GS1 Sunrise 2027 is an industry target for retail scanners to read 2D barcodes, such as QR codes and GS1 DataMatrix, by the end of 2027. It is not a law, and the barcode you print today doesn't disappear overnight. For most manufacturers, getting ready means adding a 2D code next to the barcode you already print, and making sure it scans every time.
What is GS1 Sunrise 2027?
GS1 is the organisation behind the barcodes on almost every product you buy. For 50 years, scanners have read a simple line barcode that carries one thing: the product number.
Sunrise 2027 is GS1's plan to move retail towards 2D barcodes. The target is that scanners at the point of sale can read a 2D code by the end of 2027. The same codes are then read much more widely: at goods-in, in warehouses, and by shoppers on their phones. Retailers lead the change. Brands and manufacturers follow by putting 2D codes on their packs.
Is it mandatory?
No. Sunrise 2027 is an industry target, not a regulation. GS1 itself says you don't need to use every 2D feature by 2027.
In practice, your retail customers are the ones who will ask. If they want 2D codes on your packs, that becomes your deadline.
What changes on the pack?
A line barcode holds the product number. A 2D code can hold much more in a small square:
• The product number
• Batch or lot number
• Best-before or expiry date
• A web link to product information, using GS1 Digital Link
That extra data helps with stock rotation, recalls and traceability. A QR code built on GS1 Digital Link can also be scanned by a shopper's phone.
During the change, most packs will carry both codes: the familiar barcode and a 2D code beside it.
Who does it affect?
Sunrise 2027 starts with products sold in shops. If you make consumer products for retail, it affects you.
If you only print on outer cases and shipping boxes, it doesn't directly change what you print today. It is still worth knowing about, because 2D codes are where traceability is heading across the whole supply chain.
The real challenge: a code that scans every time
The standard is the easy part. The hard part is printing a small 2D code that scans on every pack, on a real line, all day.
A 2D code is made of tiny squares. If the edges blur, the contrast is weak or the code is too small, the scanner can't read it. Several things affect the result:
A code that scans in a test can behave differently at full speed on your own packaging. That's why testing on your line matters more than any specification sheet.
How to get GS1 ready, step by step
1. Ask your retail customers what they expect and when.
2. Check your product numbers and GS1 membership are in order.
3. Decide what goes in the code: the product number at minimum, plus batch and date if you want them.
4. Test print a 2D code on your own packs, at your own line speed.
5. Check every test code scans, ideally with a barcode verifier.
6. Work out what it will cost per pack before you commit.
On that last point, the purchase price of a printer is only part of the cost. Our guide What does a code really cost? shows how to work out yours.
Can my current printer do it?
Possibly. If your printer already prints a sharp 2D code that scans reliably on your packs, at your speed, you may not need to change anything. Test it before you decide.
If it can't, look for a printer built for high-resolution codes. Resolution, ink and surface matter more than brand.
Where Foenix fits
The
FoenixONE range of printers are built for high-resolution printing from day one. They print text, barcodes, logos, QR codes and DataMatrix codes.
The ink is gravity-fed from a sealed cartridge, with no pumps or valves in the ink path. That keeps the printer simple to run while it prints the same sharp code, pack after pack.
We'd rather you saw it than took our word for it. Send us your packaging and we'll print a 2D code on it, free.
Questions people ask
- Will my normal barcode stop working in 2027? No. Sunrise 2027 is about tills being able to read 2D codes as well. Line barcodes stay in use during the change.
- Should I use a QR code or a GS1 DataMatrix? Both are GS1 2D codes. A QR code with GS1 Digital Link can also be scanned by shoppers' phones. Ask your retail customers which they prefer.
- Is it expensive to add a 2D code? It doesn't have to be. Many packs can carry a 2D code without new packaging. The running cost depends on your printer, ink and volume.
- Can you print a 2D code on our packaging? Yes. Send us a sample of your packaging and we'll print a 2D code on it so you can scan it yourself.
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