Digital Product Passports – RFID Technology Poised to Drive Compliance and Supply Chain Efficiency
The European Union’s Digital Product Passport (DPP) initiative is set to become mandatory from 2027, initially targeting product groups including batteries, electronics, and textiles. The regulation is designed to enhance transparency across supply chains by requiring manufacturers, suppliers, and importers to provide detailed product data such as material composition, origin, carbon footprint, and recyclability.
For many companies, preparing for the DPP will mean significant changes to labeling, process management, and data availability. Technology providers such as Kathrein Solutions are stepping in to support industry with the tools needed to meet these new requirements.
RFID as the Backbone of the DPP
One of the key enablers for the Digital Product Passport is RFID technology, which provides each product with a secure and unique digital identity. RFID tagging allows fast, automated, and reliable access to data records—even under challenging conditions such as high throughput production environments, variable climates, or complex multi-tier supply chains.
By serving as the physical link between a product and its digital lifecycle information, RFID ensures that compliance data can be seamlessly shared and accessed at every stage, from manufacturing to recycling.
Turning Compliance into Competitive Advantage
While the introduction of the DPP will require companies to rethink labeling and traceability processes, it also presents an opportunity to realize broader operational efficiencies. RFID systems can support automated warehouse management, enhanced product traceability, and reduced error rates, enabling measurable cost savings and performance improvements across logistics and production networks.
Thus, investment in RFID is not only a step toward regulatory compliance, but also a driver of added value across the entire supply chain.
Kathrein Solutions provides a suite of proven RFID hardware components—including readers, antennas, and transponders – that are already deployed in industrial projects worldwide. To ensure seamless adoption, the company collaborates with strategic partners such as the RFID Konsortium, which specializes in data modeling, IT integration, and implementation strategies.
The consortium offers tailored consulting services and has developed a “DPP KickStart” package, enabling companies to pilot their first digital product passport implementation in as little as four months. This fast-track approach allows organizations to gain practical experience well before the 2027 mandate.
Aligning with Developments in Metrology and Digital Twin Technologies
The Digital Product Passport also aligns closely with ongoing developments in metrology and digital twin technologies. By embedding verified dimensional and performance data into product passports, manufacturers can ensure that each digital twin reflects not only the design intent but also the as-built reality of a component or system. This integration strengthens traceability standards, enabling lifecycle monitoring that extends from initial quality control measurements through in-service performance and eventual recycling. In this way, the DPP acts as a unifying framework, connecting measurement science, digital manufacturing, and regulatory compliance to build trust and interoperability across global supply chains.
For more information: www.kathrein-solutions.com
