GS1 Sunrise 2027: What it means for traceability and digital product passports

Why GS1 Sunrise is more than a barcode change

At first glance, GS1 Sunrise may look like a simple barcode upgrade. In reality, it represents a much broader shift toward data rich product identification and improved traceability.

The programme will transition businesses from traditional one-dimensional barcodes to two-dimensional (2D) barcodes, such as QR codes and DataMatrix codes. By 2027, retailers worldwide are expected to support scanning these next-generation codes at the point of sale.

2D barcodes allow significantly more information to be stored within a single code or linked directly to structured product data. This opens the door to improved traceability, digital product passports, stronger supply chain visibility, and new forms of consumer engagement.

For organisations already exploring product traceability, GS1 standards, or digital product passport programmes, GS1 Sunrise 2027 signals an important step toward more connected supply chains.

Why GS1 Sunrise 2027 is happening

The traditional barcode has served the retail industry well for more than 50 years. It allows retailers to identify products quickly at checkout by scanning a Global Trade Item Number (GTIN).

However, the standard barcode contains very limited information. In most cases, it simply identifies the product type.

Modern supply chains increasingly require much richer information to be accessible at the product level.

For example:

• batch or lot numbers
• expiry dates
• production details
• sustainability data
• product origin information
• links to digital product content

This type of information is becoming essential for regulatory compliance, product transparency, and operational efficiency.

2D barcodes make this possible because they can store significantly more information within the code itself, or link directly to structured product data using GS1 Digital Link standards.

What GS1 Sunrise means for supply chains

The goal of Sunrise 2027 is not to immediately replace existing barcodes.

Instead, the initiative focuses on enabling retail scanners and systems to read 2D barcodes alongside traditional barcodes by 2027. This creates a transition period where both formats can coexist.

Once retailers can reliably scan 2D codes at checkout, manufacturers will be able to embed richer product information into the code itself.

This creates opportunities across multiple areas of the supply chain.

Improved traceability

With batch and production data embedded in the product code, organisations can track product movement and history more precisely.

This supports faster recalls, improved product safety, and more detailed supply chain monitoring.

Support for digital product passports

Emerging regulations, particularly in Europe, are introducing Digital Product Passports (DPPs) that provide structured information about a product’s origin, materials, and lifecycle.

2D barcodes can act as the access point for this information, linking a physical product to its digital record.

Greater supply chain visibility

When product identifiers are connected to structured data systems, organisations gain deeper insight into how products move through manufacturing, logistics, and retail environments.

Consumer transparency

Consumers increasingly expect to access information about sustainability, sourcing, and product authenticity.

Scanning a 2D barcode can connect consumers directly to verified product information.

The role of GS1 standards

GS1 standards sit at the heart of Sunrise 2027.

These standards ensure that product identifiers, barcode formats, and data structures are consistent across global supply chains.

Key components include:

• GTIN identifiers for product identification
• 2D barcode formats such as QR codes and DataMatrix
• GS1 Digital Link, which connects product codes to online information
• EPCIS data standards, which enable event-based tracking across supply chains

Together, these standards create a framework for interoperable, data-driven product identification.

Preparing for GS1 Sunrise in modern supply chains

Sunrise 2027 highlights a broader transformation underway across global supply chains.

Products are becoming data carriers, connecting physical items with digital information.

To unlock the full value of this shift, organisations need more than a new barcode format. They need the infrastructure to capture, manage, and use product data effectively.

This includes technologies such as:

• RFID and IoT identification systems
• automated scanning and data capture
• event-based data sharing using GS1 EPCIS standards
• platforms that manage product identity and traceability

When these systems work together, organisations gain the ability to track products throughout their lifecycle and access reliable information at every stage of the supply chain.

Sunrise 2027 as part of a wider supply chain transformation

The move toward 2D barcodes is one step in a much larger shift toward connected and transparent supply chains.

At Coriel Solutions, we work with organisations to design and implement traceability systems that bring together identification technologies, data capture infrastructure, and GS1 standards.

By combining technologies such as RFID, automated portals, and GS1-compliant data platforms, businesses can move beyond simple product identification and build systems that support real-time visibility, regulatory compliance, and digital product passports.

Sunrise 2027 represents an important milestone on that journey.

For organisations preparing for the next generation of product transparency and supply chain intelligence, the focus is not only on new barcode formats, but on the data ecosystems that support them.