Do not start with the QR code
A Digital Product Passport starts with product identity and data governance. The carrier is only the doorway. A useful implementation separates the legal minimum from evidence, operational data and the consumer experience.
Six data domains to structure now
- Identity: product identifier, GTIN where available, SKU, model, batch or serial and responsible economic operator.
- Product: name, category, description, images and market status.
- Materials: fibre composition, recycled content, substances and supporting evidence.
- Supply chain: countries, facilities, suppliers and tier relationships with source dates.
- Compliance: declarations, test reports, certificates, restrictions and applicable markets.
- Circularity: care, repair, durability, recyclability and end-of-life instructions.
Design for access rights
Not every field should be public. Build explicit audiences: consumer, business partner, recycler, market-surveillance authority and internal operator. Store the same fact once, then expose it according to purpose and permission.
Data quality rules that matter
Each material and compliance statement should have an owner, source, effective date and review status. Avoid free-text duplicates, unknown units and claims without evidence. A completeness percentage is useful only when it is calculated against the requirements applicable to that product and market.