Nearly half of companies fear higher costs, despite EU claims it will drive compliance and sustainability.
Almost half of German companies believe the EU’s planned Digital Product Passport (DPP) will mean “more bureaucracy” and higher costs, with many concerned it will add to existing compliance burdens rather than streamline them.
The finding comes from a joint survey by the Umweltbundesamt (UBA) and Bundesnetzagentur (BNetzA), which questioned more than 1,500 companies from a range of sectors. Despite the DPP becoming mandatory for certain product groups from 2027, the survey shows that only a minority of firms currently capture or share environmental data in digital form. Many still rely on manual processes, paper records or non-standardised systems.
The DPP is intended to hold structured information on a product’s materials, components, manufacturing processes, usage history and end-of-life handling. By making this information accessible across the supply chain, the EU aims to improve market transparency, support repair and reuse, and strengthen enforcement against non-compliance. For consumers, it promises clearer environmental information and the ability to compare products beyond price and brand.
However, the survey reveals a gap between policy ambition and current preparedness. Many respondents worry that without effective, affordable digital tools and standardised data protocols, the DPP might turn into a burdensome compliance task rather than a catalyst for efficiency.
UBA and BNetzA emphasise that clear communication of benefits will be critical. They argue that, if implemented well, the DPP could help companies identify inefficiencies, save resources and improve sustainability performance over the long term. “The Digital Product Passport can be an enabler — but only if it is easy to use and delivers a clear return on investment,” the agencies said.
For the office imaging sector, DPP legislation is still some way off and not part of the current proposals. Nevertheless, industry players see it as a potential tool to reduce non-compliance and improve enforcement. By making lifecycle and component data visible, the DPP could help remanufacturers validate product quality and environmental claims, while also factoring more accurately into total cost of ownership (TCO) calculations. The challenge will be ensuring the system is efficient and proportionate, avoiding unnecessary cost and complexity in a sector where margins are already tight.
