As environmental regulations in the European Union evolve rapidly, compliance teams are facing two transformative forces: **stricter EU POPs limits** and the introduction of the Digital Product Passport regulation under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). These overlapping frameworks are reshaping how businesses manage substances of concern, monitor supply chain data, and communicate compliance across product lifecycles.

For manufacturers, importers, and compliance professionals, it’s no longer just about ticking regulatory boxes—it’s about adopting future-proof compliance strategies. With enforcement tightening and digital traceability becoming non-negotiable, the pressure is mounting.

In this blog, we’ll explore:

• The key updates in EU POPs limits

• The role of Digital Product Passports (DPPs) in compliance

• How to ensure supply chain transparency

• What compliance teams should prioritise

• How platforms like Certivo can empower teams to adapt through AI-powered compliance automation

Understanding the New EU POPs Limits: What’s Changing?

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are long-lasting toxic substances that pose significant threats to both human health and the environment. In response, the European Union has implemented stricter EU POPs limits, particularly on flame retardants like Dechlorane Plus, PFOA, and PBDEs, used in electronics, textiles, and automotive parts.

The recent amendments to the EU POPs Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 now demand:

• Lower concentration thresholds for POPs in waste

• Increased enforcement and market surveillance

• More detailed declarations of substances of concern

These changes necessitate that companies reassess their product lifecycle management and update their testing, supplier declarations, and documentation. Non-compliance risks product recalls, fines, or blocked market access, mainly when relying on complex global supply chains.

The Digital Product Passport Regulation: The Future of Product Compliance

A significant component of the EU Green Deal, the Digital Product Passport (DPP) is being rolled out under the ESPR framework. This regulation requires products to carry a digital record, including compliance data, material composition, and sustainability metrics, that is accessible throughout the entire supply chain.

The goal? Complete supply chain transparency and integration with the circular economy.

Key components of the Digital Product Passport regulation:

• Identification and disclosure of substances of concern DPP

• Unique identifiers (QR codes or RFID) for each product

• Data sharing between suppliers, regulators, and consumers

Over time, DPPs will become mandatory across multiple industries—starting with electronics, textiles, batteries, and construction materials. By 2027, many businesses will be legally required to implement DPPs for products sold in the EU.

Certivo’s AI-powered compliance management platform helps streamline DPP creation and validation, giving businesses a strategic advantage.

Substances of Concern in DPP: What You Must Track

One of the most complex aspects of DPP compliance is the disclosure of substances of concern. These substances include any material identified as:

• A hazardous chemical under REACH

• A POP under EU POPs limits

• Materials with high environmental impact, recyclability concerns, or restricted uses

Maintaining accurate data on substances of concern is challenging, especially for products with multi-tier supply chains. Businesses must collect, validate, and update substance-level data regularly and ensure it aligns with Digital Product Passport regulation mandates.

Certivo simplifies this process by leveraging AI to automate data collection and flag inconsistencies in supplier documentation. Their platform also integrates real-time regulatory updates, helping compliance teams act quickly when new POPs under ESPR are added or limits are revised.

Compliance Team Actions: What Must Be Done Now

Here are five critical compliance team actions EU POPs regulations and DPP demands require in 2025:

1. Review and Update Chemical Inventories

Ensure all products and materials are screened against updated EU POPs limits. Focus on high-risk categories, such as electronics, plastics, and coatings.

2. Map Substances of Concern

Use standardised frameworks like SCIP and BOMcheck to map and monitor substances of concern, DPP. This step is essential for meeting both POPs and DPP requirements.

3. Collaborate with Suppliers

Initiate transparent data collection strategies with suppliers. Use supplier questionnaires and declarations that include POPs, REACH SVHCs, and data on recyclable content.

4. Prepare for Digital Product Passports

Evaluate your IT infrastructure to ensure it supports Digital Product Passport regulation readiness. Consider QR-code tagging, data templates, and centralised product databases.

5. Adopt AI-Powered Compliance Software

Manual tracking is unsustainable. AI-powered tools like Certivo help manage compliance documentation, validate supplier data, and monitor supply chain transparency and POPs risks in real time.

Why Supply Chain Transparency Matters More Than Ever

Supply chains are under a microscope. Whether it’s market surveillance under the EU POPs Regulation or data-sharing under DPP frameworks, regulators want to see proof of compliance—and fast.

Achieving supply chain transparency, POPs means:

• Having immediate access to chemical data across product components

• Identifying non-compliant suppliers before they trigger enforcement

• Creating auditable trails for every step in the product’s lifecycle

Certivo’s compliance management platform empowers teams with a centralised dashboard that brings together supplier data, regulatory updates, and risk alerts. This visibility helps manufacturers shift from reactive compliance to proactive risk management.

How Certivo Keeps You Ahead of POPs and DPP Regulations

Navigating the intersection of EU POPs limits and Digital Product Passport regulation can be overwhelming, but Certivo simplifies the process.

Certivo Helps You:

• Automate compliance workflows using machine learning and AI

• Create Digital Product Passports seamlessly using supplier inputs and product metadata.

• Track substances of concern DPP with real-time alerts and regulatory change monitoring

• Enhance supply chain transparency of POPs through collaborative data collection and validation tools.

• Stay audit-ready with digital traceability and centralised compliance documentation.

With Certivo, compliance teams move from reactive crisis control to strategic, future-proof compliance management.

Market Trends: Why Now Is the Time to Act

Both the EU POPs limits and the Digital Product Passport regulation reflect broader trends in the global regulatory landscape:

• Increasing pressure for transparency and accountability

• Accelerating shift toward circular economy models

• Rising consumer and investor expectations for sustainable products

• Adoption of digital tools for compliance automation

Businesses that delay adapting to these trends risk falling behind their competitors, who are already investing in smart compliance infrastructure.

Conclusion: Take Action Today, Lead Tomorrow

The convergence of stricter EU POPs limits and the upcoming Digital Product Passport regulation means businesses can no longer rely on outdated compliance methods. These changes demand proactive, transparent, and digitally enabled compliance strategies.

Compliance teams must act now by updating substance data, implementing DPP infrastructure, and ensuring end-to-end transparency of the supply chain for POPs.

Certivo’s AI-powered compliance platform is built to meet this moment. With automation, real-time alerts, and supplier collaboration tools, Certivo ensures your team stays compliant, agile, and ahead of regulatory risk.

Ready to future-proof your compliance program?

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