Ultimate Glossary of Digital Labels, DPPs & Smart Packaging (2025 EU Guide)

Confused by all the new digital product terms? You're not alone. Between Digital Product Passport (DPP), GS1 Digital Link, eLabel, and Smart Packaging, the industry is full of overlapping language. Yet beneath all of these innovations lies a single, unifying idea: the Digital Label.

Just as the physical label on a package combines many kinds of information – legal, nutritional, promotional – the Digital Label is its modern, web-based equivalent. It's the top-level digital layer that connects a product to all relevant information and experiences: from regulatory disclosures to recycling instructions, customer support, and even brand storytelling.

This glossary will help you understand how all these concepts fit together – technically, functionally, and strategically – and why the Digital Label is becoming the new foundation of product transparency and engagement.

What Is a Digital Label?

A Digital Label is the online extension of a product's physical label. It connects consumers, regulators, and supply chain partners to verified, up-to-date information through a QR code or digital identifier.

For a sustainability manager, it's the easiest way to publish updated recycling guidance or sustainability claims across all markets instantly. For a marketing manager, it's a channel to share brand stories and promotions directly on the product. And for legal teams, it ensures that mandatory disclosures are always compliant and traceable.

Unlike single-purpose systems such as Digital Product Passports or eLabels, the Digital Label is an umbrella concept. It can contain regulatory data, marketing content, traceability information, and product support – unified in one web experience. Platforms like info.link make this possible by giving every product a unique digital identity and connecting it to tailored, multilingual content.

For more information, visit info.link.

What Is a GS1 Digital Link?

The GS1 Digital Link is a standardized web address (URL) that contains official GS1 identifiers – the same ones used globally to track products. It is a global standard that connects GS1 identification numbers to the web, enabling barcodes to serve as scannable links that provide access to product-specific data.

For example, a retailer can use the same 2D-Code for checkout, logistics, and consumer engagement. The same QR-Code can direct a customer to a promotional webpage or provide supply chain information to a distributor. This standard supports the global migration to 2D-Codes, which may be used alongside linear barcodes at the Point of Sale until the end of 2027. From 2028 onwards, it is possible to use only 2D-Codes on products at the Point of Sale, but linear barcodes do not have to be removed.

In short, the GS1 Digital Link provides the digital infrastructure for enhanced transparency and efficiency throughout the supply chain. The Digital Label builds the user experience on top.

For more information, visit our ultimate guide to the GS1 Digital Link.

What Is 2D Migration?

The GS1 Digital Link is a global standard that connects GS1 identifiers – such as GTINs, serial numbers, and batch codes – to the web. It transforms these identifiers into a standardized web address (URL) that can be embedded in a 2D-Code, usually a QR code defined by ISO/IEC 18004.

This enables the same on-pack code to serve multiple purposes: a retailer can use it for checkout and logistics, while a consumer scanning it with their smartphone accesses product information, sustainability data, or promotions. Unlike the GS1 DataMatrix, the GS1 Digital Link in a QR code is natively scannable by all modern smartphone cameras without a special app.

Technically, the GS1 Digital Link defines how GS1 identification keys (such as GTIN, GLN, or SSCC) are encoded in a URI syntax (for example, https://info.link/01/09506000134352). This structure makes the product both machine-readable and web-resolvable, ensuring interoperability across retail, logistics, and digital experiences.

The GS1 Digital Link standard plays a key role in the global 2D Migration initiative (see 2D Migration entry). Until the end of 2027, 2D-Codes can be used in addition to linear barcodes at retail points of sale. From 2028 onward, 2D-Codes such as QR codes may also be used alone if desired – but replacing linear barcodes is not mandatory. While the GS1 Data Matrix remains essential for industrial and regulated applications, the GS1 Digital Link is the preferred choice for consumer products, because it combines compliance, commerce, and consumer engagement in a single, versatile format.

For more information, visit our ultimate guide to the GS1 Digital Link.

What Is a Data Matrix?

A Data Matrix is a two-dimensional barcode that encodes data in a pattern of black and white square modules arranged in either a square or rectangular grid. Defined by the ISO/IEC 16022 international standard, it is one of the smallest 2D barcode types used and can encode up to 50 readable symbols in an area as small as 3 mm².

Unlike a regular QR code, it can be printed extremely small and still be readable, making it ideal for pharmaceuticals, electronics, and parts tracking. Each Data Matrix features two solid adjacent borders forming an "L" shape (the finder pattern), ensuring readability regardless of orientation. It also uses ECC 200 error correction, which allows codes with up to 40% damage to be decoded accurately.

