The Spanish Plastics Technology Centre, Aimplas, has developed a demonstrator that simulates the use of Digital Product Passports (DPPs) for plastic products.
The interactive screen allows users to scan Quick Response (QR) codes and labels, displaying the product information on the corresponding DPP.
The European Union's Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), which entered into force in July 2024, requires products placed on the EU market to carry an individual information passport. DPPs provide comprehensive information a product’s origin, materials, environmental impact, and disposal recommendations. It is designed to close the gap between consumer demands for transparency and the current lack of reliable product data.
The ESPR is expected to start applying sometime in 2027. The European Commission plans to adopt the first ESPR working plan by April 2025, which outlines the product groups to be prioritised in the coming years. The Comission has identified 11 final products as priorities for implementation: textiles and footwear, furniture, tyres, bed mattresses, detergents, paints and varnishes, lubricants, cosmetics, toys, fishing gear, and absorbent hygiene products. Plastics are amongst the seven intermediate products also identified as priorities: iron and steel, basic chemicals, non-ferrous metal products other than aluminium, aluminium, plastic and polymers, pulp and paper, glass. Additionally, three horizontal requirements will be considered: durability, recyclability, recycled content.
Aimplas is now demonstrating how DPPs will work for plastic products like supermarket ice cream packaging, reusable cosmetic packaging, a recycled plastic pencil holder, and a plastic toy house.
Whilst the ESPR does not set ecodesign requirements for plastic packaging in itself – these as covered by the PPWR – it establishes product-specific standards that focus on the packaging of certain products.
A range of data availability requirements is expected pertaining, amongst other things, to product and product packaging weight and volume, durability, reusability, repairability, the presence of substances inhibiting circularity, energy and resource efficiency, recycled content, remanufacturing, waste generation, resource use, microplastic release, and carbon footprints.
With its demonstrator, Aimplas aims to raise awareness amongst industry and consumers about the importance of having verified and accessible information that promotes more responsible and circular consumption.
Aimplas developed the demonstrator with the support of the Valencian Institute of Business Competitiveness and Innovation (IVACE+i) with funds from the Generalitat Valenciana.
ITC Packaging and Famosa provided relevant information from the technical sheets of the ice cream packaging and the toy house.