22 global companies in joint statement for introduction of next generation QR codes with GS1 standardsToday, exactly 50 years after the first barcode scan, Swedish industry media is highlighting that 22 leaders from some of the world’s largest consumer goods companies have signed a joint statement for the industry’s introduction of QR codes using GS1 standards.
First beep at the cash register. In June 26, 1974 the barcode was scanned for the first time. The product was a package of Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit and the location was a Marsh Supermarket in Ohio, USA. Since then, the barcode has revolutionized store and supply chain efficiency as well as the way consumers shop. Today, the symbol is found on over 1 billion products and scanned over 10 billion times a day.
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Now 50 years later, information demands are different. The retail and FMCG sectors are right now implementing a global roll-out of the next generation of barcodes. These data carriers are more advanced with the capacity to meet increased information demands from regulators, industries and consumers.
– For the retail sector and other industries, a series of new regulations linked to the EU’s Green Deal are currently being introduced, requiring businesses, authorities and consumers to have immediate access to more detailed information on products, such as origin, sustainability, recycling and reuse. This places completely new demands on traceability and data linked to the physical product,” says Jonatan Tullberg, CEO of GS1 Sweden.
Global consumer goods companies unite in joint statement
22 global consumer goods companies today issued a joint statement. It includes a call for the global introduction of the next generation QR codes using GS1 standards. The list of signatories includes various parties in the value chain such as marketplaces like Alibaba.com, retailers like Carrefour. And brand owners like Procter & Gamble, Nestlé and Mondelez.
– The first barcode scan revolutionized the way we buy, sell and ship products. Now we are facing a similar transformation where the industry is once again coming together to change how we exchange product information in the value chain of the future,” says Jonatan Tullberg.
Next generation QR codes to be scanned in stores by 2027
New generation QR codes and GS1 DataMatrix, with the power of global GS1 standards, can enable businesses to meet the needs of tomorrow. They can be both scanned at checkout and linked to almost unlimited amounts of information. They are also easily accessible to all audiences via smartphones, applications and scanning devices.
The global ambition of the retail and grocery sector is clear. By the end of 2027, the next generation of barcodes will be ready to be scanned in retail Point-of-sale, just like regular barcodes today. GS1, the global standards organization behind the barcode, supports the industry’s transformation where efficiency, traceability, safety and sustainability are important key drivers. In Sweden, active work is currently underway on the introduction of the next generation of QR codes in various industries. GS1 Sweden is involved in supporting standardization work at a national level.
Read the joint industry statement