If you manage lifting equipment, machinery, or any industrial assets in the UK or EU, there’s a new compliance requirement heading your way: Digital Product Passports (DPPs).
Starting in 2027, most products sold in the European Union will need a DPP. That includes batteries, textiles, iron and steel, construction materials, and yes, your lifting equipment and machinery.
Here’s what you need to know.
What Is a Digital Product Passport?
A Digital Product Passport is a digital record that tracks detailed information about a product throughout its entire lifecycle, from origin and materials to environmental impact and disposal recommendations.
Think of it as a complete history file for every asset you own or manage. But instead of filing cabinets full of paperwork, the DPP lives in the cloud and can be accessed instantly by scanning an RFID tag or QR code.
The EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) requires DPPs to document key information about a product’s lifecycle, material composition, sustainability, and compliance with EU regulations.
That means you’ll need to track:
- Product origin and manufacturer details
- Material composition and substances of concern
- Compliance documentation (declarations of conformity, test certificates)
- Inspection and maintenance history
- Repair and modification records
- Environmental impact data
- End-of-life disposal instructions
Why Is This Happening Now?
The EU is pushing hard toward a circular economy. It’s all about making products that last longer, get repaired instead of replaced, and can be recycled responsibly at end-of-life.
DPPs aim to reduce the environmental impact of consumer goods and encourage greater corporate accountability by offering transparency and traceability. Regulators want to close the gap between what companies claim about their products and what’s actually true.
For compliance-heavy industries like lifting, construction, and manufacturing, DPPs aren’t just about sustainability. They’re about proving you’ve done your job; that equipment has been inspected, maintained, and is safe to use.
What’s the Timeline?
The regulation is rolling out in phases:
- February 2027: Battery Passports become mandatory for all electric vehicle and industrial batteries over 2kWh
- Mid-2027: Textile and iron/steel products require compliant DPPs
- 2028-2030: Furniture, mattresses, and other high-impact product categories follow
If DPPs need to be implemented from 2027 to be live by 2030, it doesn’t leave much time to get a complete grip of each new product’s traceability.
If you’re managing lifting equipment under LOLER or machinery under PUWER, you need to start collecting data now. Gathering lifecycle information across suppliers, manufacturers, and service providers takes time.
What Does a DPP Need to Include?
The exact requirements vary by product type, but most DPPs will need:
- Unique product identifier: A scannable code (QR or RFID) linked to the digital record
- Compliance documentation: Declarations of conformity, test certificates, safety approvals
- Material data: Composition, substances of concern, recyclability
- Lifecycle history: Inspections, maintenance, repairs, modifications
- End-of-life guidance: How to safely dispose of or recycle the product
For lifting equipment and machinery, this overlaps heavily with what you’re already tracking under LOLER and PUWER. You’ve got thorough examination reports, test certificates, maintenance logs, and compliance documentation.
The DPP just extends that data across the product’s full lifecycle.
What Happens If You Don’t Comply?
Non-compliance with the DPP regulation means fines, products blocked from EU markets, and competitive disadvantage as early adopters pull ahead.
The timeline is tight. Data collection takes months. Supplier coordination takes longer. Starting now gives you time to build complete product histories before the deadline hits.
How CheckedOK Helps
If you’re already using CheckedOK for LOLER or PUWER inspections, you’re collecting most of the data DPPs require; thorough examination reports, test certificates, service logs, and repair history.
CheckedOK DPPs extend that data across the full product lifecycle using RFID tags or QR codes. Tap any smartphone for instant access to the complete asset history. No app downloads. No logins.
When regulators ask for proof of compliance, you’ve got a complete, auditable trail ready to go.
DPPs roll out free to all CheckedOK customers. Book a demo to see how it works.