Because of its precision and compact size, the Data Matrix is primarily used for item-level traceability and regulatory compliance on small packaging, e.g. in the pharmaceuticals space.

However, unlike the GS1 Digital Link, a Data Matrix is not natively scannable by smartphone cameras. It can only be read through specialized apps or scanners, which makes it less suitable for consumer-facing use cases. For applications that require direct consumer access, see the GS1 Digital Link entry.

For more info, visit GS1’s official guide to the Data Matrix.

What Is a Digital Product Passport (DPP)?

The Digital Product Passport (DPP) is an EU requirement enshrined in the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR, Regulation (EU) 2024/1781) designed to make product data transparent across the entire value chain. It is a digital record that provides comprehensive information about a product throughout its lifecycle – materials, recyclability, repairability, carbon footprint – and must be digitally accessible via a data carrier (such as a GS1 Digital Link standard QR code) on the product (see GS1 Digital Link entry).

For a sustainability manager, the DPP is a compliance tool. For consumers, it's a source of verified environmental data. And for regulators, it's a step toward a circular economy.

However, the DPP is not a replacement for all product information. It's one module within the Digital Label – focused on lifecycle data, not marketing, user instructions, or brand content. The DPP is one piece of a broader digital ecosystem that a Digital Label like info.link unifies.

For more information, visit out ultimate guide to the Digital Product Passport (DPP).

What Is an eLabel (Wine & Spirits)?

An eLabel is a Digital Label required by EU Regulation (EU) 2021/2117 for wines and aromatised wine products. Since December 8, 2023, these products must provide consumers with access to ingredient and nutrition information either on the physical label or digitally via a QR code.

When using a Digital Label, the energy value (kJ/kcal) and allergens must still appear on the bottle, while the full ingredient list and nutrition declaration can be displayed online. The regulation also sets strict rules: no marketing or sales content may appear on the same page, no user data may be tracked, and mandatory terms like “ingredients” must be clearly identifiable.

Wineries typically comply by linking a QR code to a dedicated webpage containing the required information, while optional brand or sustainability content appears separately. The eLabel is a regulated example of a Digital Label, ensuring transparency and compliance in the EU wine sector.

For more information, see EUR-Lex: Regulation (EU) 2021/2117.

What Is an eIFU (Electronic Instructions for Use)?

An eIFU is a digital version of the instructions for use for medical devices, provided via a website, device display, or electronic storage instead of printed paper. It is governed by the EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR) (EU) 2017/745 and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/2226, as amended in 2025, which allows eIFUs for all medical devices intended for professional users.

Manufacturers must conduct a risk analysis to ensure accessibility and safety, offer paper copies upon request, and clearly indicate on the label that an eIFU is provided. The online version must always contain the latest, regulator-approved information.

For hospitals and healthcare professionals, eIFUs simplify compliance and provide instant access to critical instructions, such as cleaning protocols or safety updates. The eIFU is a regulated form of Digital Label, focused on ensuring reliable, up-to-date access to safety-critical information in the medical field.

For more information, see EUR-Lex: Regulation (EU) 2017/745.

What Is a Digital Manual?

A Digital Manual replaces traditional printed instruction booklets with a web-based or app-based version accessible through a QR code on the product or packaging. It provides users with setup instructions, safety guidance, troubleshooting tools, and often interactive content such as videos or support chat.

Unlike regulated digital instructions such as eIFUs, which apply to medical devices (see eIFU entry), the Digital Manual is a voluntary solution used across industries to improve the customer experience and reduce paper waste. For product and sustainability managers, it simplifies updates and ensures that customers always access the latest information without reprinting materials.

Digital Manuals are a practical example of the broader Digital Label concept – extending the product experience beyond the box to deliver dynamic, multilingual, and accessible information directly to end users.

Learn more at info.link.

What Is a Digital Fertilizer Label?

A Digital Fertilizer Label is an EU-approved labeling system established under Regulation (EU) 2019/1009, as amended by Regulation (EU) 2024/2516, allowing fertilizer producers to provide required product information digitally through a QR code or barcode. The regulation entered into force in October 2024 and will apply from May 2027.

The rules distinguish between product type and customer:

• Products supplied to other economic operators (business-to-business), whether packaged or unpackaged, may use digital-only labels.
• Packaged products sold to end-users (consumers or professional users) must still display key safety, usage, and efficiency information on the physical label, but can provide additional details – such as composition or extended safety data – digitally.
• Unpackaged products sold to end-users may rely entirely on a Digital Label, provided the same information is clearly visible at the point of sale (e.g., on a screen or printed display).

All digital fertilizer labels must be freely accessible for at least 10 years, work on all major devices and browsers, and must not track or analyze user data.

