Digital Product Passport glossary

Regulatory and technical terms

DPP

Digital Product Passport: product-specific information accessible electronically through a connection to product identity.

ESPR

Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation: the EU framework in Regulation (EU) 2024/1781.

Economic operator

A regulated market actor. The applicable legislation defines the roles and duties; do not substitute an internal job title.

Delegated act

A Commission measure adopted using delegated legislative powers, which can supplement or amend specified elements of a framework. A draft is not an adopted obligation.

Implementing act

A measure used to establish uniform conditions for implementation where the governing legislation provides for it.

Data carrier

A physical or machine-readable means of connecting product identity to electronic information. A carrier is not the complete passport.

Unique product identifier

A reference identifying the product at the required model, batch or item level; persistence and uniqueness must be designed.

Unique operator identifier

A reference for an operator, distinct from a product identity.

Facility identifier

A reference for a relevant site or facility, rather than a company or product.

Product group

The category used to scope a measure. Regulatory boundaries can differ from marketing categories.

Model, batch, item

Different identity levels: product design/type, defined production group, or individual unit.

Interoperability

The ability of systems and organisations to exchange and interpret information consistently, including semantics and operating arrangements.

Digital Link

In GS1 usage, URI syntax expressing GS1 identifiers in a web address. Resolver specifications are maintained separately.

Resolver

A service that routes an identifier or request to relevant information resources. It does not necessarily store the underlying data.

Product data

Records describing the product, with definitions, units, ownership and evidence appropriate to their use.

Traceability

The ability to follow an object or material and relevant events through a defined process or chain. It is related to, but not identical to, a passport.

Provenance

The source, method and history supporting a data value or assertion.

System of record

The designated authoritative source for a particular record or attribute.

Data portability

The practical ability to retrieve and transfer useful records, relationships and metadata to another environment.

Harmonised standard

A European standard developed under a Commission request. Verify relevant Official Journal references and their legal effect for the requirement being assessed.

Application date

The date specified obligations begin to apply, distinct from adoption or entry into force.

Resolve terminology before integration

Agree whether “product” means model, SKU, batch or individual item in each system. Name the authoritative source for each attribute and define units. Many integration failures begin with two teams using the same word for different things.

A shared vocabulary also improves procurement: define each billable unit and each promised “standard” in the vendor response. Use the RFP requirements to make those definitions contractual and testable.