Regulations
Making Digital Product Passports Mandatory
The EU is striving to be the first climate-neutral continent. In order to overcome the challenges of climate change and environmental destruction, the European Green Deal is intended to transform the EU into a resource-efficient economic zone.
Several initiatives and programs are being implemented as part of these efforts. Of particular interest here is the Sustainable Products Initiative (SPI) launched in March 2022, which also includes a proposal for the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR).
The ESPR provides for the introduction of digital product passports to promote the move towards a circular economy. These product passports will gradually become mandatory for various product categories. The digital battery passport is therefore a kind of pioneer and batteries are one of the first product categories for which such a digital passport will soon be required.
- Regulations introducing product passports
As part of the “EU Green Deal”, the European Union is pursuing the goal of making Europe climate-neutral by 2050 and promoting the transition to a sustainable and circular economy. Digital tools such as the digital product passport and the digital battery passport play a central role here, as they are essential components of the new Ecodesign Regulation for sustainable products and the Battery Regulation.
Digital Product Passports
Digital Battery Passports
One specific example of how the digital product passport can be used is the digital battery passport, which is being introduced as part of the new EU Battery Regulation. This regulation stipulates that from February 2027, all batteries* sold in the EU will require a passport like this. The battery passport will contain comprehensive information on the manufacture, composition and disposal of batteries. The aim is to create transparency along the supply chain and ensure that batteries are produced and disposed of in an environmentally friendly way.
By providing data on critical raw materials, recycling rates and CO₂ footprints of batteries, the battery passport contributes significantly to improving the sustainability and recyclability of batteries. It also aims to promote innovation in battery technology and reduce dependence on non-sustainable resources.
All other images & visualizations: © BloqSens AG
