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.
The barcode, as we know it from virtually every product and item we encounter in our daily lives, is turning 50. What started as a desire to shorten supermarket queues has since – without most people noticing – evolved to play a crucial role in food and patient safety. Not just in Denmark, but all over the world. Now, the familiar series of vertical lines is facing a new look and a new ambition: to contribute to the development of the circular economy and society's green transition.
There is a reason why the BBC has called the barcode "one of the 50 things that made the modern economy." Since the barcode was created in April 1973, this unassuming – yet familiar – symbol is now on over 1 billion products, and the "beep" can be heard six billion times every day.
"The barcode changed the way we shop forever. All barcodes may look the same, but the power lies within," says Per Ahlmann Andersen. He is the CEO of GS1 Denmark, the Danish division of the neutral, not-for-profit organization GS1, which manages and develops the barcode and the systems behind it on a global scale.
Per Ahlmann Andersen continues:
"Because the barcode was created as a global standard that connects a physical product to digital information via a simple scan, information can flow seamlessly across supply chains and industries. It is fundamentally the same system that makes it possible to track and recall a potentially dangerous food product as the one used to prevent counterfeit medicines from entering the healthcare sector."
The 50-year-old birthday celebrant is set to be replaced in the coming years by the new generation of barcodes: 2D barcodes (two-dimensional barcodes), also known as QR codes. These new barcodes can contain far more data for companies, authorities, consumers, and patients, and offer much more than just links to websites.
"2D barcodes will provide a new level of transparency and can ultimately help consumers make the right purchasing decisions. The new generation of barcodes can quickly tell a product's story: where it comes from, how it was transported, whether it contains allergens, how it can be recycled, and its environmental footprint," explains Per Ahlmann Andersen.
Whether we realize it or not, the barcode and its underlying systems are in the midst of an exciting evolution, where it must now be put into play to support the increased legislative requirements from the EU that affect many companies and are intended to push them and our society in a greener and more sustainable direction.
Per Ahlmann Andersen explains that both Meny in Norway and Woolworths in Australia have gained practical experience using the new generation of barcodes (2D barcodes) to combat food waste.
Among other things, 2D barcodes can contain shelf-life information on individual products, which gives grocery stores a much better overview of food items approaching their expiration date. In Norway, they have reduced food waste by 18 percent in monetary terms, while in Australia, some stores have been able to reduce the amount of expired goods by up to 44 percent.
"We have invited grocery chains, food producers, interest groups, policymakers, and many others to a dialogue to accelerate the rollout of 2D barcodes in the Danish grocery trade. We want Denmark to lead the way in the fight against food waste, and we have a simple solution that has proven to make a significant difference in this area. If we succeed, the barcode may once again prove to change our lives," concludes Per Ahlmann Andersen.
Toke Mølgaard, GS1 Denmark
(+45) 51 94 93 03
GS1 Denmark is the Danish member organization of the global standards body GS1. We support all stakeholders in the supply chain, making it more efficient, secure, and sustainable. We operate primarily within the retail and healthcare sectors, where our standards for traceability and data enhance food and patient safety in Denmark. GS1 is a neutral, not-for-profit, UN-recognized NGO represented in 116 countries.
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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.
