ESPR & DPP Glossary

Every ESPR & DPP term, in plain English

Last updated · 2026-06-08

ESPR and the Digital Product Passport come with their own vocabulary: delegated act, data carrier, economic operator, PEF, PCF, differentiated access. Here is each term explained simply first, then with the precise phrasing, so you can read any ESPR or DPP document without a law degree. Every definition is grounded in the regulation itself.

Need the bigger picture first? Read what ESPR is, or learn what a Digital Product Passport is.

32 of 32 terms

  • B

    Battery Passport#

    The first live Digital Product Passport in the EU. Required under the EU Battery Regulation, it is mandatory from 18 February 2027 for electric-vehicle, light-means-of-transport and industrial batteries over 2 kWh.

    A DPP-style record under Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 (the EU Battery Regulation), accessed via a QR code. The first DPP to take effect and the de-facto template for ESPR DPPs.

    See also: Digital Product Passport (DPP), Data carrier, Differentiated access

  • C

    CE marking#

    The mark a manufacturer affixes to declare a product meets applicable EU requirements. Under ESPR, manufacturers draw up an EU Declaration of Conformity and affix CE marking as part of compliance.

    The conformity marking indicating a product meets EU requirements. Under ESPR, accompanied by the EU Declaration of Conformity and technical documentation.

    See also: Manufacturer, Market surveillance, Economic operator

  • CEN-CENELEC JTC 24#

    The standards committee building the technical rules for the Digital Product Passport, covering identifiers, data carriers, access rights, security and interoperability. The horizontal standards are expected to be finalised in 2026.

    CEN-CENELEC Joint Technical Committee 24 ("Digital Product Passport - Framework and System"), developing the EN 18000-series. Designations and dates are provisional while the standards are finalised.

    See also: Digital Product Passport (DPP), CIRPASS / CIRPASS-2, Data carrier

  • Circular economy#

    An economic model that keeps materials and products in use as long as possible through durability, reuse, repair, remanufacturing and recycling, minimising waste and virgin-resource use. ESPR is a flagship circular-economy instrument.

    An alternative to the linear take-make-dispose model. ESPR embeds circularity into product design under the EU Circular Economy Action Plan and uses the DPP to carry repair, reuse and recycling data.

    See also: Durability, Reparability, Recyclability, Digital Product Passport (DPP)

  • CIRPASS / CIRPASS-2#

    EU-funded projects that shaped the Digital Product Passport concept and now run real-world DPP pilots. CIRPASS produced the cross-sector concept; CIRPASS-2 runs pilots across textiles, electronics, tyres and construction.

    CIRPASS (2022-2023) produced the cross-sector DPP definitions feeding ESPR. CIRPASS-2 (May 2024-April 2027) is a Digital Europe Programme Innovation Action running 13 lighthouse DPP pilots.

    See also: Digital Product Passport (DPP), CEN-CENELEC JTC 24, GS1 DataMatrix

  • D

    Data carrier#

    The physical link to a Digital Product Passport: a QR code, GS1 DataMatrix, RFID tag or NFC chip on the product, packaging or documentation that you scan to reach the passport data.

    A linear or two-dimensional bar code, or an RFID/NFC tag, that links a product to its passport via the unique product identifier (e.g. a GS1 DataMatrix).

    See also: Digital Product Passport (DPP), Unique product identifier, GS1 DataMatrix

  • Delegated act#

    A Commission act that sets the actual, binding ecodesign and Digital Product Passport requirements for a specific product group. Until a delegated act exists for a product, its specific ESPR obligations are not yet in force.

    A product-specific act adopted by the Commission under the ESPR framework, informed by preparatory studies and the Working Plan. It fixes the requirement types and thresholds that ESPR itself only enumerates.

    See also: ESPR, Working Plan, Product group, Performance requirement, Information requirement

  • Destruction ban (unsold goods)#

    The ESPR rule that bans destroying certain unsold consumer products. For large companies, unsold apparel, clothing accessories and footwear cannot be destroyed from 19 July 2026.

    A ban under ESPR on destroying unsold consumer products. For apparel, accessories and footwear: large companies from 19 July 2026, medium-sized companies from around 2030; micro and small enterprises exempt. Annual disclosure of discarded volumes applies.

    See also: Circular economy, ESPR

  • Differentiated access#

    The "need-to-know" rule for Digital Product Passport data. Not everything is public: consumers, repairers, recyclers and authorities each see the data relevant to them, protecting commercially sensitive information.

    Access rights defined so that specified stakeholders can view specified datasets. The JRC methodology framework sets out which stakeholders can see which data.

    See also: Digital Product Passport (DPP), Market surveillance

  • Digital Product Passport (DPP)#

    A machine-readable set of product data, reached through a data carrier such as a QR code, that carries sustainability and circularity information about a product, with different data visible to different users.

