This paper outlines an architecture for a Digital Product Passport (DPP) system, designed to meet the Eco Design for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and the corresponding Standardisation Request (SReq). The proposed architecture divides into three main components: EC Central Services, distributed DPP System Services, and Third-Party Services. The EC Central Services, managed by the European Commission, oversee the system's governance, while the dis-tributed DPP services, operated by Economic Operators or designated providers, handle day-to-day operations. Third Party Services, run by external entities, supplement these functionalities.
The advent of the European Green Deal in 2019 marked a pivotal shift towards addressing the
pressing climate and environmental challenges facing our planet. As a cornerstone of this ambitious
plan, the European Union set forth a strategy aimed at molding an equitable, thriving society
underpinned by a modern, resource-efficient, and competitive economy. Central to this vision is the
objective to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, all the while dissociating economic
expansion from resource use.[
In a significant stride towards realizing this vision, March 2022 saw the launch of the Sustainable
Products Initiative (SPI), featuring the Proposal for the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation
(ESPR)[
The digital battery passport not only serves as a model for the sustainable and circular handling
of batteries but also sets the stage for the broader application of DPP systems across multiple sectors,
including textiles and electronics [
Concurrent with the development of the ESPR and Battery Regulation, the European Commission embarked on a mission to establish the technical standards essential for the DPP system's implementation. By May 2023, a draft Standardisation Request (SReq) was proposed to key European Standardisation Organisations, marking the beginning of a consultative process aimed at refining the regulatory backbone of the ESPR and Battery Regulation. The establishment of the Joint Technical Committee JTC 24 in December 2023 represents a critical step in this journey, tasked with crafting the standards needed to bring the vision of a comprehensive DPP system to fruition.
This paper delves into the intricate IT architecture underlying the Digital Product Passport system that underpins this innovative approach.
As part of our efforts, an analysis was undertaken to align with the requirements set forth by the
ESPR, the Battery Regulation, and the SReq. The objective was to identify all the system components
required by regulation. The following table summarizes the key system components identified for the
DPP system, categorized by their type and referencing the specific clauses in the ESPR, Battery
Regulation, and Standardization Requests (SReq) that mandate or describe their necessity [
Database Type of component
Alphanumerical Code
Medium holds the unique identifier with link
Database Software Software Software Method Method and software Method and software Method and software Method and software Software Method
Reference to SReq, ESPR, Battery Regulation Module 7 of SReq Module 7 of SReq Module 7 of SReq DPP-System components as defined in the SReq
Unique identifier for product, economic operator, facilities and DPP unique identifier
Data carrier Registry EC User web portal API for CRUD of data
System for access rights management
Verification of authentication Verification of DPP conformance
Data verification of data integrity and originality
Logging and monitoring Querying of passport data Back-up service
Data modelling
This chapter presents a detailed proposal for the architecture required to integrate and extend the identified components into an operational digital product passport (DPP) system. It lays out an overarching view of the system architecture, subsequently delving into the intricacies of each component to provide a comprehensive understanding.
The system's architecture is strategically divided into three principal service-oriented sections (see Figure 1): EC Central Services, DPP System Services distributed across various locations, and Third Party Services. Oversight of the EC Central Services is the responsibility of the European Commission. The distributed DPP System Services are mandated to be set up and operated either by the Economic Operator themselves or through a service provider appointed for this purpose. Establishment of Third Party Services, on the other hand, is required to be done by an independent service provider, as specified by regulatory mandates.
The EC Authority Portal, dedicated to national authorities, the Commission, and market surveillance offers elevated access rights and functionalities, including data analytics services, to fulfill regulatory responsibilities.
The EC Operations Portal, serving as the central command center, enables administrators and authorized personnel to manage and oversee the DPP ecosystem efficiently.
Data Services provide necessary functionalities for basic data operations: • Verification Services are critical for cryptographically proving or verifying the correctness of data inputs within the system, including the verification of signatures in Verifiable Credentials or Presentations. • Validation Services scrutinize the quality and specificity of the data entered into the product passport system. The absence of data validation could lead to the acquisition of erroneous data that fails to conform to the required data structure and values. This process entails the comparison of structured or semi-structured data against the product passport data models to ensure a match. Having all necessary validation schemas and criteria in place is crucial for the timely execution of validation checks; without these, validation cannot proceed, resulting in the rejection of incoming data accompanied by a descriptive error message. Similarly, data failing to meet validation standards must also be discarded. • CRUD Operations such as Create, Read, Update, and Delete are essential for data management within databases and web applications. • Issuing Service, dedicated to the publication of DPPs, ensuring compliance and accessibility. • The Querying Service, involves the retrieval of specific data from databases or datasets, facilitating the extraction of relevant information based on defined criteria. • The Logging Service provides practice of recording events, actions, or transactions within the system for later analysis, troubleshooting, and auditing.
