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.
Extended producer responsibility for packaging is approaching. Are you facing the major task of getting an overview of your company's packaging data so you are ready to report by October 1, 2025? And do you often send your products to market in cases or on pallets?
If so, packaging systems can be an effective way to structure your packaging data. Read on to learn more about what packaging systems are – and when they make sense.
A packaging system consists of all the packaging used collectively to bring a product to market.
It can consist of up to three packaging levels: primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging.
The packaging system here consists of three levels:
Some packaging systems consist of only two levels: primary (jar with lid and label) and secondary (case).
The advantage of structuring your packaging data into packaging systems is that the system helps you keep track of all the packaging units and quantities used for a product or a case. A packaging system can help you keep track of, for example, 10 individual items (and their associated packaging units) in a case and 20 cases on a pallet. In addition, you can reuse packaging systems for multiple products.
It is not a legal requirement that packaging must be structured into packaging systems. However, for some companies, it can be a great help to structure packaging in this way. That is why we have made it possible in our packaging data system, GS1Trade Packaging.
If your company sells products that are always distributed in the same standard packaging, it makes good sense to create a packaging system for that type of product. This can be at both the pallet level and the case level.
For example, you might know that you always distribute jam in cases of 10. In that case, you can advantageously set up the case as a packaging system. Jam packaging (primary) and cardboard box (secondary). Or, if you always ship jam on pallets, you can create a packaging system with jam packaging (primary), case (secondary), and pallet with wrap (tertiary).
If, on the other hand, your company sells individual items (for example, shipping mixed goods in bags or boxes), packaging systems will not necessarily help. Here, you can simply link the product's primary packaging to the product. You create all other packaging as separate packaging units without a direct link to products.
Are you unsure how to create packaging systems? In GS1Trade Packaging, we have made it easy for you to create packaging systems along with all your other packaging data. This way, you work efficiently and systematically with your data.
Read guide: Create packaging systems in GS1Trade Packaging (requires login to My GS1)
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.
