Digital Product Passports (DPP) form part of the EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation. From 2027 the first wave of industries such as textiles, construction, electronics and batteries will need to attach a digital record to every item. This record must show where a product was made, which materials were used, what its environmental impact is and the journey it takes through the supply chain. By 2030 all other sectors will fall under the same rules. 

The aim is to boost transparency for regulators, businesses and consumers. It supports net zero goals by encouraging reuse and recycling and makes it easier to track a product from source to shelf. But the regulation is not optional. It is a legal requirement and without a compliant passport shipments will be stopped at the border.

Our latest research at GS1 UK shows only 16 per cent of UK exporters feel fully prepared.

Digital Product Passports may begin life as a compliance obligation but they also open the door to real business opportunity. In our New Era of Transparency report 94 per cent of UK firms told us transparency is critical to future success. Consumers agree. 81 per cent say that detailed product information influences their purchasing decisions and 60 per cent say they would trust a brand more if it offered verifiable sustainability data. 

By embracing passports early businesses can build stronger reputations and deepen customer loyalty. They can use passport data to demonstrate environmental credentials in every campaign and unlock circular economy models that support resale, repair and remanufacture. And within high value sectors passports act as a digital seal of authenticity to help combat counterfeit goods.

Loake Shoemakers, a fifth‑generation family business in Northamptonshire, has embraced Digital Product Passports by embedding QR codes powered by GS1 into each of its products. Faced with the EU’s forthcoming requirement for detailed digital records on origin, materials, sustainability credentials and care guidance, Loake partnered with Buyerdock to automate the process.

We know that many exporters face genuine hurdles as they work towards compliance. Our research reveals that data standardisation is the biggest concern, cited by 36 per cent of firms. Implementation costs worry 31 per cent and 28 per cent say integrating new requirements into existing systems is their greatest challenge. 

To help members through this transition we offer global product identifiers that guarantee consistent identification, data pool services to create accurate and shareable records and QR codes powered by GS1 to host passport information. Today 29 per cent of brands already use QR codes for product data and a further 53per cent are considering adoption to meet EU rules.

Many UK exporters cannot prepare for Digital Product Passports through their own efforts alone. Unlike their European counterparts, who have benefited from dedicated funding and technical support, UK firms have received no equivalent assistance to help them meet the detailed data‑management and reporting requirements. This lack of support leaves many businesses at risk of non‑compliance, with potential border holds, lost revenue and damaged customer trust. 

GS1 UK is therefore calling on government to provide practical assistance and clear guidance on DPP compliance. By working with industry to offer advice, share best practice and clarify technical expectations, we can help UK businesses build the foundations they need to succeed in the EU market and beyond.

Time is short but the path is clear. We recommend that every exporter begins by auditing product data against GS1 global standards to identify gaps. They should then form a dedicated team to drive readiness, pilot QR codes powered by GS1 on a key product line and engage GS1 UK for workshops, toolkits and expert support. 

Product data can become more than a compliance requirement. It can become a passport to growth, trust and sustainability.