GS1 Sunrise 2027: 2D barcodes at checkout
By the end of 2027, GS1's global “Sunrise 2027” initiative expects retail point-of-sale systems to accept 2D barcodes (QR and GS1 DataMatrix) alongside the classic 1D UPC/EAN. The same 2D symbol that rings up a sale can also open a Digital Product Passport — which is why dpp.gs treats them as one.
What Sunrise 2027 is
Sunrise 2027 is a GS1-led industry transition: retailers upgrade checkout scanners and systems so a 2D barcode can be scanned at the point of sale by the end of 2027. A single GS1 Digital Link QR then carries both the GTIN the till needs and a web address the shopper can open.
Why it matters
- One symbol, two jobs — the same QR rings up the sale and links to product information.
- More data — batch, serial and expiry can travel in the code, enabling freshness and recall precision.
- Global alignment — the carrier is identical to the one EU regulations use for the Digital Product Passport.
How it connects to the EU Digital Product Passport
The EU DPP and Sunrise 2027 use the same data carrier: a GS1 Digital Link URI (https://dpp.gs/01/{GTIN}). That means a manufacturer selling into both the US and the EU does not need two barcodes — one 2D code satisfies US retail scanning and opens the EU passport. Get the carrier right once and both markets are covered.
How dpp.gs covers both
- Generates GS1 Digital Link QR and GS1 DataMatrix (FNC1, raw AI string) — the exact symbols Sunrise 2027 and the DPP both rely on.
- Encodes GTIN, and optionally batch (AI 10) and serial (AI 21), in one code.
- Serves a US edge node and a cross-region resolver, so a code scanned in the US resolves fast and can pull EU-held data when needed.
- Keeps the printed code valid indefinitely — the passport behind it can evolve without a reprint.