Highlights from the SwePass Open Project Meeting
The SwePass Open Project Meeting the 4th of March brought together representatives from industry, research organisations, public authorities and technology providers to share updates and experiences related to the Digital Product Passport (DPP) and the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). The meeting offered an opportunity to discuss how the regulatory framework is evolving, how standardisation work is progressing, and how companies and projects are beginning to explore practical solutions for implementing Digital Product Passports.
During the session, speakers presented a range of perspectives – from EU policy developments and technical standardisation to research projects and industry demonstrations. Several presentations focused on how organisations can start preparing for the upcoming requirements, including how to structure product data, adapt existing digital systems and collaborate across value chains.
Below you will find the presentations from the meeting, each accompanied by a link to the full recording on YouTube for those who would like to watch the presentations in more detail.
Status regarding ESPR
Björn Spak, Swedish Environmental Protection Agency
Björn Spak presented an update on the development of the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and the process through which new product requirements are being developed within the EU. ESPR replaces the earlier Ecodesign Directive and expands its scope beyond energy-related products to cover a wider range of product categories. Requirements will be introduced through delegated acts following preparatory studies and consultations with industry and member states. Several product areas are currently under investigation, including textiles, furniture, tyres and intermediate materials such as iron and steel. Spak also highlighted horizontal initiatives related to repairability and recycled content, as well as new provisions concerning the reporting and possible prohibition of destroying unsold consumer goods. He emphasised the importance for companies to follow the regulatory process and begin preparing for the information and traceability requirements linked to the Digital Product Passport. Link to YouTube.
Standardising the DPP system – status update
Laura Linnala, SIS – Swedish Institute for Standards
Laura Linnala presented an overview of the ongoing European standardisation work supporting the Digital Product Passport system. While the European Commission defines the regulatory requirements under ESPR, harmonised standards are being developed to provide practical guidance on how organisations should implement those requirements. The work focuses on the technical infrastructure behind the DPP, including data exchange, identifiers, APIs, storage solutions, interoperability and authentication. More than 300 experts across Europe are involved in drafting these standards, which are expected to become mandatory once referenced in the Official Journal of the European Union. The first set of standards is planned for publication in 2026. Linnala encouraged organisations to begin preparing by reviewing their existing data, mapping internal processes and involving relevant functions such as IT, sustainability and compliance. Link to YouTube.
Product data with system support during the Product Lifecycle
Martin Lundqvist, QCM
Martin Lundqvist presented work exploring how companies can organise product data throughout the product lifecycle in order to prepare for Digital Product Passports. Within the SwePass project, a demonstration using a toy product illustrated how Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems can structure detailed information about product components, materials and chemical substances. By connecting this information to environmental indicators and regulatory requirements, companies can evaluate sustainability performance and compliance during product development. The project introduces the concept of an “expected DPP,” which allows companies to simulate the future passport while a product is still being designed. This approach enables earlier decision-making regarding materials and environmental impact and highlights how existing company systems can support DPP implementation if data structures and processes are adapted accordingly. Link to YouTube.
Downstream information standards for the digital product passport
Jonas Larsson, University of Borås
Jonas Larsson presented research examining how information generated after products are sold could complement the Digital Product Passport. While the DPP mainly contains upstream data about materials, manufacturing and logistics, valuable information also emerges during later lifecycle stages such as repair, reuse, resale and recycling. The project therefore explores a model in which these downstream activities are recorded as lifecycle events connected to the product. Using the GS1 EPCIS standard, the DPP would provide the product’s core identity and master data, while additional event data could be recorded separately over time. A demonstration within a textile system project illustrated how such information could support resale markets and longer product lifetimes. The approach aims to improve product design, enable new circular business models and strengthen data flows across the value chain. Link to YouTube.
