gs1 in europe

What gs1 in europe does

GS1 in Europe is the regional coordinating body of the global GS1 standards organisation, operating as an international non-profit association registered in Belgium and headquartered in Brussels at Galerie Ravenstein 4. It covers 49 European countries through a federated network of 49 local Member Organisations that collectively represent more than 500,000 companies. The organisation's core function is to maintain and promote GS1's portfolio of open, non-proprietary identification and data exchange standards — most prominently GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) for product identification, GLN (Global Location Number) for locations and entities, GS1 Digital Link for QR-code-based connections to product data, EPCIS for supply chain event tracking, and GDSN for global product data synchronisation. These standards underpin more than 1 billion products carrying GS1 barcodes that are scanned billions of times daily worldwide.

GS1 in Europe's product surface extends beyond raw standards into platforms and services that operationalise them: the GS1 Registry Platform and "Verified by GS1" service for identifier verification, the Global Data Model for standardised product attributes, B2B2C data solutions for sustainability and carbon footprint exchange, sector programmes such as ECHO for healthcare data harmonisation, and dedicated Centres of Excellence for Construction, Transport & Logistics, and Rail. The Digital Product Passport (DPP) offering is a strategically central product, positioning GS1 as the technical foundation for EU ESPR, EUDR, PPWR, CSRD, and Batteries Regulation compliance across electronics, textiles, batteries, and construction sectors.

The organisation generates revenue through barcode prefix licensing and membership fees paid by Member Organisations and their member companies. Distribution is entirely channel-mediated: companies access GS1 standards and barcodes by engaging their national Member Organisation rather than purchasing directly from the Brussels entity. Go-to-market relies on industry education, regulatory advocacy, events (annual Regional Forum, InterACT, Nordic Summit, Standards Week), publications, webinars, and sector-specific working groups. Named reference customers span retail (Decathlon Belgium, Fruugo, H&M), healthcare (BD UK+Ireland), and dairy software (GDSO), illustrating multi-sector adoption rather than vertical specialisation.

Name

gs1 in europe

Legal name

GS1 in Europe

Website

https://gs1.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

GS1 in Europe is a Brussels-based non-profit association coordinating GS1 identification and data exchange standards across 49 European countries through 49 Member Organisations, serving more than 500,000 member companies with GTIN, GLN, EPCIS, GDSN, and Digital Product Passport infrastructure.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Standards and Data Exchange Platforms

NAICS

Packaging and Labeling Services (56191)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Third-Party Traceability Platform Assurance (SOC/ISO-aligned controls for traceability data) (AFALAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Product Regulatory Compliance for Cross-Border Trade (e.g., FDA, USDA, CPSC, CE/REACH/RoHS) (TLACAGAH), Computer System Validation (CSV) & GxP IT Compliance (21 CFR Part 11/Annex 11) (HLAGAKAG)

Keywords

• Barcode standards
• Product identification
• Supply chain traceability
• Data exchange networks
• Digital product passport

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Barcode licensing and membership fees: GS1 generates revenue through licensing of barcode prefixes to companies and membership fees from Member Organisations. Companies obtain GS1 Company Prefixes and GTINs to uniquely identify their products in global commerce.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

GS1 in Europe coordinates and promotes GS1 identification and traceability standards (GTIN, GLN, GS1 Digital Link, GS1 DataMatrix, GS1 DataBar), data exchange platforms (GDSN, EPCIS, GS1 Registry Platform), and the Verified by GS1 service across 49 European countries through 49 Member Organisations. These standards enable unique product identification, supply chain traceability, and regulatory compliance for Digital Product Passports, EUDR, CSRD, PPWR, and the Batteries Regulation.

