Regulation
ESPR, the digital product passport framework
The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 is the legal framework under which the Digital Product Passport is introduced across most physical goods placed on the EU single market. It replaced the 2009 Ecodesign Directive and entered into force on 18 July 2024.
In forceApplies from 18 July 2024 (framework), sector obligations phase in by delegated actScope
ESPR applies to nearly all physical goods sold in the EU, with the exception of food, feed, medicinal products, living organisms, and products covered by other dedicated regimes.
The 2025 to 2030 working plan
On 15 April 2025 the Commission adopted the first ESPR working plan, covering 2025 to 2030. It identifies the first wave of priority products that will receive Ecodesign requirements, and therefore a DPP, through delegated acts.
Priority product groups:
- Final products:textiles (apparel focus), furniture, tyres, mattresses.
- Intermediate products:iron and steel, aluminium.
- Energy-related products: washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers, televisions, small electronics.
- Horizontal measures: rules on repairability and on the destruction of unsold products.
Not in the first plan (but under study for later inclusion): chemicals (study concluded end of 2025) and footwear (study by end of 2027). Sector-specific regulations cover batteries, construction products, toys and detergents separately.
How obligations become concrete
ESPR is a framework. Concrete obligations, which data points, which carrier, which deadlines, are set per product group through delegated acts adopted by the Commission after an impact assessment and public consultation. The first formal delegated acts are expected in early 2027.
The EU Central DPP Registry
Article 13 of the ESPR requires the Commission to set up a central Digital Product Passport registry by 19 July 2026, 24 months after the regulation entered into force. This is a Commission infrastructure deadline, not a business compliance deadline.
The registry is an index, not a data store. It does not hold passport content. Given a product identifier resolved through a data carrier (typically a GS1 Digital Link URL), it points to where the passport data is hosted by the manufacturer or its appointed DPP service provider. Once the registry is operational, economic operators register each passport with it; the first sector to carry a registration obligation is batteries, from 18 February 2027.
Key instruments introduced
- Digital Product Passport (DPP), structured, machine-readable product data accessible via a data carrier.
- Performance and information requirements, minimum thresholds on durability, reparability, energy use, recycled content.
- Destruction of unsold goods, ban on destroying unsold textiles and footwear; applies to large companies from 19 July 2026 and to medium-sized companies from 19 July 2030.
- Green public procurement, mandatory requirements for public buyers in covered categories.
Primary sources
- Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 on EUR-Lex.
- ESPR implementation hub (European Commission).
Frequently asked questions
What is the ESPR?
The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 is the EU framework under which the Digital Product Passport is introduced across most physical goods placed on the EU single market. It replaced the 2009 Ecodesign Directive and entered into force on 18 July 2024.
Does the ESPR itself make the Digital Product Passport mandatory?
No. The ESPR is a framework regulation. Concrete DPP obligations — which data points, which carrier and which deadlines — are set per product group through delegated acts adopted by the Commission after an impact assessment and public consultation. The first formal delegated acts are expected in early 2027.
Which products does the ESPR cover?
ESPR applies to nearly all physical goods sold in the EU, except food, feed, medicinal products, living organisms, and products already covered by other dedicated regimes.
When will the EU Digital Product Passport registry be available?
Article 13 of the ESPR requires the Commission to set up a central Digital Product Passport registry by 19 July 2026, 24 months after the regulation entered into force. This is a Commission infrastructure deadline, not a business compliance deadline.
Which product groups are prioritised first?
The 2025–2030 ESPR working plan (adopted 15 April 2025) prioritises final products such as textiles, furniture, tyres and mattresses, and intermediate products iron & steel and aluminium. Batteries, construction products, toys and detergents are regulated under their own separate rules.