“Although DPP is presented as a sustainability initiative, its impact will extend beyond sustainability teams. More efficient remanufacturing, second-life applications and improved recycling are among its expected benefits, but delivering these outcomes will require input from across the business.” Kaja Flottorp, Sustainability Specialist, Sandvik Coromant
With the European Union (EU) preparing to roll out its Digital Product Passport (DPP), manufacturers across industry are facing both a regulatory challenge and a transformative opportunity. While much of the detail around how DPP will work in practice remains unknown, its potential reaches far beyond a sustainability initiative and will unlock value across multiple business areas. Here, Kaja Flottorp, sustainability specialist at metal cutting and manufacturing solutions provider Sandvik Coromant, explores what we know so far.
Introduced under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), the DPP is expected to be a structured digital record providing lifecycle data for products in a standardized format. This could include information on material composition, carbon footprint, repairability and end-of-life instructions.
Some organizations have already developed their own form of DPP. Within Sandvik Group, work on Sandvik’s battery passport began in 2023 in its mining business area, initially creating a minimum viable product. The initiative has since progressed from establishing the underlying system architecture to developing a scalable solution designed to support all Sandvik divisions.
The work also provides a foundation for wider DPP deployment. End-to-end material traceability can support responsible sourcing of critical raw materials and improve carbon footprint reporting. Greater access to information such as battery health, composition and handling requirements can support second-life applications and recycling. For Sandvik, the initiative represents both a compliance measure and an opportunity to improve transparency and develop more circular business models.
“Iron and steel are being prioritized because of their environmental impact and importance to industrial supply chains, while initial requirements are expected to focus on energy efficiency and material transparency.”
What manufacturers need to know
There is still no confirmed or finalized schedule for DPP implementation, although indicative timelines are emerging. Iron and steel have been identified as priority categories under the EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation and are likely to be among the first to receive detailed rules.
Current guidance indicates that delegated acts for iron and steel could be introduced from 2026, with compliance potentially following from 2027. For steel, proposal documentation identifies likely data categories including product and producer identification, material composition and technical data, environmental and circularity information, and details of any substance of concern. However, these proposals remain subject to further refinement.
The wider trajectory is clearer. Iron and steel are being prioritized because of their environmental impact and importance to industrial supply chains, while initial requirements are expected to focus on energy efficiency and material transparency. Rather than basing plans on fixed dates, manufacturers should understand what data they already hold, how it could be structured and where gaps exist.
“DPP is therefore more than a standalone initiative. It represents a change in how product data is managed, governed and used across an organization. Businesses that bring these functions together now will be better prepared as the regulatory picture becomes clearer.”
Why DPP is bigger than compliance
Although DPP is presented as a sustainability initiative, its impact will extend beyond sustainability teams. More efficient remanufacturing, second-life applications and improved recycling are among its expected benefits, but delivering these outcomes will require input from across the business.
Compliance teams will need to establish what data must be provided and what information can and should be made publicly available. IT teams will need to determine whether existing systems can handle its structuring, storage and exchange. Operations and products teams will be responsible for capturing accurate, consistent data at source, while procurement may need to work more closely with suppliers to improve upstream transparency.
DPP is therefore more than a standalone initiative. It represents a change in how product data is managed, governed and used across an organization. Businesses that bring these functions together now will be better prepared as the regulatory picture becomes clearer.
Sandvik Coromant is already supporting manufacturers through its participation in the Digital Metal Value Chain collaboration, coordinated by industrial research institute Swerim. Working with partners across the steel value chain, the initiative is examining how data including material composition, environmental performance and chain of custody can be structured, shared and used in practice.
As an early mover, the focus is on putting this into practice rather than waiting for final regulation. Real-world use cases are being tested, data gaps identified and existing product data explored as a source of business value through practical projects.
The EU’s DPP initiative will change how manufacturers design, document and deliver products. While the finer details are still being developed, manufacturers can already consider what greater traceability will mean for supply chains and how it can become part of everyday operations. Building those foundations now will help businesses move beyond reactive compliance towards proactive value creation.
Learn more about Sandvik Coromant’s approach to sustainable manufacturing by visiting sandvikcoromant.com/sustainable-business.
