GS1 in Europe

What GS1 in Europe does

GS1 in Europe is an international non-profit association headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, registered at Galerie Ravenstein 4 box 10, 1000 Brussels. It operates as the European regional arm of the global GS1 standards organisation, federating 49 local Member Organisations (MOs) across 49 European countries and representing more than 500,000 companies. The organisation's mandate is to develop, maintain, and promote global supply chain standards — most notably the barcode (originating 1973) and the GTIN (Global Trade Item Number), GLN (Global Location Number), GDSN (Global Data Synchronisation Network), EPCIS (Electronic Product Code Information Services), GS1 Digital Link (QR-based), and Digital Product Passport standards — that enable product identification, location identification, and data exchange across trading partners.

The organisation's underlying technology is a portfolio of open, royalty-light standards rather than a software product: GS1 Barcodes and 2D barcodes (QR codes, GS1 DataMatrix) provide physical-layer identification; GDSN and the GS1 Global Data Model structure product master data; EPCIS provides visibility-event data for traceability; and Verified by GS1 acts as a registry-based verification platform. Six of these standards were published as EU harmonised standards in the Official Journal in July 2026 under ESPR, making GS1 the technical foundation for the EU Digital Product Passport. Additional tools include GS1 Picture It! (digital asset visualisation), GS1 Print (label printing compliance), and sector-specific solutions for EUDR, PPWR, healthcare UDI, construction, batteries, and finance.

The business model is a federated non-profit structure: revenue is generated through membership contributions from the 49 Member Organisations and through licensing of GS1 identifiers (barcodes, GTINs, company prefixes) to companies, which obtain these through their local MO on a recurring subscription basis. Go-to-market is partnership-driven, with MOs handling local sales, training, and regulatory guidance, while GS1 in Europe coordinates EU-level engagement with the European Commission, industry associations (EuroCommerce, Global Battery Alliance, AIM/HolyGrail 2.0, buildingSMART, CIRPASS, FoodDataQuest), and pan-European platforms. Marketing centres on thought leadership, white papers, the annual Regional Forum, and the GS1 InterACT conference.

Name

GS1 in Europe

Legal name

GS1 in Europe

Website

https://gs1.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

GS1 in Europe is a Brussels-based non-profit standards association that federates 49 national Member Organisations across 49 European countries, representing more than 500,000 companies. It maintains and promotes GS1 supply chain identification standards — barcodes, GTIN, GLN, GDSN, EPCIS, and Digital Product Passport standards — used to identify products, locations, and data worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Supply Chain Standards

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (541380), Packaging and Labeling Services (56191)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Trade, Export Controls & Customs Compliance (BPAHAFAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Product Regulatory Compliance for Cross-Border Trade (e.g., FDA, USDA, CPSC, CE/REACH/RoHS) (TLACAGAH), Supply Chain (Scope 3) Emissions & Supplier Engagement Platforms (EUABAEAE)

Keywords

• Supply chain standards
• Product identification
• Barcode systems
• Data synchronisation
• Regulatory compliance

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels, Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Member Organisation Fees and Standards Licensing: GS1 in Europe is an international non-profit association registered in Belgium. The organization represents 49 local Member Organisations (MOs) and provides a platform for cooperation. Revenue appears to be generated through member organisation fees and licensing of GS1 standards and identifiers (barcodes, GTINs) to companies seeking to use global trade identification standards.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

GS1 in Europe is an international non-profit association that develops and maintains global supply chain standards, including product identification (GTIN barcodes, GS1 Digital Link QR codes, GLN), data synchronisation (GDSN), and traceability (EPCIS) standards for use across 49 European countries. Through 49 local Member Organisations, it licenses identifiers and provides implementation tools, regulatory compliance guidance, and Digital Product Passport solutions supporting EU regulations (ESPR, EUDR, PPWR, CSRD).