    A structured product dataset conveyed through a unique product identifier and accessed electronically via a data carrier, with differentiated access rules. Uses a decentralised data model; a central registry is required before 19 July 2026.

    See also: Data carrier, Unique product identifier, DPP registry, Differentiated access, Battery Passport

  • Distributor#

    A business in the supply chain, other than the manufacturer or importer, that makes a product available on the market. Distributors must act with due care and not supply products they know or suspect are non-compliant.

    An economic operator in the supply chain, other than the manufacturer or importer, that makes a product available on the market.

    See also: Economic operator, Manufacturer, Importer

  • DPP registry#

    A central EU register that the Commission must set up before 19 July 2026. It holds at least the list of data carriers and unique identifiers, so passports can be found and connected, including by customs.

    The central registry required under ESPR before 19 July 2026. The DPP data itself stays decentralised with operators; the registry holds the identifiers needed to locate passports.

    See also: Digital Product Passport (DPP), Unique product identifier, Data carrier

  • Durability#

    How long a product lasts and keeps working before it needs replacing. Improving durability is one of the core ecodesign levers ESPR can set requirements on.

    A product aspect ESPR delegated acts can regulate, covering reliability and resistance to wear over a product’s intended life.

    See also: Reparability, Performance requirement, Circular economy

  • E

    Ecodesign Directive#

    The older EU ecodesign law that ESPR replaced. It covered only energy-related products such as appliances, lighting and motors, and had to be turned into national law by each member state.

    Directive 2009/125/EC, repealed and replaced by ESPR (Regulation (EU) 2024/1781). A directive required national transposition; ESPR is a directly applicable regulation with far broader scope.

    See also: ESPR, Delegated act

  • Economic operator#

    Any business in the chain that ESPR places obligations on: manufacturers (including non-EU ones selling into the EU), importers, distributors and others such as online marketplaces.

    The collective term for manufacturers, authorised representatives, importers, distributors, fulfilment service providers and online marketplaces obligated under ESPR.

    See also: Manufacturer, Importer, Distributor, Digital Product Passport (DPP), CE marking

  • ESPR#

    The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation. A framework EU law that can set sustainability and information requirements for almost any physical product sold in the EU, and that introduces the Digital Product Passport.

    Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 of 13 June 2024, in force 18 July 2024. It repeals and replaces the Ecodesign Directive 2009/125/EC. As a framework regulation, its binding product rules arrive through product-specific delegated acts.

    See also: Ecodesign Directive, Delegated act, Digital Product Passport (DPP), Performance requirement, Product group

  • G

    GS1 DataMatrix#

    A two-dimensional barcode standard often used as the data carrier for a Digital Product Passport. Scanning it links to the product’s unique identifier and its passport data.

    A GS1 two-dimensional data-carrier format used to encode a product identifier. GS1 is working with the Commission and CIRPASS-2 on the DPP identification architecture.

    See also: Data carrier, Unique product identifier, Digital Product Passport (DPP)

  • I

    Importer#

    A business that brings a product from outside the EU and places it on the EU market. Importers must check the manufacturer complied before placing the goods, and are liable as a manufacturer if they place non-compliant goods.

    An economic operator established in the EU that places a product from a third country on the Union market. Must verify the manufacturer’s conformity and documentation before placing the product.

    See also: Economic operator, Manufacturer, Distributor

  • Information requirement#

    A rule about what data must accompany a product, such as composition, repair instructions or environmental performance. Much of this information is carried via the Digital Product Passport.

    The second ESPR requirement type: data that must accompany the product, partly conveyed through the DPP, including composition, substances of concern, use/repair/disposal instructions and environmental performance.

    See also: Performance requirement, Digital Product Passport (DPP), Delegated act

  • M

    Manufacturer#

    The business that makes a product, or has it made and sells it under its own name. Manufacturers bear the primary ESPR compliance burden, including creating and maintaining the Digital Product Passport.

    An economic operator that manufactures a product or has it designed/manufactured and markets it under its name or trademark. Non-EU manufacturers placing products on the EU market are in scope. Responsible for conformity, technical documentation, the EU Declaration of Conformity, CE marking and the DPP.

    See also: Economic operator, Importer, Distributor, CE marking, Digital Product Passport (DPP)

  • Market surveillance#

    The system of national authority checks that enforces ESPR. Authorities can order recalls, withdraw products or ban their sale, and a ban can lock a product out of all 27 EU member states.

    Enforcement by member-state authorities, coordinated with customs. Penalties are set by member states and must be effective, proportionate and dissuasive; ESPR does not fix EU-wide fine amounts.

