The central EU registry for the Digital Product Passport (DPP) is set to launch on July 19, 2026. However, many companies still need to take action. According to a recent KPMG survey, only 19 percent of respondents feel well prepared, while more than half are still in the early stages of preparation.
In an interview with QRNow, Thorsten Kroke, general manager of ECLASS e.V., explains why companies should start implementing the DPP today. Instead of waiting for fully developed, detailed specifications, he recommends providing basic product information, such as the manufacturer's name, the year of manufacture, and the serial number, in a structured manner.
Clear semantics are crucial here. Standards such as ECLASS allow companies to uniformly describe and exchange product information across company and system boundaries. This enables companies to establish initial DPP structures early on and gain valuable experience for the later rollout.
Since relevant information is often stored in a decentralized manner or across different systems, companies should analyze their data assets, coordinate internal processes, and involve suppliers early on. The Digital Product Passport requires a shared data foundation across various business units and is not purely an IT task.
The full interview emphasizes the potential pitfalls that could delay the implementation of the DPP and illustrates how a structured data strategy can ensure a successful rollout.
Please note that the full interview is available in German only.
