Demystifying digital product passports: The simple way to prepare for sustainability compliance

How ready is your organization for the next wave of EU sustainability regulation? If you sell products in the European Union, you've likely heard the buzz around digital product passports (DPPs). Maybe your legal team has flagged them, or your sustainability lead is still trying to wrap their head around the requirements. Either way, it's clear: DPPs are coming—and soon. They’re not just a nice-to-have; they’re becoming a non-negotiable component of compliance.

The challenge is, building DPPs from scratch can be overwhelming. Between evolving regulatory demands and complex data requirements, most teams simply don’t have the in-house expertise or tools to get started confidently.

The pressure is building: Why DPPs are no longer optional

Under the European Union’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), digital product passports will become mandatory across a wide range of sectors in the coming years, beginning with textiles, electronics, batteries, and construction materials. According to the European Commission, the goal is to make sustainable products the norm and empower consumers with transparent, verifiable information.

Each DPP will contain standardized data about a product’s materials, repairability, environmental impact, and more. It will be accessible via QR code and updated throughout the product lifecycle.

Only 24% of companies say they are ready for the upcoming sustainability reporting requirements. That’s no surprise, as creating DPPs means gathering data from across systems, aligning with complex EU frameworks, and ensuring seamless delivery across customer and compliance touchpoints.

Bridging the gap: How Productsup’s partnership with Protokol simplifies DPPs

The new Productsup–Protokol partnership enables global brands to generate digital product passports directly from their existing product data within the Productsup platform. Now, creating a DPP is as simple as adding relevant sustainability data and a new export channel to their existing setup for product content syndication, feed management, and ecommerce distribution.

See how the partnership works in 4 simple steps

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By combining Protokol’s blockchain-enabled DPP infrastructure with Productsup’s data agility and channel readiness, this partnership makes preparing for regulatory compliance more efficient, scalable, and aligned with your day-to-day operations.

Here’s how it helps:

• Out-of-the-box DPP export channel

Productsup now includes a dedicated DPP export feature powered by Protokol’s secure DPP framework. Companies can simply map their existing product attributes to standardized DPP fields and export structured outputs without needing to custom-build a system or manually interpret EU data schemas.

• No technical or regulatory knowledge required

Protokol’s backend handles the complex logic, formatting, and interoperability requirements of the DPP framework. On the frontend, Productsup simplifies the experience with a user-friendly interface and automation tools. Your product or ecommerce team can generate compliant outputs without needing to understand the intricacies of ESPR or other EU mandates.

• Runs in parallel with ecommerce workflows

Unlike standalone compliance tools, this DPP solution is fully integrated into the Productsup platform. That means no switching systems or disrupting product content operations. You can manage data feeds for Amazon, Zalando, or Google Shopping and simultaneously prepare DPPs using the same product data flow.

• Lower cost, faster delivery, easier scale

Traditional compliance solutions often require new infrastructure, third-party consultants, or legal oversight. With the Productsup–Protokol solution, your teams can launch and scale DPPs quickly, without outside help, reducing both time-to-market and internal resource strain, which is especially critical for brands juggling multiple product lines and markets.

Watch our on-demand webinar led by Productsup and Protokol experts on how to prepare for EU regulations with our DPP solution.

From regulation to differentiation: Why this matters for your brand

The pressure to comply with ESPR and other sustainability laws is real. But with the right tools, these new demands can actually enhance your brand positioning.

Digital product passports aren’t just a compliance box to tick—they’re a way to back up your sustainability story with real, verifiable product data. And that matters now more than ever.

Why? Because consumers and regulators alike are growing wary of unverified green claims. In an EU study, more than 50% of such claims are vague, misleading, or unsubstantiated.

By embedding reliable product information into your customer experience, you can:

• Lead in circularity and responsible sourcing
• Build trust with eco-conscious buyers
• Strengthen brand loyalty
• Stand out in crowded marketplaces

Compliance isn’t just about avoiding penalties. It’s about earning trust and credibility in a market that’s quickly redefining what “sustainable” really means.

So, where should you start?

Ask yourself:

• Are we currently collecting the data needed for DPPs?
• Do we have the tools to export DPPs in a compliant format?
• Is our messaging aligned with EU expectations for green claims?
• Can we do all this without hiring outside experts or adding headcount?

If any of those answers are “no” or “not sure,” you’re not alone. And that’s exactly why we built this partnership. At Productsup, we believe sustainability shouldn’t be overwhelming. It should be actionable.

Our partnership with Protokol is about helping brands like yours:

• Adapt quickly to regulatory change
• Maintain consistency across global channels
• Build trust with increasingly conscious consumers
• Streamline your product operations