With the entry into force of the ESPR – Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, the chemical industry can prepare documents linked to a future Digital Product Passport (DPP). The objective is clear: to increase transparency, improve traceability, and make the entire supply chain more sustainable.
The chemical sector represents one of the pillars of the European economy, providing essential raw materials and products used daily in numerous industrial and civil applications. Precisely because of its environmental and health impact, it has long been subject to stringent regulations, such as the REACH regulation and the obligation to prepare and update safety data sheets.
The ESPR has been in force since 18 July 2024, but there is no general passport obligation for chemicals. The 2025-2030 work plan provides preparatory studies on paints, detergents, lubricants and chemicals. For detergents Regulation (EU) 2026/405 introduces a passport from 23 September 2029. The Digital Product Passport will apply only to product groups covered by the relevant rules, rather than all chemicals. Paints, lubricants and basic chemicals are covered by preparatory studies; detergents follow the separate date above.
The Digital Product Passport in the Chemical Sector: How to Prepare Product Documents
There is no current passport obligation for every chemical product. Where the relevant law requires it, a chemical product – whether a can of paint, a detergent, or a drum of industrial solvent – may be linked to a digital dossier containing all relevant information on its composition, use, and environmental impact.
The DPP collects, among other things:
the list of chemical substances present, with an indication of any hazardous components;
the technical characteristics of the product;
data on the environmental footprint, such as CO₂ emissions generated during production;
instructions for correct use and safe disposal.
This information is accessible via a digital identifier, for example, a QR code applied to the packaging. The digital passport complements and integrates traditional labels and technical data sheets, offering a higher level of detail, up-to-dateness, and usability for all actors in the supply chain.
Information Always Available for Operators and Users
Take the case of a can of paint equipped with a digital passport: the painter, by scanning the QR code, can immediately access the updated safety data sheet, verify the presence of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and their respective quantities, know the precautions to be taken during application, and receive clear instructions on how to manage residues and packaging correctly and sustainably.
The same approach applies to an industrial lubricant. The digital passport can indicate the percentage of recycled oil used, the quality certifications obtained, and instructions for regenerating or disposing of used oil. This allows for more conscious product use and more efficient management of chemical waste, with concrete benefits for the environment and operator safety.
Faster and Digitalized Regulatory Controls
For product groups for which a passport will be required, the digitalization of information also facilitates control and oversight activities. The data contained in the digital passport is available for consultation at any time by the competent authorities.
For example, customs authorities, during import, can automatically verify the existence and authenticity of a chemical product's digital passport. This makes it easier to identify non-compliant goods or products containing prohibited substances, contributing to a safer, more transparent European market aligned with regulations.
Operational Adjustment for Chemical Companies
For businesses in the chemical sector, preparation for future product-specific rules can involve the need to manage large quantities of technical information for each product and to keep it constantly updated.
Many companies already have systems for formulation management and structured procedures for updating safety data sheets. However, the digital passport requires an additional step: making this data immediately accessible online, sharing part of it in a standard format, and ensuring that every update – such as a new hazard classification or an environmental certification – is consistently propagated to all product units already placed on the market.
Certiblok® as Support for the Digital Product Passport
Ahead of product-specific rules, solutions like Certiblok® represent concrete support for chemical companies. The platform allows all relevant product documents – formulations, analysis certificates, safety data sheets – to be uploaded into a decentralized and protected cloud archive.
Each product is associated with a public QR code, applicable to the label or container. Scanning the code provides access to the always-updated digital passport. If a formulation changes or a new version of the safety data sheet is published, the company updates the document only once on Certiblok®, immediately making the latest version available to all users. The platform can also send automatic notifications to customers, ensuring proactive communication compliant with regulatory requirements.
Data Security and Information Continuity
Files are encrypted with AES-256, split into 80 shards and distributed on a decentralised cloud; each edit creates a new version, previous versions are retained and activity is logged. This drastically reduces the need to reprint labels or send manual communications: the QR code becomes the unique and reliable access point to product information throughout the chemical lifecycle, in full consistency with a digital passport when required by the applicable rules.
A More Transparent, Digital, and Sustainable Chemistry
Ahead of product-specific rules, Chemistry 4.0 translates into more accessible data and more controlled processes. Where required, the Digital Product Passport can turn each bottle, canister, or bag of substance into a “speaking” object, capable of providing all the necessary information for correct use and disposal.
For companies adopting tools like Certiblok®, preparing the documents becomes into a concrete opportunity: less paper documentation, greater customer trust, and structural alignment with European regulations, supporting an increasingly sustainable, traceable, and responsible chemical industry.
