The DPP shift furniture brands must face

Furniture brands are under growing pressure to prove their products are recyclable, responsibly sourced, and built to last. With new EU regulations on the horizon, digital product passports (DPPs) are emerging as a practical way to share verified, product-level data across the supply chain.

From material sourcing to end-of-life instructions, a DPP makes this information accessible through a simple QR code. Industries like footwear are already using passports to support resale and sustainability goals, and furniture is next.

To stay competitive and compliant, furniture makers need a scalable strategy for managing product information and publishing it where it matters.

Here’s what this guide covers:

• What is the EU ESPR and how will it impact furniture makers?
• What data will a furniture digital product passport need to include?
• How does product information management (PIM) enable DPP compliance for furniture?
• What are the business benefits of furniture DPPs?
• How can you launch a furniture digital product passport in phases?
• What does a circular DPP program look like in practice?

What is the EU ESPR and how will it impact furniture makers?

The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) is the European Union’s flagship policy to make products placed on the EU market more sustainable, transparent, and circular. It sets a legal foundation for requiring digital product passports (DPPs) across high-impact sectors, including furniture.

Under the ESPR, manufacturers will be expected to document and share detailed information about product materials, origin, environmental impact, durability, and end-of-life options.

This data must be machine-readable and accessible through a product’s DPP, typically via a QR code or embedded chip. The goal is to support informed decision-making for consumers and businesses, and to reduce waste by making reuse, repair, and recycling easier.

For the furniture industry, this shift will affect how products are designed, how supply chain data is gathered, and how information is shared after the point of sale.

Similar to what’s already underway in the footwear category, compliance will likely require collaboration between sourcing, compliance, design, and IT teams to ensure product data is structured and centrally managed.

While ESPR is still in rollout, key timelines are approaching. Delegated acts specifying DPP requirements for furniture are expected around 2026, with pilot implementations to follow and full enforcement by 2030.

Acting early gives furniture brands a head start on regulatory readiness and opens the door to new circular business models already gaining traction in other sectors.

What data will a furniture digital product passport need to include?

A digital product passport (DPP) for furniture will need to capture detailed, structured information that enables circular use, regulatory compliance, and consumer transparency.

While final requirements are expected closer to 2026, guidance from the CIRPASS project and similar regulations already outlines key data fields.

1. Core product details

• Model name, product type, SKU, and GTIN
• Dimensions and weight
• Material codes and version identifiers

2. Material composition

• Breakdown of wood types and origin
• Recycled content percentages
• Surface materials, upholstery, adhesives, fasteners
• Relevant certifications (FSC, PEFC)

3. Chemical and emissions disclosures

• Coatings, glues, and flame retardants
• VOC levels and safety limits
• REACH compliance information

4. Repairability and dismantling

• Disassembly instructions by part
• List of replaceable components
• Spare part availability and sourcing

5. Environmental impact metrics

• Carbon footprint per unit
• Water and energy usage during production
• Durability test results

6. End-of-life and recycling information

• Compatibility with recycling streams
• Reuse or second-life guidance
• Take-back or collection program availability

How does product information management (PIM) enable DPP compliance for furniture?

Each furniture item may include dozens of attributes related to materials, finishes, repairability, and sustainability.

A modern PIM system makes it possible to group and manage these attributes by product type or category, ensuring consistency across collections.

It also allows for version control, so updates to one material or finish can automatically apply across all affected SKUs.

For DPP compliance, furniture brands need verified data that reflects both design specifications and supplier input.

To ensure accuracy, PIM platforms support supplier validation workflows. Brands can assign access to external partners to upload documents or confirm data fields, reducing back-and-forth and improving traceability upstream.

Once the data is ready, PIM enables syndication to QR codes, BIM object libraries, resale platforms, and digital customer experiences. It acts as the single source of truth across every touchpoint.

This level of integration is essential for traceability. Many companies are combining PIM with recall, ERP, and manufacturing systems to support data flow from sourcing through end-of-life.

Brands investing in this type of infrastructure are seeing better audit readiness, stronger supplier accountability, and faster time to compliance.

If you’re building out your foundation for traceable product data, you may find it helpful to explore how other manufacturers are using PIM to strengthen their traceability strategies.