Product overview

GS1 in Europe provides a comprehensive suite of standards-based products and services enabling global product identification, data sharing, and supply chain traceability across 49 European countries. The core offering centres on GS1 Barcodes (GTIN), GS1 Digital Link/QR codes, and the GS1 Global Data Model, complemented by data synchronisation networks (GDSN) and visibility standards (EPCIS). The portfolio includes sector-specific solutions for Food, Healthcare, Transport & Logistics, Construction, and Finance, alongside regulatory compliance tools for EU initiatives including Digital Product Passport (DPP), EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), and Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). Tools such as Verified by GS1, GS1 Picture It!, and GS1 Print support implementation, while guidelines and white papers provide regulatory guidance. The ecosystem collectively enables companies to meet EU sustainability mandates, enhance supply chain transparency, and support circular economy objectives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1 billion products carry GS1 barcodes that are scanned billions of times every day
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• buildingSMART InternationalmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025GS1 is hosting a half-day session at buildingSMART International Summit 2025 in Berlin to explore how open global standards can link digital and physical worlds in the built environment. Focus on 'golden thread' of product information from design through construction, use, and end-of-life for circularity.
• HolyGrail 2.0 InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024GS1 collaborated with HolyGrail 2.0 (driven by AIM and powered by Alliance to End Plastic Waste) to develop digital technology for intelligent packaging sorting. GS1's GTIN standard was chosen as the identifier for this system to improve post-consumer waste sorting and ensure packaging enters correct material stream for circular economy.
• FoodDataQuest ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024GS1 in Europe is part of FoodDataQuest platform - a consortium of 15 institutions from 8 countries aimed at fostering sustainable food systems through data-driven innovations. GS1 provides expertise and best practices as an important partner in the farm-to-fork ecosystem.
• CIRPASS ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 October 2022GS1 in Europe joined CIRPASS (Collaborative Initiative for a Standards-based Digital Product Passport) consortium funded by European Commission under Digital Europe Programme. The 18-month project involves 30+ partners representing thousands of industrial, digital, and standards organisations. GS1 contributes to work packages on DPP-related standards, prototypes, and roll-out strategies.
• EuroCommercecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 February 2022EuroCommerce and GS1 in Europe released a joint paper calling for open, inclusive, and decentralised EU Digital Product Passport. Both organisations advocate for DPP design based on open and global product data standards already in use by companies. This builds on MoU signed in 2019.
• Global Battery AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2020GS1 in Europe and Global Battery Alliance signed an MoU to deliver a digital battery passport. The partnership aims to develop a battery passport as a digital twin of Electric Vehicle batteries, reporting all relevant ESG performance KPIs of the supply chain. GBA represents more than 80 organizations and GS1 standards provide the technical foundation for unambiguous battery identification.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• TraceLink: TraceLink specialises in pharmaceutical supply chain traceability and serialisation, including DSCSA and Falsified Medicines Directive compliance. It is an emerging specialist peer in GS1's healthcare vertical, competing for the same compliance and traceability budgets.
• Circulor: Circulor provides supply chain traceability and battery passport solutions for EVs, electronics, and raw materials, including partnerships with automakers and mining companies. It overlaps with GS1's emerging battery and DPP initiatives using a blockchain-based approach.
• EcoVadis: EcoVadis provides sustainability ratings and CSRD/ESPR compliance intelligence for global supply chains. It is an emerging peer in GS1's sustainability and circular economy segment, complementing (and sometimes competing with) GS1's carbon footprint data exchange standards.
• Circularise: Circularise offers blockchain-based digital product passports for materials and circular supply chains, including plastics and batteries. It is an emerging alternative to GS1's DPP standards, targeting the same EU regulatory use cases but with a decentralised technology stack.

Direct peers

• 1WorldSync: 1WorldSync is a leading GDSN-certified data pool that enables product information syndication between manufacturers and retailers using GS1 standards. It is the most direct competitor in GS1's core product data exchange business, serving many of the same CPG and retail customers.
• Syndigo: Syndigo provides product content management and syndication services, including PIM, MDM, and GDSN connectivity for CPG brands and retailers. It is a close peer in product information management, competing for the same enterprise data quality and exchange use cases that GS1 addresses through GDSN.
• Atrify: Atrify (formerly Step4ward) operates a GDSN-certified product data pool serving manufacturers and retailers globally. It directly competes with the GS1 Registry Platform and GS1 data pools in product content management and master data exchange.

Broad incumbents

• ISO: ISO is the leading international standards organisation developing voluntary consensus standards across industries. It is a broad incumbent peer in standards development and governance, occasionally overlapping with GS1 on supply chain and identifier standards.
• SAP: SAP operates broad enterprise supply chain management and product lifecycle software, including traceability and sustainability modules used by large manufacturers. As a broad incumbent, SAP competes for the digital layer above GS1 identifiers in supply chain digital transformation projects.
• IBM Food Trust: IBM Food Trust is a blockchain-based food traceability network used by major retailers and food producers. As a broad incumbent with deep enterprise reach, it competes with GS1's food sector traceability offerings (EPCIS) and could be positioned for broader DPP rollouts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/gs1ineurope
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCmVqe95c_jhpLc3HRVqCW5A
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gs1ineurope

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about GS1 in Europe