    See also: Economic operator, CE marking, Differentiated access

  • P

    PEFCR#

    PEF Category Rules: product-group-specific rules that fix the boundaries, data and assumptions for environmental-footprint studies, so results are consistent and comparable between products.

    Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules under the EU PEF method, defining how PEF studies are performed for a given product group.

    See also: Product Environmental Footprint (PEF), Product Carbon Footprint (PCF)

  • Performance requirement#

    A rule that sets a minimum or maximum level for a product aspect, such as how durable, repairable or recyclable it must be, or how much recycled content it must contain.

    One of two requirement types ESPR delegated acts can impose. Covers aspects such as durability, reparability, recycled content, energy and resource efficiency, recyclability, substances of concern and carbon/environmental footprint. Exact thresholds exist only once a delegated act is adopted.

    See also: Information requirement, Delegated act, Durability, Reparability, Recycled content

  • Product Carbon Footprint (PCF)#

    The total greenhouse-gas emissions of a product across its life cycle, in carbon-dioxide equivalent. It is the climate slice of the broader environmental footprint and a likely Digital Product Passport data field.

    The climate-change impact category, expressed in CO2-equivalent. Under ESPR it can be a mandatory information requirement in a delegated act, notably flagged for iron and steel and aluminium.

    See also: Product Environmental Footprint (PEF), PEFCR, Digital Product Passport (DPP)

  • Product Environmental Footprint (PEF)#

    The EU’s life-cycle method to measure a product’s environmental impacts across many categories, such as climate, water and resource use. It is a methodology, and the likely basis for ESPR footprint requirements.

    A life-cycle-assessment-based method developed by the European Commission. PEF Category Rules (PEFCRs) make studies for a product group consistent and comparable. Not a standalone law.

    See also: Product Carbon Footprint (PCF), PEFCR, Information requirement

  • Product group#

    A set of products similar enough to be regulated together by one ESPR delegated act, such as "textiles", "furniture" or "tyres". ESPR works product group by product group.

    A grouping of products with sufficient functional similarity to be regulated by one delegated act. Requirements can be product-specific or horizontal (cutting across many groups).

    See also: Delegated act, Working Plan, ESPR

  • R

    Recyclability#

    How easily a product can be recycled at end of life, including how readily its materials can be separated. ESPR can set recyclability requirements, and it is a likely Digital Product Passport data field.

    A product aspect ESPR delegated acts can regulate, covering ease of recycling and remanufacturing. Often paired with recycled-content requirements.

    See also: Recycled content, Substances of concern, Circular economy

  • Recycled content#

    The share of a product made from recycled rather than virgin materials. ESPR can set minimum recycled-content requirements, especially for materials like steel, aluminium and electronics.

    A product aspect ESPR delegated acts can regulate, and a likely Digital Product Passport data field. Specific thresholds exist only once a delegated act is adopted.

    See also: Recyclability, Performance requirement, Circular economy

  • Reparability#

    How easy and affordable a product is to repair, including spare-part availability and ease of disassembly. ESPR can set reparability requirements and an expected A-E repairability score.

    A product aspect ESPR can regulate. The expected horizontal repairability-score framework rates products A-E on spare-part availability, documentation, ease of disassembly and software-update duration.

    See also: Durability, Performance requirement, Circular economy

  • S

    Substances of concern#

    Substances in a product that can harm health or the environment, or make recycling harder. ESPR can require them to be tracked and limited, and they are a likely Digital Product Passport data field.

    A product aspect ESPR delegated acts can regulate and an information-requirement category. Tracking substances of concern supports safe recycling and reuse.

    See also: Performance requirement, Information requirement, Recyclability

  • U

    Unique product identifier#

    The code that uniquely identifies a product and links its data carrier to its Digital Product Passport. It can identify a model, a batch or an individual item.

    One of three identifier levels in the DPP architecture, alongside the unique operator identifier and unique facility identifier. GS1 is working with the Commission and CIRPASS-2 on the identification architecture.

    See also: Data carrier, Digital Product Passport (DPP), Economic operator, DPP registry

  • W

    Working Plan#

    The Commission’s rolling plan that decides which product groups get ESPR requirements and roughly when. The first Working Plan (2025-2030) was adopted on 16 April 2025.

    A Commission Communication (COM(2025) 187) setting priority product groups and indicative delegated-act windows. Priority groups: textiles, furniture, mattresses, tyres, iron and steel, aluminium. A mid-term review is planned around 2028. All dates are indicative.

    See also: Delegated act, Product group, ESPR

This is guidance, not legal advice. Confirm with the official sources we link or a qualified adviser. Definitions reference Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 (ESPR); most product-specific rules arrive via delegated acts that are not yet adopted.

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