Digital Product Passports (DPP) and the GS1 transition: verifiable ground truth at the scan

Digital Product Passports and the July 2026 deadline

The Digital Product Passport is a live, machine-readable record linked to a product (e.g. via QR code, 2D barcode, or NFC). It can carry information on origin, composition, repairability, and end-of-life handling. By July 2026, many sectors in the EU must provide this "live digital twin" to demonstrate that products meet requirements on repairability, ethical sourcing, or circular economy. That shift is part of the broader GS1 transition: standardised identifiers and data formats so that products can be traced and verified consistently across supply chains.

In practice, that means when someone (a recycler, a repairer, a customs officer, or a consumer) scans the product's code, they need to get verifiable, up-to-date information. Not a static PDF, but a query against the current state of the product record. The buzzwords verifiable ground truth and machine-readable traceability capture this: the scan resolves to a trusted, machine-readable answer without requiring the scanner to hold or store the product's full history.

The recycler question: "Is this safe to shred?"

When a recycler scans a product's 2D barcode at end-of-life, they often need a simple, decisive answer: does this product contain hazardous materials that would make shredding or processing unsafe or non-compliant? They do not necessarily need the full Digital Product Passport, or the entire history of the product. They need a binary outcome: safe to shred (YES) or not (NO). That is exactly what a stateless eligibility engine can deliver.

AffixIO queries the manufacturer's (or data holder's) live database in real time. The product identifier from the scan (e.g. from the QR code or NFC tag) is used to look up the current record; the system evaluates the relevant rule (e.g. hazardous material status); and the API returns only YES or NO. No need to store the product's entire history. No need to replicate the full DPP. Just verify the current state statelessly.

The AffixIO play: QR, NFC, and binary verification

AffixIO already supports QR codes and NFC tags as identifiers. That fits the DPP and GS1 world directly: the product carries a code or tag; the scanner reads it; the identifier is sent to the AffixIO API. AffixIO then:

1. Resolves the identifier to the manufacturer's or data holder's live data source (e.g. product registry, DPP backend).
2. Evaluates the rule configured for that use case (e.g. "Does this product contain hazardous materials?" or "Is this safe to shred?").
3. Returns a binary result: YES or NO. No full passport, no history dump; just the eligibility outcome.

This is the same stateless proof flow we use elsewhere: identifier (from QR or NFC), unified API, real-time query against external data, binary outcome. No PII stored; no central copy of every product's full history. The manufacturer remains the source of truth for the live digital twin; AffixIO is the verification layer. See zero-knowledge proofs and manufacturing for how we support traceability and compliance.

Why stateless verification fits DPP and GS1

No need to store full product history

You do not need to replicate or store the product's entire Digital Product Passport. You verify the current state on demand. That reduces data duplication, keeps the source of truth with the manufacturer, and aligns with data minimisation.

Machine-readable traceability

The scan returns a machine-readable, binary result. That supports automation at the recycler, in the warehouse, or at the border. Verifiable ground truth at the point of scan, without pulling down a full document.

Audit-ready

Pseudonymised or minimal audit logs can record that a check was performed, for which product identifier, and what the result was (e.g. safe to shred: YES/NO). Recyclers and regulators get evidence of due diligence; the full product record stays with the data holder.

Circuits for this trend

Use these circuit IDs with the AffixIO API. List all circuits: GET https://api.affix-io.com/v1/circuits (see openapi.json). Run a check: POST /v1/verify with identifier and circuit_id.

• cross-timestamp-proof (Timestamp Proof)
• audit-proof (Audit Proof)
• composite (Composite Circuit)

How AffixIO fits in

AffixIO provides the verification layer for product identifiers (QR, NFC, and other supported inputs). Our API is built for stateless, real-time queries and binary outcomes; we do not store product history or PII. That makes us a natural fit for DPP and GS1 use cases: the scanner sends the product identifier; we query the configured data source; we return YES or NO for the rule you need (e.g. safe to shred, repairability status, or other eligibility criteria). Integration with your product registry, DPP backend, or recycling workflow is part of the implementation. If you are preparing for July 2026 and need verifiable ground truth at the scan without centralising full passport data, we would be glad to discuss. Contact hello@affix-io.com or use our contact page for API access and integration options.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Digital Product Passport (DPP)?

A Digital Product Passport is a live, machine-readable record linked to a product (e.g. via QR code or NFC) that provides information on origin, composition, repairability, and end-of-life handling. By July 2026, many sectors in the EU must provide this "live digital twin" to prove products are repairable or ethically sourced. DPPs support the circular economy and the GS1 transition to standardised, machine-readable traceability.

What is the GS1 transition in supply chains?

The GS1 transition refers to the move toward global standards (e.g. barcodes, 2D codes, identifiers) so that products can be identified and traced consistently across supply chains. Digital Product Passports often use GS1-compatible identifiers. When a recycler or other actor scans a product, they need to resolve that identifier to actionable, verifiable information (e.g. is this safe to shred?) without necessarily storing the product's full history.

What does "safe to shred" mean for recyclers?

When a recycler scans a product's 2D barcode, they need to know whether it contains hazardous materials that would make shredding or processing unsafe or non-compliant. Instead of pulling the product's entire history, a stateless check can query the manufacturer's live database and return a binary YES (safe to shred) or NO (contains hazardous materials or unknown). AffixIO can perform this check in real time and return only the result; no need to store the product's full passport data.

How does AffixIO work with QR codes and NFC for DPP?

AffixIO already supports QR codes and NFC tags as identifiers. When a device scans the code or tag, the identifier is sent to the AffixIO API. AffixIO queries the manufacturer's (or data holder's) live database in real time and returns a binary outcome (e.g. safe to shred: YES/NO, or another eligibility rule). No full product history is stored by AffixIO; verification is stateless and reflects the current state of the product record.

Why use stateless verification for Digital Product Passports?

Stateless verification means you do not need to store the product's entire history or a full copy of the DPP. You verify the current state (e.g. hazardous material status) on demand, in real time, and get only a binary result. That reduces data duplication, keeps the source of truth with the manufacturer, and fits regulatory and circular-economy requirements for verifiable ground truth and machine-readable traceability without centralising all product data.

Is the hazardous material check audit-ready?

Yes. Pseudonymised or minimal audit logs can record that a check was performed, for which product identifier, and what the result was (e.g. safe to shred: YES/NO), without storing the full product passport or history. Recyclers and regulators get evidence of due diligence; the manufacturer remains the source of truth for the live digital twin.