DPP for Steel and Iron

First under ESPR — and a construction product under CPR

Steel products — rebar, pipes, galvanised sheet and beams — shown as digital product passports (DPP).

The Digital Product Passport for steel and iron

Steel and iron are the first product group for which the EU is adopting a delegated act under ESPR — ahead of textiles and furniture. The sector is among the most carbon-intensive in industry, and traceability of composition, origin and carbon footprint is becoming the basis both for market access and for low-carbon public procurement. On top of this, structural and reinforcing steel are a construction product under CPR (EU) 2024/3110 — so GWP declarations and a DoPC already apply to them, phased in with the revised harmonised standards. In practice, steel lives under two regimes — ESPR and CPR — and WIARA covers them with a single set of data.

Read more about CPR and ESPR →

Regulatory framework and requirements

Digital Product Passport for steel and iron

When does it become mandatory?

Iron and steel are the first product group under ESPR. The delegated act is expected in the period Q4 2026 – early 2027, with mandatory compliance arriving around the end of 2028–2029 (18 months after the act). The framework is already operating: the EU central registry launches on 19 July 2026, and the carbon footprint (GWP) declaration under CPR is being phased in by product family with the revised harmonised standards (from 8 January 2026).

What will the steel DPP contain?

Chemical composition and steel grade, mechanical properties, carbon footprint, recycled-content share, origin, applicable harmonised standards and certificates. Steel is the first intermediate product under ESPR.

Why is steel first?

The high carbon footprint (≈1.9–2.3 t CO₂ per tonne for primary steel from a blast furnace; under 0.5 t for recycled EAF steel), the enormous production volumes and the key role in construction and industry place steel at the top of ESPR. The 25% low-carbon steel threshold in public procurement from 1 January 2029 comes from the proposed Industrial Accelerator Act (COM(2026) 100, March 2026) — still draft legislation, not from ESPR.

Steel under CPR — a dual regime

As a construction product, structural and reinforcing steel are subject to a DoPC and a GWP declaration under the CPR (per EN 15804); as an intermediate product, they fall under the ESPR delegated act. Under Article 12, where the two overlap the CPR takes precedence. One platform = zero data duplication across CBAM, CPR and ESPR.

Steps to implement the DPP

Product creation at the mill

Right at production, data is entered on the melting process (BOF/EAF), chemical composition, steel grade and the origin of raw materials.

Generating the digital product passport

For each batch or item — rebar, pipes, sheet, sections — a unique DPP is created with a QR code or link carrying the technical characteristics and sustainability indicators.

Integration into the supply chain

Mills, warehouses and distributors add data on transport, traceability and certificates such as CE and EN 10204.

Access for traders and construction firms

Traders get technical characteristics and standards conformity, while designers and construction firms check compatibility and requirements.

Access for end clients and investors

By scanning a QR code, investors see the carbon footprint, recycled-content share and the environmental assessment of the material.

Tracking after use

On dismantling or scrapping, the passport reflects the reuse and recycling of the steel, closing the circular loop.

Автоматизирана производствена линия в завод – илюстрация за въвеждането на цифров продуктов паспорт (DPP) в производството.

How to integrate the DPP into your production?

WIARA offers a ready, easy solution for Bulgaria

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INTERACTIVE DEMO

See a real Digital Product Passport

A winter textile jacket with recycled content — the passport shows the mandatory ESPR fields: composition, origin, carbon footprint, care and recycling instructions. Scan the QR with your phone or open the link to see how a published passport looks to a customer.
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DPP for steel and iron

Frequently asked questions

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Iron and steel are the first product group under ESPR. The delegated act is expected in the Q4 2026 – early 2027 window, with mandatory compliance around late 2028 – 2029. The EU central registry already starts on 19 July 2026.

Iron and steel products — structural steel, rebar, beams, sheet, wire, pipes and castings — manufactured or imported into the EU, including in Bulgaria.

Chemical composition and steel grade, mechanical properties, carbon footprint, recycled-content share, origin, applicable standards and certificates.

The definitive CBAM regime for steel imports starts on 1 January 2026, but the purchase and surrender of CBAM certificates begins in 2027 (first surrender by 30 September 2027); there is also a de minimis threshold of 50 tonnes. The carbon footprint data in the DPP overlaps with this reporting, making things easier for importers in Bulgaria.

Yes. Structural and reinforcing steel are at once an ESPR product and a construction product under CPR (EU) 2024/3110. As a construction product, steel is subject to a DoPC and a GWP declaration under the CPR (per EN 15804), phased in with the revised harmonised standards (from 8 January 2026). Under Article 12, where the two overlap the CPR takes precedence, and a single platform covers both obligations with no data duplication.

The threshold comes from the proposed Industrial Accelerator Act (COM(2026) 100, March 2026) — draft legislation, not from ESPR. Under it, from 1 January 2029 at least 25% of the steel in public buildings, infrastructure and vehicles must be low-carbon (with no requirement as to the steel's origin). The definition of "low-carbon" itself will be set out in a delegated act under ESPR/CPR.

Start collecting data on composition, production process and carbon footprint, and plan integration with their systems — a key step for Bulgarian steel manufacturers and exporters.

The DoPC (Declaration of Performance and Conformity) is the CPR document that merges the DoP and the CE declaration and adds environmental indicators (GWP per EN 15804). For structural steel it takes effect in phases with the revised harmonised standards (from 8 January 2026) and forms the data foundation for the future construction DPP.

Бизнес екип на работна среща обсъжда данни и графики – консултация за внедряване на DPP.
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