The barcode as you know it is about to change. By December 31, 2027, every major retailer in North America is expected to scan a new generation of two-dimensional (2D) barcodes at checkout. The initiative driving this shift is called GS1 Sunrise 2027, and it represents the most significant change to product identification standards in over four decades.
If you source packaging materials, manage labeling specs, or oversee product readiness for retail, this directly impacts your operations. Here is what is happening, what it means for your packaging, and how to get ahead of it.
What Is GS1 Sunrise 2027?
GS1, the global standards body behind every UPC barcode on every product you buy, has set a firm milestone: by the end of 2027, retail point-of-sale systems worldwide must be capable of reading 2D barcodes—QR codes and GS1 DataMatrix symbols—alongside the traditional 1D linear barcodes we have used since the 1970s.
This is not a government regulation, but it functions like one. Major retailers including Walmart, Target, Kroger, and Dillard’s are already piloting 2D scanning at checkout. When these retailers require 2D-compliant packaging to hold shelf space, it becomes a de facto mandate for every brand that sells through them.
The transition is already underway across 48 countries representing 88% of global GDP, and current projections indicate that over 85% of retail POS systems globally will be 2D-capable by the deadline.
Why the Shift? What 1D Barcodes Can’t Do
Traditional 1D UPC barcodes hold one thing: a product identifier (the GTIN). That was sufficient in 1974. It is not sufficient in 2026.
A 2D barcode can hold up to 7,000 characters of data. That means a single compact code on your packaging can now carry:
- Batch and lot numbers for instant traceability
- Expiration and best-by dates readable at the register
- Serial numbers for anti-counterfeiting and recall precision
- GS1 Digital Link URLs connecting to product pages, promotions, or regulatory data
- Sustainability and sourcing information consumers increasingly demand
For retailers, this means faster recalls, less food waste, and smarter inventory management. For consumers—77% of whom say product information influences their purchase decisions—it means transparency on demand. For brands, it is a competitive differentiator that goes far beyond compliance.
What This Means for Your Packaging
The downstream impact on packaging materials and design is significant. If you are a packaging buyer at a CPG company, food manufacturer, or emerging brand, here are the practical changes you need to plan for:
- Dual-barcode layouts during the transition
Until 2D scanning is universal, GS1 requires both a 1D UPC and a 2D code on every package. These should be placed within 50mm of each other to avoid scanning errors in high-speed retail environments. That affects your label real estate, your corrugated print layouts, and your folding carton artwork.
- Higher print resolution requirements
2D codes demand higher print fidelity than linear barcodes. Every dot in a QR code or DataMatrix must be crisp and scannable. If your current corrugated or label printing cannot consistently hit the required resolution, you will face scan failures at retail—which means chargebacks, returns, or lost shelf placement.
- Artwork and specification updates
Every SKU that carries a barcode will need an artwork revision. That is a significant project management effort across your corrugated cases, folding cartons, labels, poly film, and shrink sleeves. Companies that batch these changes with other packaging updates—like new product launches or seasonal runs—will save substantially versus treating this as a standalone retrofit.
- Coding and marking equipment
If you print variable data on-line (lot codes, expiration dates, serial numbers), your ink-jet coders and label applicators need to generate 2D-readable output. This may mean equipment upgrades or recalibration of existing machinery.
The Cost of Waiting
Brands that delay preparation face compounding risks. Dillard’s CTO has publicly stated that non-compliant products may be kept off shelves. Walmart and Kroger are actively testing 2D-enabled checkout lanes. Once major retailers flip the switch, there will be no grace period for brands scrambling to update packaging across hundreds of SKUs.
Rushed artwork changes lead to errors. Emergency corrugated or label runs at premium pricing eat into margins. And if your coding equipment cannot generate compliant 2D output, you are looking at line stoppages or manual workarounds during the most critical window.
The brands that start now—while they still have the luxury of planning—will absorb this transition smoothly. The ones that wait will pay more, in both cost and disruption.
How to Get Ahead of It: A Practical Checklist
- Audit your current barcode setup. Identify every SKU that carries a 1D barcode and will need a 2D companion. Prioritize by retailer requirements and launch schedules.
- Evaluate your print capabilities. Can your corrugated, label, and flexible film suppliers produce the resolution needed for reliable 2D codes? If not, it is time to have that conversation now.
- Review your coding and marking equipment. Ink-jet coders, label printers, and applicators need to output 2D-compliant codes with variable data. Your equipment partner should be able to advise on readiness or required upgrades.
- Plan artwork changes strategically. Batch 2D barcode additions with other scheduled artwork updates—seasonal packaging, new product introductions, or material changes—to minimize cost and disruption.
- Align your supply chain. If you work with a packaging partner that handles materials, specification management, and project coordination, loop them in now. The earlier they are involved, the smoother the transition.
Where Korpack Fits In
Transitions like GS1 Sunrise 2027 are exactly where having a single-source packaging partner pays off. At Korpack, we work across the full spectrum of materials impacted by this change—corrugated packaging, folding cartons, labels, poly film, and shrink sleeves—which means your 2D barcode transition can be coordinated under one roof instead of fragmented across a dozen vendors.
Our packaging engineers manage artwork changes, specification updates, and prototype creation as part of our standard service. When you need to update barcode artwork across hundreds of SKUs, having one team that owns the specs, manages the revisions, and coordinates with print production eliminates the project management burden that typically falls on your internal team.
On the equipment side, we sell, service, and support the ink-jet coders, label applicators, and printers that will need to generate 2D output on your lines. Our service technicians can assess your current equipment, recommend upgrades where needed, and ensure your coding and marking systems are Sunrise-ready before the deadline hits.
And if you need short-run corrugated for prototyping new 2D-compliant packaging designs before committing to full production—that is exactly what our QuicKOR® on-demand box-making capability was built for. Test your new layouts, verify scannability, and present samples to retail buyers without investing in cutting dies or print plates.
The Bottom Line
GS1 Sunrise 2027 is not a distant deadline—it is an active transition that is reshaping how products are identified, tracked, and sold at retail. The packaging decisions you make in 2026 will determine whether this shift is a smooth upgrade or an expensive scramble.
Start the conversation now. Audit your barcodes, evaluate your print and coding capabilities, and align with a packaging partner that can coordinate the change across every material and every SKU.
Ready to get Sunrise-ready? Talk to a Korpack packaging engineer about your 2D barcode transition plan.
