Retail and consumer goods industries embrace transition to QR Codes with GS1 Standards

GLOBAL – The retail and consumer goods industries are gearing up for a significant shift towards using QR Codes with GS1 standards on product packages worldwide.

This move is designed to enhance digital experiences and engage consumers more effectively, whether shopping in-store, at home, or elsewhere.

GS1 president and CEO Renaud de Barbuat said: “The first barcode scan forever changed how we buy and sell products. 

“Fifty years on, industry champions have come together calling for the transition to QR codes powered by GS1. This collaborative effort is set to transform how we shop, eat, and live in new ways.

“We believe this marks the start of a second barcode revolution – making products more traceable and transforming the consumer experience, thereby unlocking the future of retail.”

Currently, GS1 barcodes are found on billions of products worldwide, facilitating checkout scanning, category management, and distribution center fulfillment.

However, the increasing demand for detailed product information—such as usage instructions, safety data, ingredients, nutrition facts, certifications, and recycling information—requires a more robust solution. Traditional barcodes cannot support these needs.

Sunrise 2027 Initiative

The GS1 Management Board, along with key industry players, is spearheading the Sunrise 2027 initiative, which aims to widespread adoption of QR Codes with GS1 standards by the end of 2027.

This initiative calls for a unified approach from retailers and manufacturers. Gradual implementation is expected to unlock new capabilities and benefits for customers and consumers.

Support for the transition is already strong, with pilot programs running in 48 countries, covering 88% of the world’s GDP.

The industry-wide effort now focuses on manufacturers implementing QR Codes on product packages with GS1 data standards and retailers ensuring POS scanners can read QR Codes with GS1 standards.

The industry must come together to make the Sunrise 2027 initiative a success. This initiative involves retailers updating POS systems to read both traditional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) barcodes, such as QR Codes and GS1 DataMatrix, and manufacturers selecting appropriate data carriers and embedding necessary information, such as expiry dates and lot numbers, in the barcodes.

Prominent industry figures have endorsed the initiative, including Gang Yu, CTO of Taobao & Tmall Group (Alibaba Group); Jon R. Moeller, Chairman, President, and CEO of The Procter & Gamble Company; Malina Ngai, Group CEO of AS Watson Group; John Ross, President and CEO of IGA; Nicolas Hieronimus, CEO of L’Oréal; and Alexandre Bompard, Chairman and CEO of Carrefour.

These leaders emphasize the importance of embracing QR Codes with GS1 standards to meet evolving business and consumer needs and ensure a seamless and efficient transition across the industry.

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