1. What is gs1:dpp?
Within the link type system of GS1 Digital Link, gs1:dpp is the link type specifically designated to point to a Digital Product Passport (DPP). According to the official definition in the GS1 Web Vocabulary, it is: “A link to a digital product passport.”
More specifically, gs1:dpp is the standard link type used to access DPP data under the framework of the EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR).
What is a Digital Product Passport (DPP)?
A Digital Product Passport is a mandatory electronic record designed under the EU’s European Green Deal legislative framework. It assigns a unique identity to each product and brings together key data across the product’s entire lifecycle.
The core concept of DPP is to create a “digital twin” for a physical product, systematically recording and securely sharing the following data:
- Basic product data: category, country of origin
- Material composition: raw material details, recycled or certified ratios
- Supply chain data: manufacturing information at each tier
- Compliance and certification: REACH, GOTS, BSCI, etc.
- ESG data: carbon footprint, water footprint, energy intensity
- End-of-life information: reparability, recycling, and disassembly instructions
The regulation was formally adopted in April 2024 and will be rolled out gradually, with full implementation expected by 2030. At that point, any company manufacturing, exporting to, or selling products within the EU will need to comply with DPP requirements.
Differences from Related Link Types
| Link Type | Question Answered | Content |
|---|---|---|
gs1:pip (Product Information Page) | What is the product? | Description, specifications, features |
gs1:certificationInfo (Certification Info) | Who has certified it? | Third-party certifications, compliance statements |
gs1:consumerHandlingStorageInfo | How should it be stored? | Storage temperature, shelf life, handling methods |
gs1:dpp (Digital Product Passport) | What is its full lifecycle data? | Materials, supply chain, carbon footprint, recyclability, etc. |
The difference between gs1:dpp and other link types is that it doesn’t address a single specific question. Instead, it consolidates data from raw material to end-of-life into one passport.
2. Why Use It
2.1 A Mandatory EU Regulatory Requirement
DPP is a mandatory requirement under the EU ESPR regulation. The regulation requires products to connect to a DPP through a standardized data carrier (such as a QR code). The first batch of DPPs will be fully operational by February 2027. For companies exporting to the EU, gs1:dpp is not optional — it is a requirement.
2.2 Full Lifecycle Transparency
DPP puts every stage of a product — from raw materials to end-of-life disposal — in an accessible place. Through gs1:dpp, a consumer can see which farm the cotton in a garment came from, where it was dyed, which factory assembled it, and how much carbon was emitted in production. These are no longer marketing claims — they are traceable data.
2.3 Replacing “We’re Green” with Data
Consumers are increasingly skeptical of brands’ sustainability claims. Greenwashing cases are common, and vague promises often backfire. DPP ties claims to underlying data:
- Carbon footprint: 8.4 kg CO₂e per unit (35% lower than the average for comparable products)
- Water footprint: 420 liters per unit (mostly consumed in the agricultural stage; rainwater collection has been adopted)
- Energy intensity: 12.5 MJ per unit (60% of energy from renewable sources)
Scanning the code shows numbers, not slogans.
2.4 One Code, Many Uses
One advantage of GS1 Digital Link is that a single code can serve different roles:
- Consumers scan → view product story, material composition, environmental data
- Retailers scan → verify compliance, access listing information
- Regulators scan → retrieve compliance documents and certification certificates
- Recyclers scan → access disassembly and recycling guides
No need for a separate code per role.
2.5 Updatable Information
Once printed on packaging, content is fixed. Data behind gs1:dpp can be updated — a new certification is approved, the supply chain changes, new environmental data comes in. Update the backend; no need to reprint packaging.
3. Use Cases
Apparel and Textiles
Take the “EcoWear Classic Organic Cotton Windbreaker” as an example. Its DPP records the full information chain from raw material to finished product:
- Tier 4 (Agriculture): 100% cotton, of which 85% is GOTS-certified organic cotton
- Tier 2 (Dyeing): GreenDye Facility, Vietnam (ZDHC certified, zero wastewater discharge)
- Tier 1 (Final Assembly): EcoWear Assembly Plant, Vietnam (BSCI social responsibility audit passed)
Consumers can scan the code and expand each tier to view factory names, locations, and audit certificates. This level of transparency is not achievable on traditional packaging.
