More and more organisations are preparing for Digital Product Passports (DPPs). But how do we ensure that standards are put in place for data exchange so that interoperability can ultimately be achieved? We spoke with Jan Merckx (Sustainability Lead at GS1 Netherlands) and Sjoerd Rongen (Digital Product Passports Lead at TNO), both working for the Centre of Excellence for Digital Product Passports.
GS1 Netherlands and the power of standardisation
GS1 Netherlands is the national branch of GS1, a neutral, non-profit standardisation organisation that operates worldwide. The organisation helps companies make product data accessible and share it throughout supply chains in order to do business efficiently and in a future-proof manner. The aim is to provide access to reliable data for every product with a single scan.
More than 50 years ago, GS1 developed the standard for identifying products: a unique identifier integrated into a barcode with a unique identifier (GTIN/EAN). The goal was to improve the checkout process in supermarkets. This barcode will transform into a QR Code powered by GS1 and the possibilities are endless. Jan says: “The identifier in the barcode has developed further into an entire architecture in which data can be exchanged in a standardized way. Standards form the architecture needed to share data securely and efficiently in an automated way. We develop standards that are driven by the industry. In addition, GS1 operates globally through national member organisations, which determine their own sectoral focus – from automotive to fashion.”
Standardisation is essential for circularity
A DPP provides all stakeholders who interact with a product with the appropriate information on how to ensure a maximum lifetime of the product and how to maximise the residual value of the product at the end of its life. This information must be provided by various parties. Standardisation of data sharing is essential for the successful implementation of DPPs and for the circular economy, according to Sjoerd: “You want a system that can collaborate across sectors, organisations, and countries. That’s why we need standards. GS1 is one of the few organisations with a track record of developing, maintaining, and getting standards adopted on a large scale.”
The transformation we are currently undergoing is that product information must be managed in a circular world. A Digital Product Passport is essential in this regard, according to Jan. “There is a lot of machine-to-machine communication, so we need to make the information in a DPP interchangeable and interoperable. Moreover, technology is evolving, so standards must also be continuously adapted to align with existing technology. An example of such a changing technology is the transition from barcodes to QR codes. This requires new standards so that equipment can recognise the information correctly. So that all technology suppliers – such as companies that supply scanners and cameras – can use that standard in their technology. Above the hood, it seems very simple, but under the hood, it’s complex.”
Standards to secure interoperability for DPPs
Are there already standards that contribute to the interoperability of DPPs? “The European Commission has issued a call for standards for DPPs. CEN/CENELEC, the European Committee for Standardisation and an association that unites the national standardisation bodies of 34 European countries, has defined eight standards for a DPP architecture,” says Jan. “The final standards will be published on March 31, 2026. This starts with: how are we going to identify products, what unique product code are we going to use? And what carrier are we going to use (a QR code, RFID – radio-frequency identification like RAIN and NFC – or possibly others)? Then, the information from that QR code has to end up in the data capture device (e.g. a scanner) and from that device into applications. And applications must communicate with other applications without major integration to be done. This seems simple, but we need scanning equipment and applications that can be used for data carriers on various products, allowing us to access data in the same way regardless of product or product category. We need to make agreements about all these different layers: those eight standards.”
Too many different standards prevent progress
Jan says that the European Commission monitors the standardisation process, because it is not in Europe’s interest if the system is too complex. But there are many interest groups involved who want to maintain their way of working. This does make it complex. “If you say that the barcode on a product must be changed with a certain encryption by tomorrow, you will encounter a lot of resistance from the market. It is essential to reach consensus. And that is possible, because everyone can participate in the standardisation process.”
But before that happens, consensus must first be reached in Europe on which standard will be leading, Jan says: “CEN/CENELEC ensures that there are standards for products that come onto the market in Europe. Europe would also like to see this at the international (ISO) level. It would be fantastic if this were possible, but there are already two working groups that want to set up standards for the DPP at the international level.” Jan also sees that individual solution providers are already developing their own solutions, even though there are no standards yet. But without interoperability, those solutions will never reach their full potential. Jan says: “You can easily switch energy suppliers or phone plans from one day to the next. Ultimately, this should also be possible with a DPP, and a DPP provider. Europe also wants to achieve this interoperability, and even requires some of this through legislation. But that is difficult, because solution providers have invested a lot of money in bringing a solution to market. Which creates an incentive to make it difficult for their customers to switch to a competing DPP service provider. We often hear: ‘We have the solution’. But then we have to say: ‘The standards aren’t there yet, how could you have a legally compliant solution?’ We have a car, but the roads aren’t there yet. I think that’s the biggest challenge.”
According to Sjoerd, it is important that the standards developed in the EU are adopted by the market and that they are adapted or expanded if necessary. “Many different value chains and parties need to start working on this and implement it seriously. We need to invest in pilots so that the paper standard quickly becomes a reality.” Jan adds: “The project is very ambitious, we shouldn’t forget that. And the standardisation process itself has already been accelerated. Normal standard development takes at least three years, and the EU has given us a year and a half.”
New Legislative Framework (NLF) as external encouragement
In addition to reaching consensus on standards and getting parties to set up pilots, legislation can also stimulate interoperability. Sjoerd says: “The European Parliament recently approved an update to the New Legislative Framework (NLF). DPPs will gradually become mandatory for all products. This and other legislation is a huge driving force. Where legislation is in place, companies are speeding up. Where legislation is still a long way off, progress is slower. In most sectors, there are fortunately at least a few parties that want to be frontrunners – they see that circularity can add business value.”
According to Jan, this work on DPPs is a flagship project for Europe to achieve interoperability. Working on this means that you are making your systems future-proof in the right way, also to comply with other legislation. Jan compares it to a package insert for medicines, an essential document in the medical world. The DPP is the equivalent for circular business models. It is a manual for your product to ensure it lasts as long as possible and, when it reaches the end of its life, to reuse it as effectively as possible. “Those who invest in DPPs now are making their systems future-proof and circular.”
The collaboration between GS1 and CoE-DPP
GS1 Netherlands and CoE-DPP recently announced a new collaboration. Sjoerd explains: “We are working together because it is useful for companies to have a single point of contact for DPPs and standards. We keep each other informed of what is going on and look at how we can help each other in this regard. Ultimately, we want to build a single ecosystem.” Jan adds: “We are bringing together two organisations that have tremendous expertise in data sharing. By combining our expertise, we are creating a single reliable source for DPP information in the Netherlands.”
Would you like more information about DPPs? Take a look at the presentations given by experts during our DPP Festival on 9 October in The Hague or visit our knowledge base.
