site.btaChamber of Commerce Details GS1 Standards in European Deposit Systems

GS1 Bulgaria has published information aiming to demonstrate the use of GS1 standards in deposit systems across Europe, the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry said in a press release on Thursday. This is part of an initiative by GS1 organizations in various European countries regarding their national use of the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) that GS1 Bulgaria is part of.

The GS1 Europe study examined the use of GTIN, which resulted in a comprehensive model and recommendations for future systems. Deposit systems add a small fee to beverage packaging, which is refunded upon return for recycling.

EU regulations mandate that by January 1, 2029, member states must ensure the separate collection of 90% of the weight of certain packaging types, specifically targeting single-use plastic bottles and cans up to three litres.

A GS1 Europe study found that over 90% of organizations in European deposit systems use GTIN to enhance efficiency and interoperability. GTINs, encoded in formats like EAN and UPC, help manage deposit fees and packaging details. In Bulgaria, the Ministry of Environment and Water is developing a deposit system expected to be operational by 2026, leveraging these standards for improved sustainability.