Conference replay
The Digital Product Passport (DPP) is moving ahead fast: it’s no longer a subject for “later”, but a trajectory that will gradually affect a large proportion of products placed on the European market. During this evening, the idea was not to drown the audience in acronyms, but to put the facts on the table: what the DPP imposes, what it changes in companies, and how to prepare for it without suffering.
PLR is no longer a "prospective" issue: it's an industrial shift
Right from the opening, Diana de Bernardy (Circularity and Sustainability Market Manager) sets the scene: the Digital Product Passport (DPP ) is gradually becoming a new backbone for organizing product information, with a focus on the circular economy and compliance.
The idea is simple on paper: a digital passport that gathers key information (origin, composition, repairability, recyclability, etc.) to enable :
- more sustainable choices for consumers,
- better repair/reuse/recycle,
- and increased compliance monitoring by the authorities.
But what the conference reminds us is that behind this “digital product sheet”, there is above all a change in method: structuring, governing and sharing data… without losing control.
A calendar to keep in mind (and integrate into roadmaps)
One of the most actionable contributions comes from Vincent Routaboul (Managing Director, TephraOne): beyond the main principles, it’s the PLR timetable that must guide preparation – because not all sectors will be affected at the same pace.
In his speech, he recalls a provisional timetable for the adoption of sectoral delegated acts.
2026
Iron and steel
2027
Textiles
2027
Tires
2027
Aluminum
2028
Furnishings
2029
Mattresses
And when it comes to regulatory milestones, the “macro” chronology (presented by GS1) helps explain why many companies have the impression that “the rules are known… but not the conditions of application”: entry into force, work plan, delegated acts, standards, then gradual implementation.
Message to remember: the subject isn’t “when does it fall?”, but “how can we be ready before it falls?”, because data/IT/ground projects always take longer than expected.
From regulatory texts to day-to-day operations
When Vincent Routaboul talks about PLR, he immediately links it to very concrete realities: border controls, digitization of conformity (up to digital CE marking), the fight against fraud, traceability throughout the product’s life and access to information for consumers and authorities.
And above all, he insists on a point that is often underestimated: “the timetable is known, but we’re waiting for the delegated acts” – in other words, implementation must start without waiting to have 100% of the details, or risk falling behind at a time when everything is speeding up.
Data: the real heart of the passport (and the real sticking point)
Another highlight: Jérémy Paris (CTO, TephraOne) put data back at the center, without any detours. In his speech, he reminds us that passport data is a foundation: it gives the product an identity, links static and dynamic data, and becomes a strategic asset – provided it is mastered.
The problem? In many organizations, useful information already exists… but it’s :
- scattered,
- in heterogeneous formats,
- distributed between several tools and players.
His conclusion is crystal-clear: the challenge is not simply to “fit a QR code”, but to orchestrate a complete system (collection, security, exchanges, interfaces, access rights), with structuring choices: cloud vs. on-premise, RFID/QR/NFC depending on usage, authentication, even blockchain depending on the context.
RFID, field and execution: "it's not an IT project".
On the very operational side, Lucas Gautier (Channel Sales Engineering Manager, Zebra Technologies) provides a “frontline” reading: for the PLR to live, you need reliable means of capturing data and circulating information in real flows (warehouse, store, workshop, returns, maintenance…).
His message is deliberately blunt: RFID isn’t an IT project, it’s a change of operating model. And he encourages us to get started, however small, because speed of execution will make all the difference when the pressure mounts.
As a mirror image, the conference also shows how “field” bricks (RFID reading, terminals, automation, embedded AI) fit together with “system” bricks (APIs, ERP integration, rights management, data services) to build something robust.
Focus on tires: Michelin shows what it means to "go to scale".
Finally, the conference takes a step back with a very telling example: the tire industry, where the PLR can support a better-equipped circular economy. The case of tires is an excellent example, because it forces us to think about traceability over a long life cycle, with multiple hands, and very concrete circularity issues. Pierre Guinault (RFID System Manager, Michelin) explains how the industry has structured itself around unitary identification and data access services, and how this naturally paves the way for a PLR that aims for continuity over the life cycle (use, retreading, end-of-life, recycling).
The principles put forward: durable unique identification, decentralized architecture (not a duplication of all the databases), and governance of access rights (not everyone needs to see everything).
The CIRPASS2 project is presented as a “full-scale” learning ground, with validation objectives at scale and results expected over several years.
In the background: compliance... and opportunity
The common conclusion of the various presentations was that, yes, PLR is a constraint. But if well prepared, it can become a lever for innovation: greater transparency, reinforced trust, new services (post-sale monitoring, predictive maintenance, better-valued end-of-life), and more intelligent management thanks to data.
And this is probably the most useful thread of the conference: don’t treat PLR as a “box to tick”, but as a cross-functional project where compliance, data, field tools and governance need to move forward together – with the timetable in mind from now on.
CIPAM's PLR offer: an end-to-end approach
At CIPAM, PLR is a natural extension of our core business: making traceability real, industrializable and maintainable. We support you from analysis and scoping through to integration and operation, with one priority: making data reliable. Because a PLR is more than just an identifier, we also integrate the building blocks that secure and enrich the information (control, verification, automation).
Want to know where you stand on PLR and where to start?
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