White paper

Rising demand for detailed information at case and pack level: Is the GS1-128 on course to become the preferred standard for retail grocery and foodservice packaging? April 2018

sm Redefine the possible l www.markem-imaje.com TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION...... 3 Momentum is building in Europe and North America for adopting GS1-128 case identification within retail CHAPTER 1...... 4 and foodservice. It is being driven by greater demand for product track and traceability in light of food GS1 Overview...... 4 scandals which have ignited consumer and governmental concerns about food safety. Additionally, retailers, wholesalers and foodservice operators are increasingly interested in exploiting the opportunities offered CHAPTER 2 What is the GS1-128 standard and how does it compare to ITF-14, the other main case identification option?...... 8 by the digital revolution to improve profitability through greater automation of product handling and traceability as well as more sophisticated matching of product demand to supply. CHAPTER 3 GS1-128 barcode demand drivers: Working up the supply chain...... 12 GS1-128 identification encodes more information into than other options, improving traceability throughout the supply chain and enhancing scope for automation. 3.1 At the point of purchase and/or consumption...... 13 3.1.1 Food safety ...... 13 The retail and foodservice landscape is changing. Don’t get left behind. 3.1.2 Food fraud...... 14 3.1.3 Internet shopping...... 14 3.1.4 Convenience and availability...... 15 3.2 At the point of distribution...... 15 3.2.1 Pallet-splitting and automation...... 16 3.2.2 Examples and case studies...... 16 3.3 At the point of manufacture or harvest...... 19 3.3.1 Unsustainable status quo...... 19 3.3.2 Example and case studies...... 19 CHAPTER 4 How to comply with the GS1-128 standard?...... 21 4.1 Understand the key requirements...... 22 4.1.1 Quality...... 22 4.1.2 Placement...... 22 4.2 Select an appropriate packaging material...... 23 4.3 Pick the right printing solution to match the packaging material...... 24 4.3.1 Print and apply label systems...... 24 4.3.2 Inkjet printers for direct case coding...... 26 4.3.3 Printing solutions compared...... 28 4.3.4 Choosing the right technology based on the ANSI grade required...... 28 4.4 Ensure you use GS1 compliant printer and software solutions...... 29 4.4.1 Invest in end-to-end software solutions...... 29 4.4.2 Case study...... 30 4.5 Use experienced suppliers with fully integrated, proven solutions...... 32 CONCLUSION...... 33 AUTHORS FOR GS1 WHITE PAPER...... 34 APPENDIX 1: GS1 BARCODE CHART ...... 35

APPENDIX 2: GS1 SYSTEM OF STANDARDS...... 36

WORKS CITED...... 37

NOTES...... 39

www.markem-imaje.com 2 www.markem-imaje.com 3 Rising demand for detailed information at case and pack level

GS1 barcodes: Global standards to facilitate business communication have been Over 40 years of evolution1 under development since the 1970s with the US and Europe leading the way. A key enabler has been the barcode, a symbol printed on products that helps expedite product movement from where they 2010s are manufactured to where they will be used. Barcodes allow items GS1 now has 112 membership offices to be scanned quickly and easily at various stages. Known by various covering 150 countries, making it a truly global standard. names across its history, in 2005 GS1 was selected as the name for the global standards organization looking after barcodes, among other responsibilities. CHAPTER 1 In the early days the priority for barcodes was to help speed up logistics between manufacturers and their customers e.g., retailers GS1 overview 2000s and foodservice operators. There was also an interest in knowing what At the start of the new millennium GS1 has offices in 90 countries and the GS1 was being sold to whom and accelerating throughput at the point of DataMatrix 2D symbol is approved.