In this guide, we show you how to create your packaging master data in GS1Trade Packaging. It is a 4-step process.

1. Create all GTINs in the product hierarchy (base, package and possibly pallet)
2. Create packaging components, eco-grade them and assemble them into packaging units
3. For each GTIN - link the unique packaging unit
4. Create a packaging system for the packaging units that belong to the product

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1. Create all products (GTIN) in the product hierarchy

A product corresponds to the physical product going to market. The product hierarchy consists of base unit (the sales item), package and pallet. You need to create all the GTINs that exist in the product hierarchy.

Note: GTINs are often only available on base unit and package. It is rare that GTINs are also available on pallets. In these cases, you only need to create the base unit and package.

In this guide, we use a jam product as an example. The jam is shipped in packages on a pallet. The product hierarchy for the jam product therefore consists of:

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Here's how you do it:

Go to the Products tab > Select Create new > Manual creation

Specify:

• Trademark
• Description of the product
• Product ID
• GTIN (if available)
• Net content

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In the example below we are creating the base unit.

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Do you need to share packaging data for this product with a customer?

Go to the Sharing settings tab on the product.

If you only use GS1Trade Packaging, add the customers you want to share product packaging data with here.

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Do you also use GS1Trade Sync? Then add your customers under Share to GS1Trade Packaging.

However, you should also be aware that it also requires you to manage your data recipients in GS1Trade Sync.

You can read more about how to share data in the guide here.

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2. Create packaging components and assemble them into packaging units

We start by creating the packaging for the base unit. In this example, our jam product consists of a packaging with three components: a lid, a label and the jar itself.  

Label is an integrated component on the glass. By definition, an integrated component is a packaging component that is not designed to be separated from the main component during waste sorting or transportation.

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2.1 Create components

Go to the Packaging master data tab > Select Create new > Create new component.

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Specify:

• Name (so you can identify it later)
• Element type (GS1 standard)
• Material type (GS1 standard)
• Component weight

Click Save.

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2.2 Integrate components

It's important to connect main components and integrated components before packaging units are assembled - but especially before we environmentally graduate our components.

Packaging with integrated components must be environmentally graded as a whole according to the Environmental Protection Agency's executive order.

Go to the main component - the jam jar.

Under the "Integrated components" tab, click Edit details.

Select the embedded component from the list on the right and drag it into the empty field.

In the "Composite" field, select from the dropdown list how the integrated component is attached to the main component.

Click Save. The jar and label are now linked in the system.

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2.3 Classify and environmentally grade components

You have now created your packaging components and integrated a component on a main component. Now you're ready to classify the components according to the regulation from the Danish Environmental Protection Agency.

Go to the Packaging classification tab and enter:

• Waste type
• Material category
• Environmental grading

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2.4 Assemble components into units

Next, the jam jar and lid components must be assembled into a packaging unit.

• In the Packaging master data tab > click Create new > and create new device.
• Give the device a meaningful name - in this example it is a jam product.
• Specify the type of device - in this example it is a jar.
• Drag the components from the list on the right side into the assembled device.
• When the components are dragged over one by one, the system automatically indicates that there is one piece/number of the selected component. Adjust yourself if there are more.

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Pay special attention to:

• Integrated components are automatically included in the device via main components. Therefore, you do NOT need to add integrated components to the device yourself.
• If you are dealing with a package, for example a multipack, where there is more than one component, the number can be adjusted here. However, in this example there is only one component.

We repeat sections 2.1-2.4 for the components for packages and pallets.

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3. Link the packaging unit unique to each GTIN

Packaging and products are created in the system.

• Select packaging unit > go to the Linked products tab
• ‍Click Link to product > search and select GTIN

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If the packaging is improved and you need to maintain data, this only needs to be done in one place across the linked products.

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4. Create packaging systems

Finally, create a packaging system for the product hierarchy.

• Go to the Packaging Systems tab > Select Create new.
• Name the packaging system so you know which product(s) it relates to.
• Drag base unit into primary, package unit into secondary and pallet into tertiary.
• Enter the number of base, package and pallet units in the product hierarchy. You must enter the total number of units in the entire packaging system. For example, if there is 1 pallet with 8 packages, where each package contains 10 base units, there will be a total of 80 base units on the pallet.

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You have now created your packaging master data for your product.

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A few tips

You can reuse packaging units for several different GTINs. For example, if you have a product in different variants that use the same packaging. You can also reuse packaging components in several different units.

• Select packaging unit > go to the Linked products tab
• ‍Click Link to product > search and select GTIN

In the example below, three basic jam products (strawberry, raspberry and orange jam) have been created but only one packaging unit. This is because the same packaging is used for all three products, which is why this is assigned to all three.

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Inactive packaging data

Packaging data that is no longer relevant or applicable should be marked as Inactive. This ensures that the system only contains data that reflects the current usage.

This applies to the following:

• Packaging components
• Packaging units
• Products

When data is marked as "Inactive", it means that it is no longer actively used in the packaging flow, but is retained in the system for traceability and history purposes. For the same reason, it is not possible to delete products or packaging data. Instead, you can mark it Inactive.
If data has been created by mistake, it should be treated in the same way.
You should not make further updates to inactive data unless it is made active again.

We further recommend that you remove all associations with inactive components or devices.