GS1-128 Label
A GS1-128 label is a standardized shipping label printed with the GS1-128 barcode symbology that encodes a carton or pallet's SSCC and, optionally, data such as the purchase order and ship-to location.
Why it matters for ecommerce brands
Correct GS1-128 labels let a retailer receive your cartons by scan, and wrong ones are a common chargeback trigger. Most US retailers require one on every carton or pallet, carrying an SSCC that must match the EDI 856 advance ship notice. For example, if 40 cartons in a shipment carry SSCCs missing from the ASN, the DC may receive them by hand and fine you per carton or per shipment. Wrong placement and unreadable barcodes cause the same problem. Test labels with each retailer before the first order.
Origin
GS1-128 builds on Code 128, a barcode symbology Computer Identics created in 1981; the EAN and UCC bodies later adopted it as UCC/EAN-128 for carton and pallet labels.
Common questions
- Is a GS1-128 label the same as a UCC-128 label?
- Yes. UCC-128 is the older name for the same barcode standard, and many retailer routing guides still use it. Both refer to the label carrying the SSCC barcode.
- What information is on a GS1-128 shipping label?
- A typical label shows ship-from and ship-to addresses, carrier details, the PO number, a ship-to postal code barcode, and the SSCC barcode. Retailers specify extra zones, such as store or department number, in their routing guides.
- What is an SSCC?
- The Serial Shipping Container Code is an 18-digit GS1 number that uniquely identifies one carton or pallet. It is built from your GS1 company prefix and should not be reused for at least a year after shipping.