📱Digital Product Passport

DPP Data Carrier Selection Guide

Compare QR code, Data Matrix, NFC and RFID for your product and get a recommendation

5 min
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Choose a data carrier for your passport

Answer six questions about your product. You get a ranking of QR code, Data Matrix, NFC and UHF RFID, the reasons behind it, and placement advice. The scoring is shown below so you can check it.

Where will the code sit?

How long must the code last?

What conditions will it face?

How much space is there?

Who must read it most often?

How sensitive is unit cost?

Answer the questions to see a ranking

Before you commit

The delegated act for your product group decides which carriers are accepted, so confirm it before printing.
Encode a resolvable web address, such as a GS1 Digital Link, rather than the data itself. The code then stays valid if the data moves.
A common pattern is a printed QR code or Data Matrix as the primary carrier, with an optional NFC or RFID tag for automation.
The carrier must stay readable for the product's life, so test aged and worn samples.

Scoring: each answer adds -2 to 3 points to each carrier and the ranking is the total. Fit is the total scaled between the lowest and highest carrier.

DPP Terminology Glossary ESPR Compliance Roadmap

What this tool delivers

A Digital Product Passport is reached through a data carrier on the product, its packaging or its documents. The right carrier depends on the material, the size, how long the product lasts and who needs to read it. This guide asks six questions and ranks QR code, Data Matrix, NFC and UHF RFID, with the reasons and placement advice, and shows the scoring so you can check it.

How it works

1
Answer six questions
Surface, lifetime, conditions, available space, who reads it and unit cost.
2
See a ranked result
Each answer adds points to each carrier. The ranking is the total, with strengths and limits for each.
3
Get placement advice
Advice follows your surface and lifetime answers, such as laser marking on metal or a sewn-in label on textiles.

Read the guide

QR, Data Matrix, NFC and RFID side by side, with placement and standards.

DPP data carriers compared

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How It Works

Step 1

Input Your Data

Enter your product data metrics or upload a spreadsheet

Step 2

Run Analysis

Our algorithm processes your data using industry benchmarks

Step 3

Get Results

Receive detailed report with actionable insights

Key Benefits

Save Time & Resources

Automate manual calculations and assessments that would take hours to complete manually

Data-Driven Decisions

Make informed decisions based on accurate calculations and industry benchmarks

Standardize Processes

Implement consistent processes across your team with standardized templates and calculations

Frequently Asked Questions

Which data carrier will the EU require?

It depends on the product group. Each delegated act sets which carriers are accepted, and the rules refer to ISO/IEC 15459 for unique identifiers. QR codes and Data Matrix codes are the most common choices.

Is a QR code enough for a Digital Product Passport?

For many products it is the primary carrier. It must be readable for the life of the product and link to a persistent, resolvable identifier.

What is a GS1 Digital Link?

A standard, published as ISO/IEC 18975, that puts a GTIN and optional batch or serial number into a web address. One code can then work at the till and lead to the passport.

When should I use NFC or RFID instead of a printed code?

Use them when a printed code will not survive, when the tag must be hidden, or when items must be read in bulk without line of sight. Many products use a printed code plus an optional tag.

Should the code contain the data itself?

No. Encode an identifier or web address and keep the data behind it. That way you can update or move the passport without changing the code on the product.