Semantic interoperability and presentation of a new app
Eva Blomqvist, Linköping University & Eric Hjelmestam, Meta Solutions
Eva Blomqvist presented work focusing on the technical challenges related to interoperability in the emerging Digital Product Passport ecosystem. As DPPs will interact with multiple digital systems, platforms and data sources, ensuring that information can be interpreted consistently across systems is essential. The project therefore focuses on semantic interoperability and the use of shared data models and ontologies to structure product information. Within the SwePass project, this work package analyses how company systems, digital platforms and DPP services can be connected through existing standards and data-sharing infrastructures. The aim is to understand how different technological approaches and demonstrator projects can be integrated into a coherent digital infrastructure supporting DPP implementation. The project also organises webinars and knowledge-sharing activities to exchange experiences from ongoing pilot initiatives. Link to YouTube.
Development of eco-design requirements for clothing
Ulrika Simonsson, TEKO
Ulrika Simonsson presented an overview of the ongoing development of ecodesign requirements for clothing within the framework of ESPR. The work focuses on how regulatory measures can improve the sustainability and circularity of textile products through increased transparency, durability and resource efficiency. Particular attention is being given to the role of the Digital Product Passport in providing information about materials, product composition and environmental performance. Simonsson also discussed how the textile and apparel industry is preparing for upcoming requirements and emphasised the need for collaboration between policymakers, industry organisations and companies to ensure that the regulatory framework is both effective and feasible to implement. Link to YouTube.
DPP-guide
Marie-Louise Lagerstedt-Eidrup CIT
Marie-Louise Lagerstedt-Eidrup presented a guide developed to support organisations that are preparing to work with Digital Product Passports. The guide provides practical recommendations for companies beginning to explore the new requirements under ESPR. It highlights the importance of identifying relevant product data, understanding regulatory expectations and assessing how existing digital systems can support DPP implementation. The guide also emphasises the need to establish internal responsibilities and involve several organisational functions, including sustainability, IT and compliance. By providing concrete examples and practical advice, the guide aims to help organisations take initial steps toward implementing DPP in a structured and manageable way. Link to YouTube.
Blockchain Sweden: Accelerating blockchain adoption in Sweden
Zarina Björklund Rehn, Blockchain Sweden
Zarina Björklund Rehn presented the work of Blockchain Sweden and its efforts to promote the adoption of blockchain technologies across Swedish industry. The presentation highlighted how blockchain can support transparency, traceability and trust in complex supply chains. In the context of Digital Product Passports, blockchain solutions may provide secure ways to share and verify product information between multiple actors. By enabling decentralised data management and tamper-resistant records, blockchain can strengthen data reliability and facilitate collaboration between companies, suppliers and other stakeholders involved in product value chains. Link to YouTube.
Circularity Gap Report (CGR) – The Value Gap Sweden
Ann-Charlotte Mellquist, RISE
Ann-Charlotte Mellquist presented insights from the Circularity Gap Report for Sweden, focusing on the gap between the current linear economic model and the potential of a more circular economy. The report highlights how a significant share of economic value is lost due to inefficient resource use and limited material recovery. Increasing circularity through reuse, repair, recycling and improved product design could unlock both environmental and economic benefits. Mellquist emphasised the importance of better data, collaboration and new business models in closing this gap and enabling more resource-efficient production and consumption systems. Link to YouTube.
Circular Business Lab
Pernilla Dahlman, RISE
Pernilla Dahlman introduced the Circular Business Lab, an initiative designed to support companies in developing and testing circular business models. The lab provides a collaborative environment where companies, researchers and public actors can explore new approaches to product design, resource use and value creation. Through pilot projects, workshops and collaborative experimentation, the initiative aims to accelerate the transition from linear to circular business practices. By testing ideas in practice and sharing experiences between participants, the Circular Business Lab supports companies in identifying viable strategies for implementing circular solutions. Link to YouTube.
National industry dialogue DPP
Hanna Lindén, RISE
Hanna Lindén concluded the meeting by presenting an initiative aimed at establishing a national industry dialogue around the implementation of Digital Product Passports in Sweden. The initiative seeks to bring together companies, authorities, researchers and other stakeholders to exchange knowledge and coordinate efforts related to DPP implementation. By creating a forum for discussion and collaboration, the initiative aims to support Swedish industry in preparing for upcoming regulatory requirements and to identify common challenges, opportunities and best practices in the transition towards digital product transparency and circular value chains. Link to YouTube.
If you are interested in joining the next SwePass Open Project Meeting the 3rd of June, you are welcome to register here.
