  Given a fixed physical process, we consider the entropy production (EP)
incurred by some initial state $\rho$, additional to the minimal EP incurred by
the least-dissipative state $\varphi$. We show that this additional EP has a
universal information-theoretic form, given by the contraction of the relative
entropy between $\rho$ and $\varphi$ over time. This result holds for total
integrated EP, instantaneous EP rate, and fluctuating EP. We derive novel
bounds on EP, analyze the thermodynamics of quantum error correction, and
propose a thermodynamically-motivated measure of the logical irreversibility of
a channel.
