BARCODING, LABELLING & PACKAGING


M


ake UK claims digital technology can be integrated across the whole manufacturing business but that it’s more likely to be implemented first in the back


office, HR, payroll and project management before being rolled out across the whole enterprise. Whilst not exhaustive, Make UK pitched some


compelling arguments for manufacturers to digitalise:


• Problem solving • Cost reductions • Tackling labour shortages • Driving efficiencies • Improving workplace safety • Increasing productivity • Creating new workforce opportunities • Offering better quality products • Delivering better customer service • Improving sustainability


That said, Make UK also highlighted four


primary barriers holding manufacturers back from digitalisation: lack of skills, lack of funding, lack of knowledge and expertise and lack of culture and leadership. But these issues, as well as new regulations on the horizon, wait for no man, especially when it comes to labelling and packaging.


WHY GET ‘SMART’ WITH YOUR LABELLING? With requirements for the Digital Product Passport (DPP) expected as early as 2027, and compliance due in 2028 to the Food Traceability Rule, only item-level identification such as that offered by smart labels like 2D barcodes and RFID will enable businesses to efficiently fulfil their new traceability obligations. But who says the UK will adopt DPP


measures now that we’re no longer bound by EU regulations? What does it matter if you don’t export goods? And when it comes to sustainability and transparency, we’ve already got new EPR responsibilities around packaging


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TOWARDS DIGITALISATION AND SUSTAINABILITY IN LABELLING AND PACKAGING


By Bob Vines, Country Manager UK, Ireland and the Nordics, TSC Auto ID


While 86 per cent of manufacturers think smart factory initiatives will be the main driver of competitiveness in the next five years, less than a third (30 per cent) actually have them underway, and only 5 per cent have at least one factory at full smart status


so why do we need to do more? Because labels now offer so much more to


business processes than just identification, from increasing productivity to driving efficiencies, from improving sustainability to upping customer satisfaction: they’re becoming game-changers. The familiar 1D linear barcode, which


contains only basic information has transformed global commerce in the past 50 years but it is fast being superseded by technologies like RFID, NFC and 2D barcodes. 2D barcodes allow much more data in less space than their UPC/EAN predecessors, a real advantage as packaging gets smaller and brands have less room to impart key information. 2D barcodes such as QR codes powered


by GS1, and GS1 Data Matrix codes, offer the sort of item-level detail necessary to meet new regulations. But that’s not where their benefits stop. They also enable supply chain traceability and transparency, they enhance efficiency, help ensure product quality and safety, help prevent counterfeiting, and are


SEPTEMBER 2025 | FACTORY&HANDLINGSOLUTIONS


being used increasingly by brands to deliver important consumer information. When added to packaging, QR codes can not only deliver detailed product messaging and interactive experiences but also provide recycling instructions and information around sustainability initiatives. IoT-enabled labels like RFID are also


transforming products into smart, connected items, enabling real-time tracking, enhancing supply chain visibility and improving consumer interaction. Such labels can, for instance, monitor storage conditions like temperature (vital for food and drink and pharmaceutical industries), or authenticate products thereby helping combat counterfeiting. RFID tags are poised to transform


manufacturing and retail. They can be seamlessly embedded in clothing and household labels, product packaging and marketing materials to enhance inventory control (typically from around 60-65 per cent to over 95 per cent), to improve customer experience through smart packaging and to increase brand interaction via smart tags.


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