In this guide, we show you how to create your packaging master data in GS1Trade Packaging.

The process consists of four steps:

1. Create all GTINs in the product hierarchy (base unit, case unit and pallet if applicable)
2. Create packaging components, perform environmental grading and group them into packaging units
3. For each GTIN - link the correct packaging unit
4. Create a packaging system for the packaging units associated with the product.

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1. Create All Products (GTINs) in the Product Hierarchy

A product corresponds to the physical item that will be placed on the market.

The product hierarchy typically consists of the base unit (sales item), case unit and pallet.

You must create GTINs for all product levels that exist in your hierarchy.

Note: Most often, GTIN is only found on the base unit and case. If a pallet GTIN does not exist, simply create the base unit and case.

In this guide, we use a jar of jam as an example. The jam is packed in cases on a pallet. The product hierarchy therefore consists of the following:

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Here's how to do it:

Go to the tab Products → Select Create new → Create manually.

Enter the following information:

• Brand name
• Product name
• Product ID
• GTIN (if available - though relevant if you wish to share data)
• Net content.

In the following example we are creating the consumer unit.

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Do you need to share packaging data for this product with a customer?

Go to the tab Sharing settings on the product.

If you only use GS1Trade Packaging, please add the customers with whom you want to share the packaging data here.

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If you also subscribe to GS1Trade Sync then you don't need to add data recipients in GS1Trade Packaging (unless your customers specifically have asked to receive data in both systems).

When you publish the GTINs in Trade Packaging, the packaging data will automatically be transferred to GS1Trade Sync and added to the existing product master data.

You must ensure that correct data recipients are set up for your products in GS1Trade Sync.

Note: If the products do not already exist in Trade Sync, they will be created as drafts, after which you must add data recipients and publish the product before data is sent to your customers.

Learn more in this guide on How to Share Data in GS1Trade Packaging.

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2. Create Packaging Components and Group Them into Units

We start by creating the packaging for the base unit.

In this example, our jam product consists of a packaging with three components:

• a lid
• a label
• and the glass jar itself.

The label is an integrated component on the glass.

A integrated component is by definition a packaging component that is not designed to be separated from the main component in the context of waste sorting or transport.

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2.1 Create components

Go to the tab Packaging Master Data > Select Create new > Create new component.

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‍Enter:

• Name (so you can identify it later)
• Element type (GS1 standard)
• Material type (GS1 standard)
• Component weight

Click Save.

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2.2 Integrate components

Before you assemble packaging units or perform environmental grading, it’s important to link main and integrated components.

Packaging with integrated components must be environmentally graded as one unit according to the Danish Environmental Protection Agency’s regulation.

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How to do it:

1. Go to the main component (e.g. the jam jar).
2. Under the Integrated components tab, click Edit details.
3. Select the integrated component from the list on the right and drag it into the empty field.
4. At Combined from the dropwdown list select how the integrated component is attached to the main one.
5. Click Save. The jar and label are now linked in the system.

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2.3 Classify and Environmentally Grade Components

You have now created your packaging components and integrated one component onto a master component.

Now you are ready to classify the components according to the order of the Danish producer responsibility regulation. All components need to be environmentally graded for correct data sharing and/or reporting.

‍Here you can find the full guide on how to do environmental grading in GS1Trade Packaging.

Go to the tab Packaging classification and specify:

• Waste type
• Material category
• Environmental grading
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2.4 Assemble components into units

Next, combine your components (e.g. jar and lid) into a packaging unit.

• Go to the tab Packaging Master Data > click Create new > and Create new unit.
• Give the unit a meaningful name - in this example, it's a jam product.
• Specify the unit type - in this example it is a jar.
• Drag components from the list on the right side into the unit.
• When you add components the system automatically indicates that there is one piece of the selected component. Adjust the quantity if there are multiple components of the same type.

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Pay special attention to:

• Integrated components are automatically included in the unit via the main components. Therefore, you should NOT add integrated components to the unit manually.
• If you are dealing with multipacks, where there are multiple identical components, the quantity can be adjusted here. However, in this example, there is only one component.

Repeat steps 2.1–2.4 for the case and pallet packaging.

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3. Link the Packaging Unit unique to each GTIN

You now have both packaging and products created in the system and you need to link the packaging unit that is unique to each GTIN.

Base > Base packaging

Case > Colli packing

Pallet > Pallet packaging

• Go to the Packaging unit > Linked Products tab
• ‍Click Link to product > search for the GTIN, and select it.
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If you later update or improve packaging, you only need to maintain the data in only one place, and all linked products will automatically inherit the updates.

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4. Create Packaging Systems

Finally, create a packaging system for the product hierarchy. If you only need to create base units with associated primary packaging the packaging systems might not be relevant for you.

• Go to the tab Packaging systems > Select Create New.
• Name the packaging system so that you know which product(s) it is associated with.
• Drag the base unit into primary level, the case in to secondary and pallet into tertiary.
• Specify the number of base, case, and pallet units that exist within the product hierarchy. You must specify the total number of units in the entire packaging system. For example, if you have 1 pallet with 8 cases/colli and in every case there is 10 consumer units in total you'll have 80 consumer units in the system.
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You have now created the complete packaging master data for your product.

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5. How to correct errors

At the moment the system will help you identify packaging units that are missing components, so that you easily can correct the issue and make sure your data is correct.

The errors are displayed directly in the Product overview next to the affected product. When you see an orange exclamation mark next to the product name, it indicates that errors need to be addressed.

The number shown on the icon indicates how many types of errors the product contains.

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1. Click on a product with an exclamation mark and go to the Details tab.
2. Open the tab Review required.
3. Click Review units to get an overview of the packaging units that are missing components.
4. Click on the unit that needs to be corrected.
5. Review unit opens in a new tab, where you can make the necessary changes.
6. When changes have been made - close the tab and chose the next unit to correct.
7. When the final packaging unit has been corrected, the error is automatically removed from the product.

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Good to know

You can reuse packaging units for multiple GTINs. For example, if you have a product in different variants that use the same packaging. You can also reuse individual packaging components in several different units.

• Go to the Packaging unit > navigate to tab Linked Products
• ‍Click Link to product > browse and select the GTIN

In the following example, three basic jam products (strawberry, raspberry and orange jam) have been created but only one packaging unit. The same packaging is used for the three products, which is why it is associated with all three.

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Inactive Packaging Data

Packaging data that is no longer relevant or valid must be marked as Inactive. This ensures that the system only contains data that reflects current packaging use.

This applies to the following:

• Packaging components
• Packaging units
• Products

When data is marked as Inactive, it means that it is no longer actively used in the packaging flow, but is retained in the system for traceability and historical reference.

For this reason, it is not possible to delete products or packaging data. Instead, mark them as Inactive.
If data has been created by mistake, it must be handled in the same way.
You should not make any further updates to inactive data unless it is made active again.

We further recommend that you remove all associations with inactive components or units.