There is no fixed date when the mattress regulation 'takes effect' for your company, which makes the question harder than it seems. Multiple clocks are running at the same time: the clock of European decision-making, the clock of a possible transition period after publication of the precise requirements, and the clock of your own preparation. Anyone asking 'how long will it take' does not get one answer but three, and they do not move in sync.
The first clock is that of European legislation itself. The mattress regulation falls under the broader ecodesign regulation (ESPR), which follows a work programme for the period 2025 to 2030. Within that work programme, a delegated act is expected for mattresses, currently scheduled for around 2028. That date is not yet fixed; once the delegated act is published, the definitive date will be stated here. Only with that delegated act will the concrete requirements for the digital product passport for mattresses be established: which data it must contain, in what form, and from when.
The second clock: a transition period after publication
Within this type of EU regulation, it is common for there to be a transition period between publication of the delegated act and the moment when the obligation actually comes into force. That period is intended to give manufacturers, importers and software suppliers time to put systems, data and processes in order. How long exactly that transition period is varies per regulation and is only fixed once the text itself is published. For mattresses, the actual obligation is therefore expected around 2030, but this too is an estimate based on the work programme, not a commitment.
For companies making plans now, it is important not to confuse these two clocks. Publication of the delegated act is the moment when the requirements become known. The end of the transition period is the moment when you must comply. There is space between them, but not unlimited, and that space is often used up faster than expected.
The third clock: your own preparation
The third timeline is the only one over which you have control: the time your own organisation needs to actually deliver a passport once the requirements are known. In practice, this process gets stuck at a few fixed points.
The first stumbling block is gathering data from suppliers. A mattress consists of multiple layers, fillings and sometimes a separate cover, each potentially from a different supplier. If it is not established beforehand who supplies which material data, delays will occur when the passport actually needs to be compiled. The second stumbling block is the question of who within the company is responsible for maintaining that data; this is usually not a task that falls naturally to someone. A third delaying factor is coordination with the software supplier or platform that technically handles the passport and QR data carrier: delivery times slip as soon as many companies approach the platform at the same time towards the deadline.
Whoever puts these points in order independently of external timelines saves time once the requirements are final. This does not mean a complete passport needs to be in place now, but it does mean the foundation is right: which data exists, where it comes from and who manages it.
What you can do now
Because the exact requirements are not yet fixed, it is not yet possible to complete a passport definitively. However, it is possible now to map out where your company stands: which product data are already available, what role you play in the chain, and what steps will still need to follow. in a few questions see where your company stands now provides a first indication of this, without prejudging obligations that do not yet apply.
The background to these deadlines, including the status of the ESPR work plan and the expected delegated act, is kept up to date in the knowledge base with the current status per topic. This also explains where the information on these pages comes from, so you can verify the source yourself. Frequently asked questions about timing and obligations are compiled in the overview with frequently asked questions.
For the situation of your own company, with your specific products and position in the supply chain, a tailored explanation from a lawyer or the competent supervisory authority remains the appropriate route. This page describes the deadlines as currently known; it does not replace individual advice.
Would you like to get an early picture of where your company stands in relation to these three clocks? The free quick-scan provides a first indication in a few minutes, and the knowledge base keeps track of when the delegated act and the associated deadlines become final.