Product overview

GS1 in Europe is a standards organization covering 49 countries that provides a platform for national and pan-European companies to cooperate on global commerce standards. Rather than a traditional product company, GS1 in Europe offers a portfolio of identification standards (GTIN, GLN, GS1 Digital Link, GS1 DataMatrix, GS1 DataBar), data exchange platforms (GDSN, EPCIS), verification services (Verified by GS1, GS1 Registry Platform), and sector-specific programs (ECHO for Healthcare, Centres of Excellence for Construction, Transport & Logistics, and Rail). These products work together to enable Digital Product Passports, supply chain traceability, sustainability reporting, and regulatory compliance across EU markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GTIN (Global Trade Item Number)

Quantifiable outcome

• Six GS1 standards now published as harmonised standards in the Official Journal of the EU for Digital Product Passports
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• CIRPASS ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 October 2022GS1 in Europe joined the CIRPASS consortium funded by the European Commission under the Digital Europe Programme. The 30-partner initiative prepares the ground for Digital Product Passport deployment across electronics, batteries, and textile sectors. GS1 contributes to work packages on DPP-related standards, prototypes and roll-out strategies.
• Global Battery AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2021MoU signed to deliver digital battery passports under EU Green Deal. The GBA represents over 80 organisations including BASF, and GS1 open standards provide technical foundation for battery identification and data transparency throughout battery lifecycle.
• EuroCommerceflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint paper with EuroCommerce calling for open, inclusive, and decentralised EU Digital Product Passport. Both organisations advocate for design that allows companies and consumers to make greener, more sustainable choices based on open global product data standards.
• HolyGrail 2.0 InitiativecoreTechnology or IntegrationCollaboration with HolyGrail 2.0 (powered by Alliance to End Plastic Waste) to develop intelligent sorting system using GS1 GTIN standard. Over 160 companies and organisations committed to digital watermarks for packaging circularity.
• FoodDataQuest ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGS1 in Europe is part of this platform of 15 institutions from 8 countries focused on data-driven innovations for sustainable food systems. Provides expertise and best practices in the farm-to-fork ecosystem.
• buildingSMART InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGS1 Centre of Excellence Construction team participates in buildingSMART International Standards Summit to address digitalisation challenges in construction sector and promote use of open global standards.
• DeloitteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeloitte published report on 'Impact of international, open standards on circularity in Europe' commissioned by GS1 in Europe to stimulate debate around value of international standards on the EU market.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Workiva: Cloud platform for regulatory and sustainability reporting (CSRD, ESRS) where GS1 also enables data infrastructure; competes for enterprise compliance and ESG data management budgets.
• OpenSC: Open-source platform for product traceability and Digital Product Passports; represents a competing model for delivering DPP infrastructure, potentially fragmenting demand away from GS1's standards-based approach.
• Veeva Systems: Cloud solutions for life sciences, with traceability and regulatory compliance capabilities serving the same pharmaceutical and medical device customers as GS1's healthcare and UDI offerings.
• TraceLink: Pharmaceutical supply chain traceability and serialisation platform that competes for the same regulated compliance budgets as GS1's healthcare traceability programmes, particularly under DSCSA and EU FMD.
• RFXCEL (Antares Vision Group): Pharmaceutical serialisation and traceability software provider; overlaps with GS1 in pharma supply chain compliance and competes for serialisation programme budgets.
• IBM Food Trust: Blockchain-based food traceability network used by major retailers and producers; addresses the same food traceability use case as GS1 EPCIS but via a proprietary platform rather than open standards.

Direct peers

• GS1 Global: The global parent organisation of GS1 in Europe; provides the same GTIN, GLN, EPCIS, and GDSN standards worldwide and operates 116 local Member Organisations. Comparable as the umbrella standards body governing GS1 in Europe's mandate.
• ODETTE (Organisation for Data Exchange by Tele Transmission in Europe): European automotive industry data exchange standards body; comparable as a sector-focused standards organisation addressing supply chain interoperability, with a narrower vertical than GS1.

Broad incumbents

• ISO (International Organization for Standardization): Global standards-setting organisation covering thousands of industry standards; overlaps with GS1 in supply chain, quality management (ISO 9001), and traceability (ISO 22005) domains, though broader in scope.
• CEN (European Committee for Standardization): Official EU recognised standards body that develops harmonised European standards; collaborates with and overlaps GS1's role in setting EU-wide interoperability and regulatory compliance standards.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about gs1 in europe