If you manufacture machinery and export it to the European Union, the rules are changing. Here is exactly what you need to know to avoid getting blocked at customs.
ESPR stands for Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation. Simply put, Europe wants to completely end the "throwaway culture". They no longer want products that break easily, cannot be repaired, or cannot be safely recycled.
Starting in 2027, if you want to sell your machine in any of the 27 countries of the European Union, you must legally prove that your product is sustainable. How do you prove it? By attaching a Digital Product Passport (DPP) to every single machine you ship. Without this digital passport, European customs will legally reject your shipment.
You must declare the carbon footprint of your machine and what percentage of recycled materials were used to build it.
You must provide instant digital access to repair manuals and make spare parts easily available to the European buyer so the machine lasts longer.
All this information cannot be hidden in a PDF. It must be accessible via a scannable QR code permanently affixed to the physical machine.
Imagine you manufacture heavy-duty electric motors in Pune, India. You sign a massive contract to supply 1,000 motors to an automotive factory in Paris. Here is how the ESPR 2027 law affects you, and how Vula Trace handles it automatically:
The old way? The customs agent checks a paper manifest. In 2027, the French customs agent walks up to the shipping crate and scans the Vula Trace QR code on your motor. If the scan fails, the container is sent back to India.
Because you use Vula Trace, the scan succeeds. The agent's tablet instantly sees your Digital Product Passport. It proves your motor's casing uses 30% recycled steel and displays the official CE safety compliance certificate.
Five years later, the French factory needs to service the motor. Under ESPR, they have the "Right to Repair." They scan the same QR code. Vula Trace instantly provides an AI visual repair guide and a button to buy genuine replacement bearings directly from you, satisfying the EU's strict repairability laws.
Declared via ISO 14067
32% Verified Steel
Guides & Spares Available