What Is GS1 Digital Link?
GS1 Digital Link is an international standard that transforms product identification numbers — such as the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) — into web-native URLs. Instead of a plain number on a barcode, it creates a structured internet address that points directly to digital product information.
A traditional barcode contains only a number, for example 4012345678901. GS1 Digital Link turns this number into a URL:
https://id.gs1.de/01/04012345678901/21/SN12345
This URL encodes two key pieces of information: the product's GTIN (01 = Application Identifier for GTIN) and the individual unit's serial number (21 = Application Identifier for serial number). This makes every single battery uniquely identifiable worldwide — with its data accessible via the internet.
The critical difference from an ordinary QR code: a standard QR code links to any URL with no standardized structure. A GS1 Digital Link follows a globally uniform format that machines, authorities, and supply chain actors can automatically read and interpret.
EU Battery Regulation: Product Labeling Requirements
The EU Battery Regulation (EU 2023/1542) mandates a digital battery passport for industrial, traction, and LMT batteries from February 2027. A central requirement: access to the battery passport must be provided via a QR code on the product.
Article 13 of the regulation governs labeling: every affected battery must carry a machine-readable data carrier that links to the battery passport. The DIN SPEC 99100 specifies the technical implementation and explicitly references GS1 Digital Link as the recommended identification mechanism.
In practice, this means the QR code on your battery cannot be an arbitrary link. It must contain a standardized product identification — the GTIN as the product identifier and the serial number as the individual unit identifier. Only then can authorities, market surveillance, recyclers, and other actors locate and verify the battery passport programmatically.
The regulation does not mandate a specific standard. However, GS1 Digital Link has established itself as the de facto standard for digital product identification — largely because GS1 in Europe worked with the Battery Pass consortium to develop it specifically for this use case.
How GS1 Digital Link Works in the Battery Passport
The GS1 Digital Link in the battery passport is built on three components:
1. Product Identification (GTIN)
Each battery model receives a Global Trade Item Number, issued by GS1 Germany or the respective national GS1 organization. The GTIN identifies the product type — for example, a specific battery model from a manufacturer.
2. Individual Unit Identification (Serial Number)
Each individual battery also receives a serial number (Application Identifier 21). This identifies not just the model but the specific unit — a prerequisite for individual battery passports per battery.
3. Resolver
A resolver service resolves the GS1 Digital Link URL and routes requests to the appropriate destinations. Depending on who scans the QR code, different information can be served: consumers see a product page, authorities access the full battery passport dataset, recyclers get composition data.
As a GS1 Germany Solution Partner, DPP Hero validates GTINs and serial numbers to GS1 standards and generates QR codes for every published product page. Full integration of GS1 Digital Link as the encoded URL in QR codes — with embedded GTIN and serial number — is in preparation and will meet the requirements of the EU Battery Regulation for product labeling.
GS1 Digital Link vs. Proprietary QR Codes
Not every QR code on a battery is created equal. The difference between a GS1 Digital Link and a proprietary QR code has significant implications — for your investment security, interoperability, and regulatory future-proofing.
Vendor Lock-in With Proprietary Solutions
A proprietary QR code typically links to the software vendor's domain — for example, battery-passport-vendor.com/product/12345. This works as long as you use that vendor. If you switch providers, all printed QR codes break. The physical data carriers on your already-shipped batteries become useless.
With GS1 Digital Link, the domain is not tied to a software vendor. The URL follows a standardized structure that is vendor-independent. If you switch battery passport providers, you simply reconfigure the resolver — the QR codes on your batteries remain valid.
Interoperability
Authorities, market surveillance, and recyclers must process battery passports from thousands of different manufacturers. If every manufacturer uses a different QR code format, this becomes a challenge. GS1 Digital Link creates a uniform structure: every actor in the value chain can read the QR code, extract the GTIN, and retrieve the battery passport — without needing to know the specific software vendor.
Future-Proofing Beyond the Battery Passport
GS1 Digital Link is not limited to battery passports. The ESPR (Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation) will require digital product passports for numerous additional product categories — from textiles and electronics to construction materials. Companies that adopt GS1 Digital Link for their battery passport today are building on a standard that will apply to future product passport requirements as well. Learn more about the differences between battery passports and digital product passports in our comparison article.
What This Means for Manufacturers
If you need to create a battery passport, keep these steps in mind:
- Obtain a GTIN — If you do not yet have a Global Trade Item Number for your battery models, apply at GS1 Germany or your national GS1 organization. The GTIN is the foundation of the GS1 Digital Link.
- Organize serial number assignment — Each individual battery needs a unique serial number. Ensure your production assigns and documents serial numbers systematically.
- Print the QR code on the battery or packaging — The QR code with the GS1 Digital Link must be physically applied to the product or its packaging. Plan the integration into your labeling processes.
- Provide battery passport data behind the QR code — The URL in the QR code must point to a page where the mandatory battery passport data is available in a structured format.
DPP Hero fully covers the last step: when you publish a product, the platform automatically generates a public product page with a QR code. The data structure follows DIN SPEC 99100 — all mandatory fields are covered in the guided 7-step editor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a GTIN for the battery passport?
Yes. The GTIN is the standardized product identification number that forms the basis of the GS1 Digital Link. Without a GTIN, you cannot generate a standards-compliant QR code for your battery passport. GTINs are issued by the national GS1 organization — in Germany, that is GS1 Germany.
What does a GTIN cost from GS1 Germany?
The cost of GS1 membership and GTIN assignment depends on company size and the required number allocation. GS1 Germany publishes current pricing on its website. For most battery manufacturers, GS1 membership is a manageable investment compared to the overall cost of battery passport implementation.
Can I create a battery passport without GS1 Digital Link?
Technically yes — you can provide a battery passport with any QR code. The EU Battery Regulation does not mandate a specific standard for the data carrier. However, DIN SPEC 99100 recommends GS1 Digital Link, and in practice, authorities, recyclers, and market surveillance rely on standardized identification. A proprietary QR code carries the risk of interoperability issues and vendor lock-in.
What happens if I switch battery passport providers?
With a GS1 Digital Link, you simply reconfigure the resolver — the QR codes on your already-shipped batteries remain valid. With a proprietary QR code pointing to the old vendor's domain, you would need to relabel all batteries — practically impossible in most cases.
What is the difference between GS1 Digital Link and a regular QR code?
A regular QR code contains an arbitrary URL with no standardized structure. A GS1 Digital Link contains a URL with embedded product identification (GTIN, serial number) following an international standard. This enables machines, authorities, and other actors to automatically read and process the encoded information — regardless of which software vendor created the battery passport.