Methodology for defining data requirements for the Digital Product Passport under the ESPR framework

This report presents a practical, step-by-step methodology to define a proposal of which data should be included in Digital Product Passports (DPPs) under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), and why it should be included. It complements and extends existing ESPR methodological work by focusing on the semantic definition and prioritisation of DPP information requirements within the specific context of the DPP, while also systematically investigating current industry data collection and data-sharing practices across product value chains. The methodology translates policy objectives and use cases into structured data needs, distinguishing essential, strongly recommended and voluntary elements through a transparent value–effort and feasibility assessment grounded in real-world practices. Technical aspects of the DPP system are addressed only to a limited extent, namely where necessary to inform decisions on data access rights, data governance and data granularity, while detailed system architecture and implementation remain outside the scope. While the approach is primarily designed to support ESPR delegated acts and impact assessments, the modular structure of methodology allows, where appropriate, to be applied beyond the ESPR framework, provided equivalent contextual and feasibility analyses are carried out, offering policymakers a consistent and scalable tool to design coherent, enforceable and future-proof DPPs.