POLYTAG and Xact are teaming up to bring to market an integrated, end-to-end Digital Product Passport (DPP) solution.
The aim is to offer brands and manufacturers a ‘seamless’ way to connect live data, compliant inline printing and rich, brand-controlled digital experiences.
Digital Product Passports are set to become mandatory under the EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), with phased implementation beginning next year. Any product placed on the EU market within regulated categories will be required to carry a compliant, scannable data carrier linking to verified product information.
The integration will leverage Polytag’s platform, capable of managing an array of connected product information such as batch, origin, sustainability and product lifecycle information linked to product-level QR codes, and Xact’s Control system, named Xact Control, which manages coding, marking, validation and ERP-linked variable data exchange at scale.
The model is designed to ensure every product carries live, accurate information, backed by measurable engagement and compliance controls.
The companies have highlighted a growing need for clarity and capability as brands prepare for mandatory DPP implementation. Early retailer trials are said to have highlighted the risks of siloed approaches to DPPs, where printing, data management and digital experiences are handled by separate vendors.
“This collaboration fills the single biggest gap in the market,” said Alice Rackley, CEO of Polytag. “Brands don’t want multiple vendors, technical friction or fragmented data. They want one solution, ready to go, that handles printing, data, compliance and consumer experience. Together with Xact, we’re delivering exactly that, and accelerating the shift toward a truly circular economy.”
Ian Aitken, business development manager at Xact, added, “Digital Product Passports are inherently complex: data handling, systems integration, coding and marking, consumer interfaces. Traditionally, that requires three or more providers. This collaboration shows how those elements can be effectively integrated, while still supporting interoperability with wider systems and partners.”