The Digital Fertilizer Label is a sector-specific subset of the broader Digital Label, bringing transparency and flexibility to agricultural products. For consumers, it may appear as one element within a unified Digital Label experience that also includes other product information and services.

More information at EUR-Lex: Regulation (EU) 2024/2516.

What Is a Digital Recycling Label?

A Digital Recycling Label links the recycling symbols printed on packaging with localized sorting instructions provided digitally, usually through a QR code or another open data carrier. It allows consumers to see accurate, region-specific disposal guidance while enabling brands to keep one consistent package design across all EU markets.

The upcoming Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (EU) 2025/40, which entered into force in February 2025 and will apply from August 2026, will harmonize packaging labels across the EU. The regulation will introduce standardized pictograms showing material composition and recycling guidance, complemented by digital access to more detailed sorting information for each separable packaging component. Full implementation is expected by 2028, after the European Commission publishes the required implementing acts.

Today, however, national labeling rules still differ. Countries such as France, Italy, Spain, and several Eastern European states have their own recycling label systems, each with unique symbols, languages, or color codes. These fragmented rules currently create complexity for cross-border packaging but are expected to be replaced once the EU system is harmonized.

The Digital Recycling Label represents a key component of the broader Digital Label framework. It allows brands to meet evolving regulatory requirements while giving consumers clear, localized recycling guidance in one unified digital experience.

Learn more in our guide on recycling information on packaging.

What Is Smart Packaging?

Smart Packaging is an umbrella term covering several technology innovations that provide real-time information or action depending on circumstances. It includes active packaging (which interacts with the product to improve shelf life using moisture-regulating or light-filtering materials), intelligent packaging (which uses embedded sensors to monitor product conditions like temperature, humidity, or freshness), and connected packaging.

Smart packaging focuses on data from the product itself – for example, a vaccine vial that indicates if it was exposed to unsafe temperatures. Smart packaging can feed data into a Digital Twin or Digital Product Passport, forming part of the broader Digital Label ecosystem.

What Is Connected Packaging?

Connected Packaging turns physical packaging into a digital communication channel through technologies such as QR codes, GS1 Digital Links, RFID chips, or NFC tags. By linking each product to the internet, it enables dynamic and personalized interactions – from verifying authenticity and checking recall notices to delivering promotions or sustainability information based on a user’s location.

When packaging is digitally extended via a GS1 Digital Link to a Digital Label, it can unlock most of the real-time functionality associated with connected packaging. If the code includes a serial number, batch, or use-by date, the system can inform consumers whether a product is authentic, expired, or affected by a recall. The same digital connection can also trigger localized experiences, such as showing region-specific recycling instructions, nearby store offers, or market-specific promotions.

For marketing teams, connected packaging offers a direct, measurable channel to engage customers; for product and compliance teams, it provides traceability and data transparency. The Digital Label serves as the unified layer that brings these capabilities together – combining compliance, communication, and real-time interactivity within a single digital touchpoint.

Learn more at info.link.

What Is a Digital Twin?

A Digital Twin is a virtual representation of a physical product, process, or system, continuously updated with real-world data to mirror its state and behavior. As defined by the Digital Twin Consortium, it combines real-time and historical information to model the past and present and to simulate future performance.

Manufacturers and product teams use digital twins to analyze performance, predict failures, and optimize maintenance. When connected to technologies such as Digital Product Passports (DPPs) and Smart Packaging, digital twins create a feedback loop between the physical and digital worlds, allowing data from the product’s lifecycle to inform design, sustainability, and operational decisions.

Within the Digital Label ecosystem, digital twins add intelligence and analytics — turning static product information into a dynamic, data-driven system that evolves with each interaction.

Bringing It All Together: The Digital Label as the Unifying Framework

If you imagine the product's digital world as a tree, the Digital Label is the trunk. It anchors all branches – regulatory modules (e.g. DPPs, green claims, recycling info), consumer engagement features (e.g. promotions, digital manuals, FAQs), and technical enablers (e.g. GS1 Digital Link, Data Matrix).

This unified view is crucial for companies facing new EU regulations, sustainability reporting requirements, and growing consumer demand for transparency. Instead of fragmented systems, the Digital Label provides a single access point for every stakeholder – from factory to shelf to home.

At info.link, we call this the global Digital Label: one platform that connects every product to its information, services, and story.

Key Takeaway

The Digital Label is the top-level digital equivalent of the physical product label.

Every other system (e.g. DPP, recycling information, FAQs, promotions, support) is a component or use case beneath it.

Together, they form a cohesive, compliant, and future-proof way to connect every product to the digital world.