Consumer Electronics
A consumer electronics manufacturer uses a QR code with gs1:dpp on every product. Consumers, regulators, and recyclers can scan the code to access:
- Material composition and hazardous substance test reports (REACH, RoHS compliance)
- Carbon footprint and energy efficiency data
- Reparability score and official repair guides
- End-of-life recycling instructions (WEEE compliance)
EU regulations on electronics are tightening. The verifiability of this data will become increasingly important.
Building Materials
A sustainable building materials company holds LEED, FSC, and EPD certifications. Through gs1:dpp, architects and procurement teams can access complete information and raw data for all the product’s green certifications in one place, eliminating the need to cross-reference across multiple channels.
Cosmetics
A skincare product with multiple natural ingredients uses gs1:dpp to show consumers:
- The origin of each ingredient and its sustainable sourcing certifications
- Packaging recycling instructions and recyclable ratio
- Carbon footprint and carbon neutrality commitments
- Cruelty-free declaration and certification
This addresses the growing consumer demand for ingredient transparency and sustainability in beauty products.
4. Configuration Example
Below is a JSON configuration for gs1:dpp that a fashion brand would use in a GS1 resolver:
{
"anchor": "/01/09521207311511/21/1234ABDE",
"itemDescription": "EcoWear Classic Organic Cotton Windbreaker",
"defaultLinktype": "gs1:pip",
"links": [
{
"linktype": "gs1:pip",
"href": "https://www.example.com/product/12345",
"title": "Product Detail Page",
"type": "text/html",
"hreflang": ["zh-CN"],
"context": ["general"]
},
{
"linktype": "gs1:dpp",
"href": "https://dpp.example.com/09521207311511/21/1234ABDE",
"title": "Digital Product Passport — Full Lifecycle Data",
"type": "text/html",
"hreflang": ["zh-CN"],
"context": ["sustainability", "circularity"]
},
{
"linktype": "gs1:dpp",
"href": "https://dpp.example.com/en/09521207311511/21/1234ABDE",
"title": "Digital Product Passport — Full Lifecycle Data",
"type": "text/html",
"hreflang": ["en"],
"context": ["sustainability", "circularity"]
}
]
}
Typical Data Included in a DPP Page
| Module | Content |
|---|---|
| Basic product information | Product name, brand, economic operator (manufacturer/seller) |
| Material composition | Fabric material, organic certification ratio, supply chain tier information |
| Environmental footprint | Carbon footprint, water footprint, energy intensity (with industry benchmarks) |
| Durability and reparability | Durability score, reparability rating, repair guide link |
| Care and end-of-life | Care instructions, recycling guide, disassembly instructions |
| Compliance document downloads | REACH declarations, GOTS/GRS certificates, PEF verification reports |
| Machine-readable data | JSON-LD structured data for authorized regulatory access |
Scanning Flow
- Scan: A consumer, regulator, or partner uses a tool that supports GS1 Digital Link to scan the QR code on the product.
- Resolve: The scanning tool sends a request to the GS1 resolver, which matches the appropriate link based on the parameter (e.g.,
linkType=gs1:dpp). - Redirect: The user is directed to the product’s Digital Product Passport page.
- Browse: The user views full lifecycle data, expands tier-level details, and downloads compliance documents.
Key Benefits
- Minimal QR code: The code only contains the base path (e.g.,
/01/09521207311511/21/1234ABDE); all DPP data is configured in the cloud. - Dynamic dispatch: The same code automatically returns Chinese or English versions based on
hreflang. - Always updatable: Data updates are made in the backend only — no need to reprint packaging.
- Multi-format support: HTML pages, PDF downloads, and JSON-LD machine-readable data can all be linked.
- Full-chain traceability: From Tier 4 (agriculture) to Tier 1 (final assembly), every supply chain tier is visible in the DPP.
Summary
gs1:dpp is the link type in the GS1 Digital Link system designed to meet the requirements of the EU ESPR regulation. Its purpose is straightforward: it places a product’s full lifecycle data on a scannable passport page.
The product information page answers “what is it?” — certification info answers “who approved it?” — gs1:dpp answers “where does it come from, how was it made, and how is it disposed of?” For apparel, electronics, building materials, and cosmetics brands exporting to the EU, this is a link that needs to be set up, and it is also the way to turn sustainability claims into verifiable data.
