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Digital Accompanying Information: Less Paper, Improved Functionality

The digitalisation of accompanying information can help make a substantial contribution to sustainability.

We have all come across packaging with product instructions that are bigger than the product itself. But the truth is that these documents often end up being thrown away.

The reason for this waste is the current legal interpretation of EU product law. This means that many suppliers ship a large amount of accompanying information (e.g. safety information, instructions and others ) as paper printouts with each product. At the same time, many end-users dispose such information immediately after purchase.

This approach is unnecessary and inefficient. To illustrate the paperwork involved, we have had our position on this issue translated into 24 languages of the European Union - exactly as required by EU law. Imagine if you had all these language versions printed out. Here, on the other hand, you can easily access your preferred language version digitally in the download section of this website. This needs to be recognised as ‘state of the art’ for accompanying information.

Digital accompanying information: a low hanging fruit

Manufacturers and industry associations support the Commission's initiative on sustainable products and want to be partners in the transition to a comprehensive digitalisation of accompanying information.

This is a low-hanging, easy-to-pick fruit, unlike the many tricky issues we also have to tackle.

However, manufacturers currently face legal uncertainty and inconsistent regulations. As a result, millions of sheets of paper are thrown away every year.

Conservative estimates based on available production volumes and sales figures for B2B and B2C products suggest a total of 50,400 metric tons of paper per year in Germany alone.

This is the amount that will probably have to be disposed of. It is equivalent to approximately 2,000,000 square metres of forest or the CO2 emissions of 36,000 cars. Considering that 93% of EU households have internet access, it becomes clear that a lot can be achieved with little effort.

Paper consumption in real time - thought-provoking facts:

EU product legislation consumes 96 kg of paper every second - a figure that underlines the relevance of sustainable processes.

Since you visited:

Since the start of measurement on 01/01/2025:

Digitalization and efficient use of resources play a decisive role in the future of industry. How can companies use digital solutions to reduce their paper consumption?

Horizontal regulation for digital accompanying Information

ZVEI therefore supports legal clarification that allows digital accompanying information for a wide range of products. However, this would require the relevant European directives and regulations to be adapted. Hence, ZVEI proposes that this be made possible by means of a so-called EUomnibus regulation for all product categories.

Download Annex Regulatory Overview & Recommendations!

Best Practices

In addition to the future Digital Product Passport, many companies are already working on digital accompanying information and have implemented it for the benefit of their customers. Examples can be found here:

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Sustainability & Environment