Supporting Europe's Digital Product Passport Initiative with CIRPASS-2
DiPPa is actively participating in CIRPASS 2, the European Union's €12.5 million initiative to demonstrate functioning Digital Product Passports at scale across multiple industries. As Europe prepares for mandatory DPP implementation starting in 2027, CIRPASS 2 represents a comprehensive effort to validate DPP systems in real-world conditions while establishing frameworks that guide future adoption.
CIRPASS 2's Mission & Scope
CIRPASS 2 builds upon the foundational work of the original CIRPASS project, which concluded in March 2024 after establishing basic DPP concepts and frameworks. Built on the results of the CIRPASS project, CIRPASS 2 supports 13 pilot deployments of DPP-enabled circular use cases, across multiple complex value chains in the textiles, electronics, tires and construction sectors.
The project's primary objective involves demonstrating functioning DPPs in real settings and at scale while proving cross-pilot interoperability of the DPP Information System. DPP system interoperability is being demonstrated for all pilots and confirms viable cross-sectoral, large-scale deployment of the DPP in real-life settings. The DPP Information System being deployed is aligned to European harmonized standards and regulatory requirements.
CIRPASS 2 demonstrates the feasibility of large-scale collecting, managing, and sharing of data across long supply chains and over the products' lifetime for identifiable and measurable environmental and economic benefits. The project assesses the information understanding and satisfaction of consumers, end-users and authorities in using the DPP.
The project brings together 50 consortium partners from across Europe, led by CEA and including experienced technology providers and data space experts, running from May 2024 to April 2027.
Real-World Pilot Implementation
CIRPASS 2's 13 lighthouse pilots represent the most comprehensive effort to validate DPP systems in practical business environments. These pilots span multiple sectors with varying complexity levels: six textile pilots focusing on complex supply chain transparency, five electronics sector pilots addressing multi-component product tracking, and two additional pilots covering tires and construction materials.
Each pilot ecosystem implements the full range of DPP functionality, from issuing unique product identifiers and embedding data carriers to developing DPP data space connectors and implementing role-based access rules.
Crucially, the pilots demonstrate cross-pilot interoperability, proving that DPP systems can share data and coordinate activities across sector boundaries. This cross-sector capability becomes essential for businesses operating in multiple industries or managing complex supply chains that span different product categories. The project validates the feasibility of cross-sectoral, large-scale data collection, management, and sharing across extended circular value chains and product lifecycles.
CIRPASS 2 also places specific emphasis on supporting small and medium enterprises in DPP adoption. The project is particularly attentive to the needs of SMEs and puts emphasis on extensive expert stakeholder engagement to foster an active and innovative DPP community that lasts beyond the project lifetime.
Global Influence of DPP Standards
The impact of CIRPASS 2 extends well beyond Europe's borders. As one of the world's major economies, the EU's DPP requirements influence global supply chains and product standards worldwide. International businesses selling into European markets must comply with DPP requirements regardless of their home country regulations, creating a global impact from European policy decisions.
CIRPASS 2's technical standards and implementation approaches are likely to influence how other countries and regions develop their own product transparency and circular economy policies. The project's ontologies, data exchange protocols, and interoperability frameworks provide blueprints that other jurisdictions can adapt for their regulatory contexts.
The project's emphasis on international cooperation extends to standardization activities, with Expert Working Group 2 specifically monitoring global standardization efforts and ensuring that CIRPASS 2 developments contribute to international standards rather than creating European-only solutions. This approach helps ensure that businesses investing in DPP capabilities for European compliance can leverage those investments for global market access.
DiPPa's Role in CIRPASS 2
Within this ambitious European initiative, DiPPa participates in multiple Expert Working Groups within CIRPASS 2, contributing to both policy and technical aspects of DPP development across different sectors.
Policy Monitoring (EWG1 - Observatory Board): DiPPa contributes to monitoring DPP-related policy developments and understanding regulatory implications for business strategy. This working group tracks regulatory changes, interprets policy implications, and provides guidance on how DPP implementations should adapt to changing requirements.
Standardization Support (EWG2 - Standardization Liaisons): Through the Standardization Liaisons group, DiPPa supports efforts to ensure interoperability across different DPP systems and technologies. This work coordinates with international standards bodies and ensures that CIRPASS 2 developments contribute to global DPP standards.
Community of Practice: DiPPa participates in technology integration discussions within the Community of Practice, which focuses on involving PLM/ERP/PIM software vendors in DPP system design and deployment. This group ensures interoperability across different technologies and is limited to 100 participant entities.
Cross-Sector Engagement: DiPPa contributes to sector-specific discussions across textiles, electronics, and other industries, bringing cross-industry perspective to implementation challenges and business model development. DiPPa is involved in EWG 3 (Textile Stakeholders), EWG 4 (Electronics Stakeholders), and EWG 5 (Other industries Stakeholders).
Looking Forward
Building on the momentum created by these comprehensive efforts, CIRPASS 2 represents a critical transition from DPP concepts to practical implementation, providing the foundation for European DPP deployment while influencing global approaches to product transparency. The project's comprehensive scope addresses technical, business, and policy challenges simultaneously, recognizing that successful DPP deployment requires coordination across multiple dimensions.
Beyond immediate compliance benefits, CIRPASS 2 establishes frameworks for long-term DPP evolution as regulations expand to additional product categories and as business models adapt to circular economy requirements. The project's emphasis on stakeholder engagement and community building ensures that DPP development continues beyond the project timeline through sustained collaboration among businesses, technology providers, and policy makers.
For organizations like DiPPa participating in multiple working groups, CIRPASS 2 provides opportunities to influence DPP development across policy, technical, and business dimensions while building expertise that supports client needs as DPP requirements become mandatory. The project's comprehensive approach ensures that participants gain deep understanding of DPP implementation challenges and opportunities across different sectors and stakeholder perspectives.
DiPPa's participation in CIRPASS 2 reflects our commitment to supporting successful Digital Product Passport deployment across European industries. Through involvement in policy monitoring, standardization efforts, and cross-sector discussions, we contribute to ensuring that DPP systems meet both regulatory requirements and business needs.
References
CIRPASS 2. (2024). CIRPASS-2 Project Description - September 2024. Work Package 2, Task 2.1. Grant Agreement No. 101158775.
CIRPASS 2. (2024). Experts Working Groups and Community of Practice - Project Presentation. CIRPASS 2 Consortium.
CIRPASS 2. (2024). CIRPASS-2 - Digital Product Passport Project Overview. Retrieved from https://cirpass2.eu/
CIRPASS. (2024). CIRPASS -- Digital Product Passport. Retrieved from https://cirpassproject.eu/
European Commission. (2025, April 9). Commission launches consultation on the Digital Product Passport. Retrieved from https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/news/commission-launches-consultation-digital-product-passport-2025-04-09_en
DiPPa. (2025). Strategic Advisory for Sustainability and Circularity. Retrieved from https://www.dippa.eu/
data.europa.eu. (2025, February 13). EU's Digital Product Passport: Advancing transparency and sustainability. Retrieved from https://data.europa.eu/en/news-events/news/eus-digital-product-passport-advancing-transparency-and-sustainability
