Turn compliance into a competitive edge

Did you know only about 14 % of cosmetics packaging even reaches recycling plants and only 9 % gets recycled? That’s right. Most of its single-use plastic, lingering in landfills for centuries. As someone handling product data with Inriver’s PIM, this is a business opportunity.

With the EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan rolling out, digital product passports (DPPs) are on the horizon. And they’re more than compliance tools. Think of digital product passports for cosmetics as powerful interfaces connecting your product’s story from raw material sourcing to disposal with the consumer.

Imagine enabling people to scan or tap their beauty product and instantly learn about ingredient origins, ethical manufacturing methods, allergen info, and recycling instructions.

That’s what happens when you integrate a digital product passport cosmetics program with Inriver’s PIM. You centralize the right data, enrich it, and publish it cleanly, making sustainability claims verifiable and engaging.

To understand how digital product passports can reshape the cosmetics industry—from meeting regulations to building stronger customer connections—here’s what we’ll cover:

• What is a digital product passport for cosmetics?
• Why is the EU Making DPPs mandatory? 
• What goes into a beauty product digital ID? 
• Transparency isn’t optional anymore 
• From compliance to consumer engagement 
• Why PIM is essential for managing DPP data 
• Redefine the cosmetics industry with Inriver 

What is a digital product passport for cosmetics?

A digital product passport is a digital file linked to a product, typically accessed by scanning a QR code or tapping an NFC chip. It’s the full story of a product’s lifecycle. 

For cosmetics, a DPP includes ingredient sourcing, ethical manufacturing details, packaging materials, shelf life, allergens, and recycling instructions. It makes it easy for consumers to verify if a lipstick is vegan, whether a cream is cruelty-free, or how to responsibly dispose of a bottle. 

By offering clarity, DPPs empower consumers to make informed decisions while holding brands accountable. With Inriver’s PIM, all this information is managed in one place. Structured, accurate, and always up to date.

Why is the EU making DPPs mandatory? 

The European Union is moving quickly toward making digital product passports a legal requirement through Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation. This law will apply to cosmetics and other industries starting in the coming years. 

Under the regulation, every product must carry a digital passport containing traceable information about its environmental impact and supply chain. This isn’t optional. Brands that want to sell in Europe will have to comply with the rules. 

But there’s an upside. Meeting these requirements early gives brands a competitive edge. Inriver’s PIM system simplifies compliance by helping brands collect, format, and distribute this data across all channels. 

What goes into a beauty product digital ID? 

A beauty product digital ID isn’t just a high-tech ingredient list but a transparent record of the product’s entire journey. 

It includes where each ingredient came from, what certifications the product has (like organic or cruelty-free), any allergens, how long it lasts, and how it should be disposed of. Some even go further, offering tutorials, refill options, or links to recycling programs. 

This kind of digital identity turns a product into more than just packaging—it becomes a trusted source of truth. With Inriver, all this information is built into your PIM, ready to be turned into a digital passport and shared across your website, packaging, and even in-store displays. 

Transparency isn’t optional anymore 

Consumers today don’t just want pretty packaging. They want to know what’s inside. Is it safe? Is it sustainable? Is it ethically made? 

A cosmetic transparency passport makes those answers clear and accessible. By scanning a product, customers can learn exactly what they’re using—and what it took to make it. This builds trust, sets your brand apart, and reduces the risk of greenwashing accusations. 

With Inriver, it’s easy to maintain this level of openness. All product data lives in one place, so updates are consistent and reliable across every touchpoint. The result? A brand that’s not just compliant, but genuinely transparent. 

From compliance to consumer engagement 

While compliance is the initial driver behind digital product passports, the real opportunity lies in how they can transform the way beauty brands connect with consumers. At first glance, DPPs might seem like regulatory checklists. But in practice, they become digital gateways for deeper consumer relationships. 

Imagine this: A customer picks up a moisturizer and scans the QR code. Instantly, they’re shown where the ingredients were sourced, whether the product is vegan, how to recycle the packaging, and maybe even a video of the ethical farming practices used. That single scan builds trust, sparks interest, and elevates the product from purchase to experience. 

This level of interaction turns passive consumers into active participants. They’re no longer guessing what’s in their products; they’re discovering it. This transparency builds loyalty and gives consumers a reason to return, share, and advocate for your brand. 

Inriver’s PIM makes this seamless. By managing the data behind the scenes from sourcing to shelf, you can create engaging digital content tied to real product details. Compliance, yes. But more importantly, a more informed, connected, and loyal customer base. 

Why PIM is essential for managing DPP data 

You can’t build a digital passport without data—and lots of it. From ingredient sourcing and manufacturing details to certifications and recycling instructions, every piece of information needs to be organized, up-to-date, and accessible. 

That’s where Inriver’s PIM comes in. It acts as the central hub where all your product data lives. Instead of juggling spreadsheets or relying on disconnected systems, PIM brings everything together into one consistent source of truth. 

Need to update ingredient information for a product line across 10 countries? No problem. With PIM, changes are instant and consistent. Want to ensure your DPPs meet EU standards while also delighting customers with educational content? Inriver helps you do both. 

A strong PIM powers DPP creation. It enables automation, personalization, and compliance, all while reducing errors and saving time. In a world moving quickly toward transparency, having the right data infrastructure is important. 

Redefine the cosmetics industry with Inriver 

Digital product passports are redefining the cosmetics industry from regulatory compliance to deeper consumer engagement. They serve as digital identities for beauty products, enabling full transparency on sourcing, production, sustainability, and disposal.  

By integrating DPPs with technologies like QR codes, NFC, and blockchain, brands can share vital product information while building trust and loyalty. With Inriver’s robust PIM, companies can manage, enrich, and deliver this information across every touchpoint making the entire process streamlined and scalable. 

The cosmetics industry faces increasing pressure to become more transparent and sustainable, yet fragmented supply chains and disjointed data often make this difficult. Consumers want to know what’s in their products, where ingredients come from, and how to responsibly dispose of packaging. 

Inriver’s PIM helps solve this by centralizing all relevant product information, structuring it for DPPs, and ensuring consistency across packaging, digital interfaces, and regulatory systems. It empowers brands to deliver accurate, engaging, and compliant digital product passports without added complexity. 

Now is the time to lead the transformation. Don’t wait for regulations to catch up and start building consumer trust and future-proofing your brand today. Integrate Inriver into your DPP strategy and turn your product data into a powerful engine for sustainability, transparency, and loyalty. Let your beauty products tell the full story!