By the end of 2027, traditional barcodes will no longer be enough.
The GS1 Sunrise 2027 initiative marks one of the biggest changes in product identification in decades. It introduces 2D barcodes at point of sale — and it will impact packaging design, artwork workflows, regulatory processes, and quality control.
If your products carry a barcode, this affects you.
This guide explains:
Most consumer products use a 1D barcode:
These encode only a GTIN (Global Trade Item Number).
2D barcodes will encode much more:
Instead of just identifying a product type, the barcode can identify a specific production batch — or even a single unit.
This fundamentally changes traceability.
The transition is driven by several needs:
Batch-level identification supports:
Retailers can:
2D codes can link to:
Industries like pharmaceuticals already use DataMatrix codes for serialization. Sunrise 2027 aligns FMCG and retail with advanced traceability standards.
For pharmaceuticals, medical devices, cosmetics, and food manufacturers, Sunrise 2027 is not just a retail update.
It affects:
2D codes require:
Layout changes are often required.
A 2D code may replace or coexist with a 1D barcode during the transition period. This creates space constraints on small packaging formats.
Unlike a simple GTIN, 2D codes may contain:
Errors are no longer cosmetic — they become traceability failures.
The shift will not happen overnight.
Most brands will experience a transition phase where:
This dual-code period increases artwork complexity and risk.
In regulated industries, barcode errors can result in:
Common issues include:
When multiple markets, languages, and SKUs are involved, manual verification becomes unreliable.
With 1D codes, verification focused primarily on readability.
With 2D codes, companies must verify:
This requires structured proofing processes — not just visual inspection.
Must ensure encoded data matches approved documentation.
Must manage layout updates, code replacements, and version control.
Must verify that printed codes match approved digital masters.
Must align data systems with packaging workflows.
Sunrise 2027 is cross-functional.
Identify:
Ensure:
Before approving artwork:
Automated barcode and artwork comparison significantly reduces the risk of encoding errors.
Sunrise 2027 is not just a scanner upgrade.
It is a shift toward:
For brands, this means:
More data responsibility.
For regulated industries:
More compliance exposure.
For artwork teams:
More complexity in every version change.
Barcodes are no longer simple product identifiers, they are becoming data carriers.
GS1 Sunrise 2027 signals a move toward connected packaging and enhanced traceability across industries. Companies that prepare early will experience smoother transitions, fewer artwork disruptions, and reduced compliance risk.
Those who treat it as “just another barcode update” may discover the complexity too late.
Accuracy in encoded data is no longer optional.
It is operational protection.