What are the business benefits of furniture DPPs?

Digital product passports help furniture brands go beyond compliance by improving transparency, supporting new revenue channels, and reducing operational risk.

Here are some of the key advantages:

1. Strengthen sustainability claims

A DPP provides verified, product-level data that supports ESG messaging and meets regulatory disclosure requirements. This helps brands avoid greenwashing and builds trust with customers and partners.

2. Improve resale and trade-in potential

Products with traceable material data, care instructions, and authentication details are better suited for resale platforms or brand-run refurbishment programs. This extends product life and supports circular business models.

3. Support repair and spare part services

By including information about replaceable components and disassembly steps, DPPs make it easier to offer maintenance or repair services—either in-house or through third-party providers.

4. Simplify compliance and reporting

DPPs consolidate technical data that can be reused for audits, certifications, and regulatory reports. This reduces the burden on product, quality, and compliance teams.

5. Enhance customer experience

Scannable DPPs can be used post-purchase to deliver care guides, recycling instructions, or warranty details. This deepens engagement and adds long-term value for the customer.

6. Enable circular design decisions

Visibility into product materials and lifespan enables design teams to make better choices about recyclability, sourcing, and construction methods.

How can you launch a furniture digital product passport in phases?

Taking a staged approach helps brands avoid data bottlenecks and technical gaps while building a strong foundation for future compliance and circular services. Here’s a step-by-step path to get started:

1. Stakeholder alignment

Bring together product, sustainability, IT, sourcing, and compliance teams to define goals, responsibilities, and timeline. Early alignment ensures consistent priorities across departments.

2. Build attribute structure

Define the data fields your DPP will include—such as material composition, VOC content, or repairability. Use modular attribute groups to manage variations across product types while keeping the structure scalable.

3. System and supplier onboarding

Configure your PIM and related systems to manage DPP data. At the same time, engage suppliers to provide the necessary information and documentation. Consider adding portals or automated workflows to streamline this process.

4. Deploy QR or NFC technology

Choose the best tagging method for your products and production flow. Embed scannable codes during manufacturing or packaging so customers and partners can access DPP content at any stage.

5. Launch and optimize

Start with a limited product line to validate your process, then scale gradually. Use internal feedback and customer data to refine the experience, improve data accuracy, and expand integrations.

What does a circular DPP program look like in practice?

A circular digital product passport (DPP) program supports reuse, repair, and recycling across a product’s entire lifecycle. For furniture brands, that means linking design, supply chain, and post-sale systems to deliver accurate, accessible product data wherever and whenever it’s needed.

Two brands leading this shift are Living Spaces and Jordan’s Furniture, both using Inriver to power connected, traceable product experiences.

Living Spaces

Living Spaces uses Inriver to manage a vast catalog of furniture products with complex attributes. By centralizing data like materials, dimensions, and care instructions, they’ve laid the foundation for DPPs that can support transparency at every touchpoint.

This structured product data is also key to resale enablement and customer-facing tools like QR labels, which provide extended content after purchase.

Read the full case study

Jordan’s Furniture

Jordan’s Furniture has taken a similar approach, focusing on data accuracy and control to ensure product information is consistent across sales channels.

Their investment in PIM makes it easier to maintain content related to repairability, sustainability certifications, and material sourcing—all essential components of a circular DPP.

This positions the brand to support services like refurbishment, trade-in programs, and recycling initiatives down the line.

Read the full case study

In both cases, structured data is doing more than just supporting internal workflows—it’s becoming a bridge between the brand and the customer.

As DPP requirements evolve, brands like these are showing how connected product information can fuel circular business models while improving operational efficiency and consumer trust.

A circular DPP program starts with accurate data, but its real value is unlocked when that data drives action beyond the point of sale.

Digitize, disclose, and design for what comes next

Digital product passports offer a path to regulatory readiness, stronger customer engagement, and long-term circular value. Starting now gives your team time to build the right data foundation, align systems, and unlock new business models built on transparency.

Inriver makes it easier to manage and distribute the structured product data DPPs require at scale. Whether you’re preparing for ESPR compliance or launching a circular product program, we’re here to help.

Get started now and explore how Inriver supports DPP success.