Glossary
Data Carrier (DPP)
The physical mark on a product — usually a QR code, NFC tag or RFID — that points scanners to the product's Digital Product Passport.
ESPR is technology-neutral about which data carrier brands use, but in practice the EU expects most consumer products to carry a GS1 Digital Link QR code. Higher-value or in-hand-experience products often add NFC or RFID as well.
The carrier must be durable for the product's expected lifetime, applied per individual item (or per logical unit), and resolve to a passport that meets the relevant delegated act's data requirements.
Related terms
QR Code
A 2D matrix barcode that encodes a URL or data string and can be scanned with any modern smartphone camera.
NFC (Near Field Communication)
A short-range wireless standard that lets a smartphone read a passive tag by tapping it — no app, no camera, no aiming required.
GS1 Digital Link
A GS1 standard that turns a product's GTIN into a resolvable web URL, letting a single QR code serve consumers, retailers, regulators and supply-chain systems.
Digital Product Passport (DPP)
A structured, digital record of a product's identity, materials, supply chain and sustainability data, accessible via a data carrier such as a QR code or NFC tag.