British exporters risk losing up to £1.5 million annually if they fail to comply with the EU’s incoming Digital Product Passport (DPP) rules. With the first delegated acts expected in late 2025, the countdown has already started. The question isn’t if your products will need a passport - it’s when.

What’s Changing

The EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) is the legislative anchor for DPPs. It will define mandatory data requirements across product groups and enforce them throughout the product lifecycle.

• First movers: Textiles, furniture, aluminium, and energy-related products are first in scope but tech and electronics are already flagged for early audits.

• NFC gains traction: While QR codes remain practical, NFC-based DPPs are gaining attention for durability, offline access, and cryptographic security.

• Sector expansion: Even the toy industry is preparing for DPP integration, with plans to replace traditional declarations with scannable, digital passports.

  
  

Risks for Manufacturers

Failing to act on DPP now brings real consequences:

• Lost trade: GS1 UK warns exporters could face blocked shipments and lost revenue if requirements aren’t met.

• Competitive lag: EU manufacturers benefit from pilots and funding, while UK exporters risk falling behind.

• Insurance & compliance: Without embedded DPPs, proving sustainability and ownership data becomes harder, limiting market access.

  
  

Opportunities for Early Movers

But this isn’t just about risk — it’s about advantage:

• Operational efficiency: Research suggests richer product data can cut logistics and compliance costs by ~15%.

• Consumer trust: Transparency on product origin, lifecycle, and recyclability builds stronger buyer confidence.

• Future-proofing: Early adoption means smoother integration across all sectors as regulations expand.

  
  

The Action for Manufacturers

Don’t wait for enforcement. Start preparing now.

Practical steps include:

1. Pilot DPPs today - begin with scannable QR or NFC codes on key products.

2. Map supply chain data flows to ensure upstream and downstream traceability.

3. Adopt interoperable standards such as GS1 frameworks for long-term compatibility.

4. Embed DPP capability now to avoid costly retrofits once regulations hit.

   
   

How TAZAAR Helps

TAZAAR’s AssetID makes it easy for manufacturers to meet and stay ahead of compliance:

• QR/NFC scannable access to product data

• Lifecycle logging for registration, repairs, and servicing

• EU-compliant framework designed for ESPR

• Optional GeoTag integration for location-based asset management

With AssetID, your products are ready for the future of compliance, logistics, and customer engagement.

Manufacturers who act now will lead the market. Those who delay risk being locked out.

👉 Get ahead of compliance. Talk to TAZAAR today about piloting Digital Product Passports with AssetID.