The Digital Product Passport for Footwear is the digital identity of the product introduced by the European regulation Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). It allows companies to collect, manage and share structured product data throughout the entire life cycle of a shoe. In fact, through a QR Code or an NFC tag applied to the shoe, companies, authorities and consumers can access structured information about the product throughout its entire life cycle. This is made possible through different levels of access that protect company know-how.
The digital passport collects data related to materials, composition, production, durability and end of life, with the aim of increasing supply chain transparency, supporting the circular economy and facilitating regulatory compliance within the European market. Therefore, for companies in the footwear sector the Digital Product Passport for footwear represents not only a new regulatory obligation but also a strategic tool to enhance the product and improve data management along the supply chain. Companies that begin structuring this information today will be able to face future European requirements more easily.
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Estimated reading time: 10 minutes
Index
- What is the Digital Product Passport for Footwear
- The Regulation on the DPP for footwear
- What Data the Digital Product Passport for Footwear Will Contain
- Benefits of the Digital Product Passport for Companies
- EZ Lab’s Solution for the Digital Product Passport for Footwear
- Who Has Spoken About EZ Lab’s Digital Product Passport for Footwear
- Why Blockchain for the Digital Product Passport
- Our Expertise for Your Digital Product Passport for Footwear
- We create your Digital Product Passport for footwear
- FAQ
What is the Digital Product Passport for Footwear
The Digital Product Passport for footwear is a digital page physically linked to the product through a QR Code or NFC tag, which allows structured information related to the life cycle of the shoe to be consulted. This tool is going to be fundamental to manage the information of products placed on the EU market, making possible for each product to have a unique and accessible digital identity containing data related to:
- origin of raw materials
- material composition
- production processes
- durability and repairability
- recyclability and end of life
- regulatory compliance
- technical product information
The Regulation on the DPP for footwear
The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation establishes the new European regulatory framework for the eco-design of products and introduces the Digital Product Passport as a tool for transparency and traceability. In particular, the objective of the regulation is to improve product sustainability throughout the entire life cycle. Among the main requirements introduced by the regulation are:
- greater efficiency in the use of resources and materials
- increased product durability and repairability
- promotion of reuse and recycling
- limitation of the destruction of unsold products
- reduction of the environmental impact of the production supply chain
- digital access to product information through the Digital Product Passport
For the footwear sector, the specific technical requirements will be defined in the upcoming delegated acts of the European Commission.
What Data the Digital Product Passport for Footwear Will Contain
The Digital Product Passport for footwear will contain structured data related to the technical characteristics and the production supply chain of the product. Among the main information that may be included:
| Information | Content |
|---|---|
| Materials | composition and origin of raw materials |
| Production | information related to production processes |
| Durability | product’s durability and repairability |
| End of life cycle | instructions on recycling and recovery |
| Compliance | data related to the EU Regulation |
The availability of this information allows companies to manage product data more efficiently and facilitates the control activities of market authorities.
Benefits of the Digital Product Passport for Companies
The implementation of the Digital Product Passport for footwear offers several operational and strategic benefits for companies in the sector. Among the main advantages:
- greater transparency of the production supply chain
- structured management of product data
- facilitation of European regulatory compliance
- enhancement of the product through verifiable information
- improved management of product end of life
The digital passport also allows companies to systematically collect and organise supply chain data, making the management of information more efficient throughout the entire product life cycle. As a consequence, the DPP is a strategic tool for facilitating compliance with regulations such as REACH, GPSR, EPR, end of life regulations, CSRD and the Supply Chain Act.
EZ Lab’s Solution for the Digital Product Passport for Footwear
EZ Lab supports companies in the development and implementation of the Digital Product Passport for footwear by integrating regulatory expertise, software development and the physical support applied to the product. The proprietary Made in Block platform integrates technologies such as blockchain and artificial intelligence to manage supply chain data in a secure and structured way. Through this solution companies can:
- collect data throughout the entire supply chain
- build the digital identity of the product
- make information accessible through QR Code or NFC tag
- manage differentiated permissions for stakeholders and partners
EZ Lab has already developed more than 300 projects and enabled more than 200 million products, supporting companies from different sectors in adopting digital solutions for supply chain and product data management.
