Digital Product Passport: Driving RFID into the Mainstream

Kurt Bischof: From all we can see today, the Digital Product Passport is well on track – and it will happen. Textiles are one of the first sectors in focus, and the standardization work through CEN JTC24 is already defining unique identifiers and data structures. This ensures that every smart device, from smartphones to industrial scanners, will be able to access DPP data seamlessly.

For retailers and brand owners, this opens up entirely new channels:

The DPP will offer tremendous opportunities for direct marketing to the consumer. And that’s on top of regulatory compliance.

Kurt Bischof: While the DPP can support different data carriers, NFC and RAIN RFID have clear advantages. They allow for automation, bulk reading, and frictionless consumer interaction. At NXP, we actively develop both technologies, and we believe that a dual-technology approach is the best way to avoid market fragmentation and ensure broad adoption.

The DPP is expected to drive widespread adoption of RFID, particularly RAIN RFID and NFC. These technologies are already mature and scalable – and the regulatory momentum from the EU makes it unlikely that DPP will remain a pilot project.

Kurt Bischof: The goal is clear: every smart device must be able to access the DPP data of the product in hand. The European Union will define what data attributes are stored and how they are structured, ensuring true interoperability across industries. At NXP, we are closely involved with industry alliances and standardization bodies to make this vision a reality.

Kurt Bischof: Compliance is just the starting point. The DPP offers tremendous opportunities for brands and retailers. Imagine consumers who have lost their product manuals or need repair instructions years after purchase – with the DPP, that data is just a tap away on their smartphone. It also supports resale markets, as verified product data builds trust and strengthens the circular economy.

Kurt Bischof: The DPP will influence the entire product lifecycle:

• In production and supply chains, it enables real-time tracking and more accurate inventory management.

• In consumer engagement, it delivers transparency about origin, sustainability, and available services.

• For the environment, it encourages recycling and responsible resource use.

Kurt Bischof: The economic operators – mainly brands and retailers – will oversee the DPP databases. The cost of applying data carriers, such as RAIN RFID tags, depends on existing supplier agreements. But this isn’t entirely new. Retailers already use similar agreements today for RFID, so no big structural changes are necessary.

Kurt Bischof: With both regulatory pressure and consumer demand, the DPP marks a defining moment. RAIN RFID and NFC are mature, scalable technologies, and the momentum from the EU makes it very unlikely that the DPP will remain just a pilot. At NXP, we see this as more than technology – it’s about shaping the way physical products and digital services come together in the future economy.