GTIN
Colloquially, many know GTIN as a barcode, but technically, GTIN is the number found beneath the barcode symbol itself, and can therefore also be used for other technologies such as 2D barcodes and RFID tags.
Colloquially, many know GTIN as a barcode, but technically, GTIN is the number found beneath the barcode symbol itself, and can therefore also be used for other technologies such as 2D barcodes and RFID tags.
In less than two months, extended producer responsibility for packaging will be knocking on the doors of approximately 41,000 Danish companies. Starting April 1, 2024, they must register with the Danish Producer Responsibility (DPA) and submit their first mandatory report on expected packaging volumes for 2024. This is because legislation on extended producer responsibility for packaging makes companies accountable for the packaging of their products.
At GS1 Denmark, we have seen many of our members breaking a sweat since we hosted the conference in November 2023 GS1 Forum 2023, where we zoomed in on how companies handle producer responsibility for packaging and turn it into a competitive advantage. We have therefore compiled 5 tips to help you get started with mapping your packaging data.
Most companies have many products, so it can quickly become an overwhelming task to get an overview of all packaging data for every single product. It therefore makes a lot of sense to use, for example, an Excel sheet to structure your data and gain a clear overview.
At GS1 Denmark, we have created a free starter kit with a packaging calculator. The calculator is an Excel sheet that helps you manage your packaging data in a standardized and structured way. More than 500 people have already downloaded a starter kit and are well on their way to mapping and structuring their data. Perhaps it can help you too.
It probably sounds like the most obvious thing to do—going out to the warehouse and digging through your packaging to try and make sense of it all. But initially, we would advise you to stay at your desk and instead open your GS1 packaging calculation tool, if you have already downloaded it.
In the Excel sheet, you can already gain an understanding of what you actually need to look for when you head out to the warehouse, dive into your data sheets, or reach out to your suppliers. All the necessary data fields for the first report are already laid out in the sheet. So, start by getting an overview of the required data in the packaging calculation tool and be well-prepared to begin your data collection.
Perhaps you already have some packaging data on hand. Perhaps you are starting from scratch. Do your suppliers use GS1Trade Sync, which is GS1’s data pool that gathers all product master data in one place so you can easily share it with your trading partners, may already contain data that is useful for your first report to the DPA in 2024.
Otherwise, you need to start contacting your suppliers. You can also use the packaging calculation tool as a common framework for the dialogue about which data needs to be collected. Make it clear to your suppliers why you need packaging data – and that you may also need to return for more data once the legislation for the 2025 declaration is in place.
Based on the packaging data you enter, the packaging calculation tool automatically creates a summary of your total packaging quantities broken down into the 8 fractions: paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, ferrous materials, aluminum, food and beverage cartons, and wood, which must be included in the 2024 report to the DPA.
You also get a total calculation of how much goes to household and commercial waste, respectively. The Excel sheet is therefore your shortcut to easily and efficiently getting an overview of the aggregated data you need for the report.
It is important to note that for the vast majority of companies, mapping packaging quantities for all their products is a time-consuming process. We therefore recommend that you get started as soon as possible and do not wait until August 31, 2024, which is the final day to register and report your packaging quantities to the DPA.
With a free starter kit from GS1 Denmark, you are well on your way to making the work as easy as possible for you and your colleagues. And remember, if you are in doubt about your packaging quantities and, for example, the distribution between household and commercial waste, your best estimate is good enough.
Get a handle on producer responsibility for packaging
We have also held a webinar on how to get started using the packaging calculator. Watch or rewatch the webinar
GS1Trade Image provides professional marketing and planogram images that meet retailers' requirements and imaging guidelines.
If you want to create your own product photos, we can also help you get certified.
GS1Trade Sync is a data pool for product data exchange that your trading partners can access.
GS1Trade Sync streamlines data exchange between trading partners because data only needs to be entered in one place. This increases the quality of product data and creates value for you - and the entire value chain.
GS1Trade Packaging is a packaging data system that gathers your packaging data in one place. The system ensures efficient collection, structuring, and declaration of packaging data, and makes it easy to exchange packaging data with other companies.
GS1Trade Exact ensures the quality of your product data. All physical products are checked against the data registered in GS1Trade Sync.
With this service, you get verified and quality-assured data that benefits the entire supply chain.
GS1Trade Transact handles the digital receipt of orders and the sending of documents to your customers. You can choose whether to integrate it with your financial system or access it online.
GTIN (also known as EAN) stands for “Global Trade Item Number” and is the number sequence shown beneath a barcode symbol.
GTIN (EAN) is a global standard used to uniquely identify digital and physical products, allowing the barcode to be scanned anywhere in the world throughout the supply chain.
A GLN (also known as EAN) allows you to uniquely identify physical, functional, legal, or digital entities. This can include the sender, receiver, buyer, seller, supplier, manufacturer, delivery location, billing location, store, or internal departments.