Who Has Spoken About EZ Lab’s Digital Product Passport for Footwear
Craftsmanship and innovation, a possible combination thanks to the ballet shoe designed with AI.
Blockchain e sostenibilità: la tracciabilità delle calzature aumenta l’accettazione di prodotti green. Article available in Italian.
Il potenziale della blockchain per le calzature di lusso tra autenticità e sostenibilità. Article available in Italian.
Why Blockchain for the Digital Product Passport
Blockchain allows supply chain data to be recorded and stored in a distributed, immutable and verifiable digital register. In this way, companies can reliably demonstrate the origin of materials, production processes and technical information associated with the product.
In the context of the Digital Product Passport for footwear, blockchain ensures that the data included in the digital passport cannot be modified or altered over time, increasing supply chain transparency and the reliability of the shared information. Furthermore, through the integration between the software platform and the physical support applied to the product, such as QR Code or NFC tag on the shoe, it is possible to connect each product to its digital identity and make passport data accessible in a simple and secure way. For footwear companies this means being able to manage supply chain data in a structured way, demonstrate regulatory compliance and enhance product information throughout the entire life cycle.
Our Expertise for Your Digital Product Passport for Footwear
EZ Lab is not just a supplier. It is the technology partner you need, ready to support you in the evolution of regulations and in your marketing strategy with continuous assistance and support. Through an internal multidisciplinary team we can develop the Digital Product Passport for footwear. Today we count more than 200 million products traced on blockchain and more than 250 success stories developed in line with regulatory objectives.
Legal
The European regulatory landscape is changing rapidly. For this reason our legal experts will constantly support you in regulatory compliance.
Technical/IT
We automatically collect supply chain data, even from multiple suppliers, and customize the Made in Block platform according to your needs.
Marketing
The obligation to provide adequate information represents an opportunity to establish new relationships with your customer and to enhance transparent communication.
Project Management
A single point of contact coordinates the activities of the various teams to guide you through the creation and updating process of the Digital Product Passport for footwear.
We create your Digital Product Passport for footwear
Call us or request a consultation to learn more.
FAQ
Is the Digital Product Passport for footwear already mandatory?
The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) framework regulation entered into force in 2024 and introduces the Digital Product Passport for footwear as a tool to improve transparency and product data management within the European market. However, the specific technical requirements for the footwear sector will be defined through upcoming delegated acts of the European Commission. For this reason it is advisable for companies to begin preparing today by mapping their supply chain and structuring the data necessary to create the Digital Product Passport for footwear.
What does the Digital Product Passport for footwear have to contain?
The Digital Product Passport for footwear will contain structured data related to the technical characteristics of the product and the production supply chain. Among the main information that may be included are the composition of materials, the origin of raw materials, production processes, product durability and repairability, recycling and end of life indications, as well as data related to regulatory compliance.
Does the Digital Product Passport concern only environmental aspects?
No. The Digital Product Passport is not limited to environmental aspects. The digital passport also includes information related to product safety, material composition, supply chain traceability and regulatory compliance, helping improve the management of the entire product life cycle.
Does the Digital Product Passport for footwear also apply to products already placed on the market?
In general, the obligations defined by the delegated acts will apply to products placed on the market after the entry into force of the specific requirements for that product category. Products already commercialised may not be retroactively involved, unless otherwise specified in future regulatory provisions.
What is the risk for footwear companies that do not comply with the Digital Product Passport for footwear?
Failure to comply with the requirements defined by the delegated acts may result in limitations on placing products on the European market, product recalls or sanctions by market surveillance authorities. Preparing in advance allows companies to reduce risks and manage the regulatory transition more efficiently.
Will the Digital Product Passport for footwear also be accessible to end consumers?
Yes. The Digital Product Passport for footwear may be accessed through a QR code or an NFC tag applied to the shoe. By scanning the code it will be possible to access the digital product page containing the information of the digital passport, improving transparency and trust between the company and the consumer.
How can companies prepare for the Digital Product Passport for footwear?
Companies can begin by mapping their supply chain, collecting technical product data and structuring the information required for the Digital Product Passport for footwear. It is also useful to evaluate solutions that integrate software platforms and physical supports such as QR codes or NFC tags in order to build the digital identity of the product in a scalable and compliant way with European regulation.