ETRMA sets out position on EU ‘digital product passport’

Brussels - The European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers' Association (ETRMA) has submitted its views to the European Commission’s public consultation on the digital product passport (DPP) and the requirements for service providers.

On 13 Nov 2024, the Commission launched a?call-for-evidence?to help assess the impact of upcoming requirements of DPP service providers under EU ‘ecodesign for sustainable products’ (ESPR) regulations.

Introduced on 18 July 2024, ESPR is intended to enhance the circularity, energy performance and overall environmental sustainability of products sold in the EU. 

A key component of the ESPR, the DPP, will act as a digital identity card, storing data on a product’s sustainability performance, recyclability, and environmental impact throughout its lifecycle. 

In its 11 Dec response to the Commission's public consultation, the ETRMA underlined the tire industry’s commitment to issue DPPs for the tires they place on the European market. 

Since 2022, it noted, the Global Data Service Organisation for Tyres and Automotive Components (GDSO) has promoted “lifecycle events traceability and data exchange across the tire circular economy.” 

To further support EC efforts to create a “harmonised, fair, and secure” framework for DPP service providers, the ETRMA recommended:

“Consider existing initiatives like the tire industry data space, GDSO, in the definition of DPP SP roles, as well as Data Governance Act requirements for trustable data intermediation services,

“Require self-conformity assessment to CEN/CENELEC DPP standards for the management of DPP by DPP SP,

“Require ex-ante cybersecurity certification of DPP SP to manage the business sensitivity of DPP backup copies at the right level, especially for serialised product identification,

“Guarantee a fair, transparent and affordable financing mechanism of DPP services that is inclusive and future-proof over product-lifetime,

“Provide a clear roadmap with sufficient time for implementation to cope with the complexity of the system and the number of remaining open questions.”