Define what the code is meant to do
A QR code may send a shopper to brewing instructions, origin information or a product page. A retail identification implementation has additional requirements. Write the intended function in the artwork brief so a marketing link is not mistaken for an approved checkout code.
GS1 US describes Sunrise 2027 as a transition initiative involving 2D barcode capability at point of sale and richer consumer information. Its guidance distinguishes barcode data and retailer system readiness. Adding a web link to a coffee bag does not by itself satisfy a retailer’s implementation requirements.
Ask the retailer and the brand’s barcode or GS1 specialist what symbols and encoded data the project requires. Keep the approved retail barcode in the layout unless the responsible parties explicitly approve a different arrangement. Do not remove it simply because a phone recognizes the QR code.
Create a destination handoff record
Use this original worksheet before generating the final code artwork. It assigns decisions that a print proof alone cannot resolve.
| Record item | Decision to capture |
|---|---|
| Coffee SKU | Exact product, roast or blend, pack size and intended market |
| Encoded value | Exact approved URL or other agreed encoded data |
| Expected result | Named page and content the shopper should reach |
| Control and maintenance | Owner of the domain, destination content and any redirect service |
| Change plan | Who can alter the destination and who checks the result? |
| Artwork identity | Code asset filename/revision and matching bag artwork revision |
| Retail requirement | Required retail symbol/data and separate approval reference |
The encoded value and the final landing page may differ when redirects are used. Record both. Ask the service owner what happens if a campaign ends, a subscription expires or the website is rebuilt. PM’s packaging artwork work does not establish that PM hosts or maintains the destination service.
Check product accuracy before print accuracy
Have the brand scan the exact proposed code asset and compare the destination with the release record. Does it open the intended coffee rather than another blend or size? Is the page usable on a phone? Does it show the approved content without requiring an unexpected login? Record the observation date and the person approving the result.
Illustrative mismatch: a code supplied for a decaf bag opens a general brewing page whose featured product is a caffeinated blend. The image may scan cleanly, but the brand still needs to decide whether that destination is appropriate. A correct technical scan cannot make that content decision.
If the link is intended to carry lot-specific information, have the responsible team define the data and maintenance process explicitly. A generic product URL does not automatically provide lot traceability.
Keep web changes separate from code-asset changes
A brand-controlled destination can be maintained after the packaging is printed, but changes should preserve the promised function for packages already in circulation. Record who checks the old printed code when the website or redirect changes. Avoid approving a short-lived campaign page without an agreed continuation plan.
If the encoded value itself changes, provide a new identified code asset and route it through artwork approval. Do not assume that changing the visible text next to a QR code changes its encoded contents. Match the final asset to the correct bag file and SKU.
Then verify the printed package
After the destination is approved, evaluate code placement and print quality on the actual package construction. A phone scan during artwork review is not a substitute for a defined verification method or retailer acceptance. The printed-pouch barcode verification guide covers that separate evidence.
For custom coffee packaging, send the final code asset, approved encoded value and destination, coffee SKU, bag drawing and retailer instructions. PM Packaging can review the supplied artwork for the agreed packaging project; the brand and its service providers retain ownership of the linked content and barcode-data approvals.
General educational information only. Materials, performance, compliance, claims, quantities, and timing require confirmation for the exact packaging project.