Insights from CircularTech Forum in Cologne - The Global Community on Digital Product Passports
- Yvo Hunink de Paiva
- Sep 23, 2025
- 4 min read
On September 22nd I was in Germany to participate in the CircularTech Forum event, the event for the global community around Digital Product Passports (DPPs).
Apart from connecting with many interesting people, I walked away with a number of interesting insights. Let me share them with you.
1 - As much as 90% of products on the European market might require DPPs in the future.
The product groups that receive most attention in the realm of DPPs are batteries and those mentioned in the ESPR Working Plan. However, separate regulations around toys, construction materials, plastic packaging, critical raw materials, detergents and vehicles also refer to DPPs as a tool for reporting compliance. Moreover the European Commission in its Single Market Strategy mentions DPPs as the envisioned tool for all product related compliance reporting in the future and also refers to DPPs in the 'Omnibus IV' as a tool for simplifying adhering to market regulations. These insights have led Maximilian Weinhold from Siemens to mention during one of the panels that it is expected that 90% of all products in the EU will be required to use a DPP in the future.
2 - Design DPP value propositions on the level of separate datapoints
During the same panel, Tilmann Vahle from Quantis, who has been one of the drivers behind the Battery Passport ecosystem, mentioned that each datapoint in the DPP should have its own value proposition. Designing like this prevents data-overload and keeps the DPP as small and manageable as possible. It also makes it easier to organize your ecosystem, even within organizations, as it allows you to bring together only the essential value chain for a single datapoint rather than all stakeholders at the same time. One point of critique on that view, however, is that it can not always be determined upfront by the core stakeholders in the design process what the value of a potential datapoint is. For example, consumer organizations might decide to research a specific element of a product value chain due to new insights in the future. So in some cases including more datapoints could still be valuable. Still this approach makes the design and implementation of DPPs more resource effective.
3 - Being early is a superpower
Perhaps the most obvious lesson, yet so frequently mentioned it cannot be missed in this overview, is to not wait on regulations and standards to start working on DPPs. This specific point was stressed by Franz Geyer from BMW Group, Dónal O'Regan from Fujitsu/CIRPASS-2, Sven Dahlmeier from Capgemini/Catena-x and Alexander König from GS1 Germany. You can improve your data maturity, even before knowing all the specific datapoints or technical standards that should be used for presenting information in the required format. Most difficulties come from digitizing supply chains that are still heavily paper based and bringing this to the next level will help you become DPP-ready. Furthermore, the broad categories of datapoint are already known and it is not rocket-science that emissions per product, or percentages of recycled materials or instructions for repair and recycling will be required information for every product group for which delegated acts are expected.
4. Invest in DPP readiness of SMEs in your own supply chain
Up until now, I have mostly advised SMEs to get ready for DPPs themselves. Gideon Schwich of the recycling company Cylib, however, urged large companies that are building DPPs to also invest in their own suppliers to become ready. Franz Geyer of BMW group even went so far as to say that for SMEs who do not comply with information requirements, it could mean their 'death sentence', which is why they are indeed helping them to be compliant, because it makes them be compliant. Dr. Lei Pi of Shenzhen Precise Testing Technology mentioned that for SMEs in China, the whole DPP space is a complete black box, but the Chinese government has had a long term strategy to provide them with a Chinese framework for DPP implementation and compliance with Europe's standards, which ironically could lead to the Chinese market being DPP-ready before European companies.
5. Practical business cases already exist
A significant reduction in the printing of manuals and other documents can be achieved through digital access, which not only saves costs but also reduces environmental impact. At the same time, sales of spare parts are stimulated through repair activities, creating new revenue streams. Moreover, step-by-step guides for repairers can be generated by AI based on protected design information, further enabling accessible and effective repair practices, without compromising on revealing the 'secret sauce' of product designs. For recyclers, there is also an increase in revenues from sales supported by verifiable recycling proof, as highlighted by Gideon Schwich of Cylib and referred to by Martin Mitev from T-Systems as data-driven urban mining. Finally, better access to product information can contribute to a reduction of fire incidents at recycling stations, with a striking example having occurred just two days ago in the UK.
Other insights
There is no clarity yet about possible consequences of non-compliance for products produced inside of the EU, such as potential fines. For non-compliant products outside of the EU it will likely result in a refusal at the border.
Some key infrastructure at the EU level is not in place yet, such as the carbon footprint delegated act for electric vehicle batteries, the DPP registry and the webportal.
If the carbon footprint calculation methodology for electric vehicle batteries is required to be captured in law, potentially other products will require the same
The DPP standardization with CEN/CENELEC JTC24 is nearing completion, expected for december 2025.
'Panic has never resulted in good innovation', Hans-Christian Eberl from the European Commission on why the strategic focus of Europe focuses on autonomy and competitiveness instead of climate change prevention.
The DPP excellence awards were won by Madaster, Circulor, Narravero and Path.Era.
What next for the Global Community on Digital Product Passports?
Now that this year's event is over, it is time to look forward. Regen Studio will commit itself to help the community forward. Maybe by bringing the community to The Netherlands or Brazil. Stay tuned for updates by following us.
Founder Regen Studio
"CircularTech Forum lets the DPP community come together. With strong contribution from the European Comission, the German Governments, DPP service providers and DPP adopters."
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