When you scan the square code on a product, you may find more than a promotional page: you may also see information about the materials used, environmental impacts, repairs, and end-of-life options. The European Union’s Digital Product Passport aims to create a standardized digital identity for products, components, and materials. The system is based on Regulation 2024/1781, known as the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, and is being introduced gradually by product group.
This development does not mean that every product sold in Turkey will immediately have the same passport. Requirements vary according to the product group, applicable legislation, and conditions under which the product is placed on the market. However, these passports will become increasingly visible to manufacturers exporting products to the EU and to consumers buying those products. The European Commission lists certain types of batteries among the first areas of application; groups such as textiles, iron and steel, and construction products are expected to follow later.
## What can a Digital Product Passport provide?
The exact fields in the passport are not the same for every product group. To the extent permitted or required by the relevant rules, it may include the product’s origin, material composition, carbon or environmental footprint, durability, repairability, hazardous substances, and recycling instructions. User manuals, spare-parts information, or disassembly instructions may also be added to the system.
It is therefore misleading to think of the passport as a single “environmental score.” Its real value lies in bringing information from different stages together under the same product identity. Consumers can make better purchasing decisions, repair professionals can identify the correct part, and recycling facilities can learn how to separate the materials. Competent authorities can also access the data needed for compliance and market surveillance.
## Check security before scanning the code
The data carrier on the product may often be a symbol similar to a QR code. Not every QR code is trustworthy, however. Before scanning it, check for a sticker that appears to have been added later, covers the label underneath, or does not match the other printing on the package. Examine the domain name in the link preview displayed by your phone. Do not open the page if the address is misspelled, shortened, or unrelated.
Being asked to enter bank card details, a password, or an SMS code, or to install an unnecessary app to access the passport, is not part of a normal product-information flow. If you are asked for personal data, type the manufacturer’s official website address yourself and verify the passport link there. The fact that a square code is printed on a physical product does not automatically make everything it links to trustworthy.
## Review five areas before buying
First, verify the product identity. The model, serial, or batch number should match the color, capacity, and production variant. If the model on the package differs from the one in the passport, ask the seller for an explanation. This check can help you detect whether data from similar products has been used accidentally or deliberately.
Second, review the durability and repair data. Important details include how long spare parts will be supplied, whether the battery can be replaced, who can access the repair manual, and whether special tools are required. The term “repairable” is not enough on its own; the price and availability of the part determine whether repair is realistically possible.
Third, assess the section on materials and chemical content. The proportion of recycled content is not the same as the proportion of the product that can be recycled at the end of its useful life. The former describes inputs used in production, while the latter describes the potential after use. Read warnings about hazardous substances carefully, especially for children’s products, textiles, batteries, and electronics.
Fourth, question the scope of environmental claims. If a carbon value is provided, check whether it covers production, transportation, use, end of life, or some combination of these stages. Two figures calculated using different methods may not be directly comparable. If the measurement standard, verifying organization, and date of the data are not given, do not treat the result as a definitive ranking.
Fifth, examine the end-of-life instructions. The product may need to be kept out of household waste, have its battery removed, or be taken to a designated collection point. Knowing the return, reuse, and recycling options at the time of purchase helps you calculate the total cost of ownership more realistically.
## A practical way to compare two products
Compare products in the same class and with similar capacities. Create a table listing the warranty period, expected useful life, duration of spare-parts support, price of essential parts, energy consumption, and recycling route. Do not make the purchase price your only criterion. A slightly more expensive product with a replaceable battery and long-term parts support may cost less per year of use.
Compare the passport data with the manufacturer’s sales copy as well. If an advertisement makes a broad claim such as “completely sustainable” while the passport shows only the recycled content of the packaging, the two statements do not mean the same thing. Ask the seller about the discrepancy in writing and retain the response with your purchase documents.
## What does the passport not guarantee?
A digital passport alone does not guarantee that a product is genuine. A code can be copied, or a link for an authentic product can be attached to another item. The product identity, serial number, seller’s reliability, invoice, and physical security features should be evaluated together. The passport also does not mean that every environmental claim has been independently verified; the source of the data and level of oversight may vary from one field to another.
The ability to update information over time is useful, but it also makes screenshots valuable. In particular, save warranty, spare-parts, and maintenance information as a PDF at the time of purchase or document it with screenshots. If the content changes later, you will have a dated record.
The Digital Product Passport is a powerful tool for informed shopping. It works best not when you scan the code blindly, but when you verify the identity and question the scope of the data. By considering the model match, repair options, material content, calculation method, and end-of-life plan together, you can assess not just the product’s price tag but its entire life cycle.