Digital Product Passport
EU product traceability regulations mandate that businesses can track products forward and backward through the supply chain at all stages of production, processing, and distribution, with specific rules for food, feed, tobacco, and products linked to deforestation such as timber. These regulations, rooted in Article 18 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002, require operators to identify suppliers and customers and provide information to authorities upon demand, ensuring product authenticity, and compliance with various environmental and safety goals.
Business Impact for Timber Product Manufacturers
For the timber industry the primary regulation is the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) (Regulation (EU) No 995/2010), which prohibits placing illegally harvested timber on the EU market and requires “operators” (those first placing timber on the market) to implement a Due Diligence System (DDS) to assess and minimize risks of illegal timber. “Traders” (those buying and selling timber already on the EU market) must maintain records for five years to ensure traceability. The regulation applies to a wide range of timber and timber products, both from EU countries and imports, and is part of the broader EU Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan.
Key Principles
Digital Product Passports
Digital Product Passports (DPPs) is a set of data ready to transform how we think about product data, traceability, and sustainability. As part of the EU Green Deal, they will soon become a requirement in sectors such as textiles, batteries, construction, electronics and consumer food (mandatory for these specific product categories, requiring detailed product data, beginning in 2026).
But what are Digital Product Passports and why should they matter to the industries that design, manufacture and retail timber products?
1. What is a Digital Product Passport?
A Digital Product Passport is a digital record, mostly stored in a cloud-based database, storing information related to product location, status and ownership throughout the entire lifecycle of a products, related to a product’s materials and environmental footprint. Each product’s passport is linked to a physical identifier – often through a physical data carrier like a QR code or RFID tag – and follows the product through the value chain. The goal is to support repair, reuse, recycling and responsible sourcing – enabling more circular and transparent supply chains.
2. What kind of data is included?
Each Digital Product Passport contains sector-specific data. Depending on the product type, this does include amongst others:
Each DPP is a historical collection of data related to an individual product. This collective data is securely stored, organised and easily accessed across physical borders.
3. How is this information made available?
The DPP is accessed via a physical data carrier, such as:
Technologies like RAIN RFID tags are ideal for industrial and high-volume environments, where accurate and automated data capture is essential.
4. Is DPP only about compliance?
No. While compliance is a driver, DPPs also open up new business opportunities. They enable:
In short: the DPP is both a regulatory requirement and a strategic value enabler.
Is your Business Ready?
The regulation is already in place. The first specific rules for each sector will be published starting in 2025, and full enforcement is expected between 2027 and 2028, depending on the product group. Now is the time to get ready. Companies that understand the data requirements and start using future-proof identification technologies will be better prepared to comply and to stay resilient ahead.
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