industrial traceability.
- Packaging compliance.
- Product serialization.
- Production line integration.
- Coding and marking quality.
- Supply chain visibility.
For many industrial environments, traditional linear barcodes may no longer be sufficient.
How 2D codes support DPP requirements
As Digital Product Passport requirements evolve, 2D codes such as QR codes and DataMatrix codes are becoming central to traceability strategies.
Unlike traditional barcodes, 2D codes can connect products to large amounts of digital information, including:
- Product traceability data.
- Sustainability information.
- Batch and serialisation details.
- Recycling instructions.
- Digital documentation.
This transition is also aligned with initiatives such as GS1 Sunrise 2027, which is accelerating the adoption of next-generation 2D codes across multiple industries.
Why coding quality is becoming critical
Implementing 2D codes in industrial production environments is not only about printing a code.
Manufacturers must ensure that codes remain:
- Readable at high production speeds.
- Durable throughout the supply chain.
- Consistent across packaging materials.
- Compatible with verification systems.
Poor code quality can directly affect traceability, operational efficiency and compliance.
For this reason, reliable industrial coding and marking technologies are becoming increasingly strategic.
Preparing for the future of industrial traceability
As Digital Product Passport regulations continue to evolve, manufacturers should begin evaluating:
- Current traceability capabilities.
- 2D code implementation strategies.
- Packaging and coding quality.
- Integration between production and data systems.
The companies that prepare early will be better positioned to adapt to future compliance requirements while improving production visibility and operational efficiency.
FAQ About the Digital Product Passport (DPP)
The Digital Product Passport (DPP) is a digital identity linked to a product that provides access to traceability, sustainability and compliance information.
The DPP increases the importance of industrial traceability, product identification and 2D coding technologies.
QR codes help connect physical products with digital information systems, supporting traceability and transparency requirements.
Yes. 2D codes such as QR codes and DataMatrix codes are expected to play a key role in future Digital Product Passport strategies.