GS1
Also called: GS1 standards, GS1 US, GS1-128
GS1 is a global, not-for-profit standards organization that issues company prefixes and maintains the identification and barcode standards used in supply chains, including GTINs for products, the SSCC for logistics units such as pallets, and the GS1-128 barcode.
In depth: Pallet labels and SSCC-18: the GS1 logistic label explained
GS1 standards let trading partners identify the same product, case or pallet the same way. Companies license a GS1 Company Prefix from their national GS1 member organization (GS1 US in the United States) and build identifiers from it.
GS1 standards that touch pallets
| Standard | What it identifies or does |
|---|---|
| GTIN | A product or case type (the number behind UPC and case barcodes) |
| SSCC | One specific logistics unit, such as a pallet load |
| GS1-128 | A barcode symbology that encodes data with Application Identifiers, such as (00) for SSCC |
| GS1 logistics label | A standard label layout for pallets and cases |
| GRAI | Identifies returnable assets, and can be applied to reusable pallets |
Why it matters
Retail and distribution receiving is built on GS1 identifiers. A pallet arriving without a readable SSCC label can be delayed or charged back. For returnable pallets in a closed loop, a GS1 asset identifier (often on an RFID tag or barcode) is one way to track each pallet.
On a spec sheet or RFQ
Pallet specs rarely cite GS1 directly. If pallets need a permanent asset ID, specify the identifier, the carrier (barcode label, brand, RFID) and its location on the pallet.
Common confusions
GS1 does not set pallet sizes or construction. Its standards cover identification and data, not the physical pallet.
Related
- GlossarySSCC (Serial Shipping Container Code)The SSCC (Serial Shipping Container Code) is an 18-digit GS1 identification number that uniquely identifies one logistics unit, such as a loaded pallet. It is encoded in a GS1-128 barcode on the pallet label with Application Identifier (00) and linked to the shipment's advance ship notice.
- GuidesPallet labels and SSCC-18: the GS1 logistic label explainedAn SSCC (Serial Shipping Container Code) is an 18-digit GS1 number that identifies one logistic unit, such as a pallet, for its whole journey. It is printed as a GS1-128 barcode with Application Identifier (00). GS1 puts pallet barcodes 400 to 800 mm (16 to 32 in) above the base, on two adjacent sides.
- GlossaryUnit loadA unit load is a group of items, usually cases on a pallet or slip sheet, secured together so it can be stored and moved as a single unit by a forklift or pallet jack. It includes the pallet, the packaging, the stacking pattern and the stabilizers.
- GuidesWalmart pallet requirements: supplier DCs and Walmart Fulfillment ServicesWalmart's supplier standards require 48 × 40 in (1219 × 1016 mm) four-way Grade A pallets: stringer pallets with 7 top and 5 bottom boards on 3 stringers (2,100 lb loaded), 9-block pallets (2,800 lb) or approved pooled pallets. Loads max 96 in (244 cm), no overhang. WFS has its own rules.
More in Standards and compliance
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- GlossaryEPALEPAL (European Pallet Association e.V.) is the organization that licenses manufacturers and repairers of EPAL Euro pallets and other EPAL load carriers and controls their quality. The EPAL 1 Euro pallet is a 1200 × 800 × 144 mm block pallet used in open pallet exchange across Europe.
- GlossaryFSMA (Food Safety Modernization Act)FSMA is the US Food Safety Modernization Act of 2011. Under its Sanitary Transportation of Human and Animal Food rule (21 CFR Part 1, Subpart O), pallets are transportation equipment and must be designed and maintained so they are suitable and adequately cleanable, and do not make food unsafe.
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Last reviewed 2026-09-24. 237 words.