The Data Analytics Services are tailored for authority use, this component comprises intermediate data storage for aggregated product passport data, a data analytics component for performing predictive and prescriptive analytics, and search components for detailed data exploration.
Following IT Service Management Forum (ITSMF) guidelines, the IT Operations Services include Service Management and Service Desk Software for monitoring, analysis, reporting, and support within the system, ensuring adherence to Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
The Commission is tasked with establishing and managing a secure digital Registry to safeguard
critical identifiers, such as unique product identifiers, operator identifiers, facility identifiers, and a
registration identifier. This registry will also include the product commodity code and unique
identifiers for batteries, specifically for those products undergoing the 'release for free circulation'
customs process, as detailed in Article 77(3) of Regulation (EU) 2023/1542. Access to the registry's
data will be granted directly to national and customs authorities as well as the Commission itself. To
enhance enforcement capabilities, the Commission may also determine the need to record additional
information in the product passport within the registry [
Routing Services ensure that DPPs, stored in distributed data repositories, can be accessed centrally through a portal or an API, facilitating seamless integration and access across the system.
Policy Management Services managed by the European Commission, are responsible for the creation, enforcement, and monitoring of policies and guidelines within the DPP system.
Part of the Distributed DPP System Services are the Distributed Data Repositories, which serves as a storage and management hub for battery passports. The management of this repository is recommended to be under the responsibility of either an economic operator or a designated DPP-asa-service provider, who is authorized to represent them. Such management could be undertaken by a provider offering DPP services. Various technical solutions can be employed for its implementation. The system's interoperability is achieved through the adoption of a semantic data model, which is based on a universal, platform-independent semantic framework. The DPP data repository's API is designed to facilitate standard Create, Read, Update, and Delete (CRUD) operations. Additionally, a translator service is in place to convert generic API calls into specific calls compatible with the system.
Translator Services are essential for translating generic API calls into system-specific ones. This service is based on the Model Driven Architecture approach, facilitating seamless integration across different technical implementations.
Interface to Business Software: This interface integrates company-specific backend systems (e.g., ERP, SCM, PLM) with the DPP system, ensuring that data is processed, aggregated, and mapped to the standardized data model of the battery passport.
Interfaces to Business Software, such as ERP, SCM, PLM, and Traceability Solutions, will be the primary source of data for product passports. These systems enable the collection of crucial upstream value chain data, which significantly contributes to various attributes of the battery passport, including Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) and recycled content. The duty to integrate these systems with the battery passport lies with the economic operator. The data must be processed, compiled, and aligned with the battery passport's standardized semantic data model to ensure it meets the specific data attribute requirements. Recognizing that not every company has the resources or willingness to develop their own DPP data repository, the ESPR suggests delegating this responsibility to a DPP-asa-service provider. This arrangement enables economic operators to adhere to the Battery Regulation and associated ESPR guidelines without significant capital expenditure. Furthermore, the ESPR requires economic operators to ensure the availability of a backup copy of the product passport. This is to be facilitated through an independent DPP-as-a-service provider, who will also offer the necessary backup services, guaranteeing continuous access to DPP data.
The European Green Deal and subsequent initiatives like the Sustainable Products Initiative, the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, and the EU Battery Regulation represent transformative steps toward a sustainable and circular economy in Europe. By setting ambitious goals for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and emphasizing the decoupling of economic growth from resource use, the EU has positioned itself as a global leader in environmental stewardship and climate action. The development and implementation of the Digital Product Passport (DPP) system, as detailed in this paper, are central to these efforts. This system not only facilitates transparency and efficiency in the lifecycle management of products but also pioneers the integration of digital solutions in sustainable product management across various sectors.
The intricate IT architecture of the DPP system, comprising EC Central Services, DPP System Services, and Third-Party Services, showcases a sophisticated approach to ensuring data integrity, accessibility, and security. Through its service-oriented architecture, the system addresses critical needs for identity and access control, data validation and verification, and seamless interaction among stakeholders. The establishment of technical standards and the creation of the Joint Technical Committee JTC 24 underscore the EU's commitment to a consultative and inclusive process for regulatory development and implementation.
This paper sets the stage for ongoing developments in digital integration within the circular economy paradigm and can serve as a blueprint for future initiatives aimed at making the circular economy a reality and contribute to the ongoing work of the JTC 24.
This work is an outcome of the Battery Pass Project, co-funded by the German Federal Ministry
for Economic Affair and Climate Action on the basis of a decision by the German Bundestag [
The author(s) have not employed any Generative AI tools.