Notes from the connected product economy.
Practical writing on DPPs, GS1 Digital Link, ESPR readiness, agentic commerce and the operational reality of giving every product a digital identity.
Industry Insights · 22 September 2026SEO got you the click. GEO decides whether the AI answer names your product
Generative engine optimisation is the new label for an old commercial problem: when a shopper asks an AI which product to buy, does it name yours — and does it get the facts right? For product brands, that is a data problem, not a copywriting one.
Compliance · 2 September 2026A detained shipment costs more than a fine. Forced-labour enforcement is now item-level.
When US Customs and Border Protection stops a container under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), it does not ask for a supplier code of conduct. It asks for evidence tied to that specific consignment — and the burden of proof sits with the importer.
Industry Insights · 14 August 2026A QR code that can be photographed and reprinted was never going to stop counterfeiters
Every anti-counterfeiting label on the market today shares one weakness: it is a fixed pattern that can be photographed, scanned, and reprinted. Verification has to happen somewhere else — against a live record checked at the moment of scan.
Industry Insights · 6 August 2026The box already reaches every customer. Most brands still print nothing useful on it
Every unit a brand sells passes through packaging the customer physically opens, and most of that surface carries nothing useful. A single QR code or NFC point on the pack turns that moment into a page the brand controls.
Industry Insights · 28 July 2026GS1 Digital Link, explained without the standards-body jargon
A GS1 Digital Link QR code and a plain QR code linking to a product page look identical to a phone camera. The difference is underneath: one is a structured, standardised web address that any GS1-conformant system can parse and act on; the other is just a URL a developer chose.
Compliance · 14 July 2026Digital product passport requirements: what's law today, what's still a plan
A brand that designs its digital product passport around one regulation often finds, a year later, that the regulation moved and the system didn't. That's the risk of building for compliance alone.
Industry Insights · 10 July 2026The digital product passport isn't a compliance form. For fashion brands, it's a customer list you don't have yet.
Most of what's written about digital product passports for clothing starts with a regulation number and a deadline. That's the wrong way in, and it's why so many fashion brands still think of the passport as a cost centre owned by someone in legal.
Compliance · 7 July 202619 July 2026: The EU Bans the Destruction of Unsold Clothes and Shoes
From 19 July 2026, large fashion brands can no longer destroy unsold apparel, accessories or footwear in the EU. Here's what the new ESPR delegated act means, who's in scope, and how Digital Product Passports become the paper trail regulators expect.
Compliance · 4 July 2026Battery Passport for SMEs: What the 18 August 2026 QR Actually Means for You
Every battery sold in the EU needs a compliant QR code from 18 August 2026 under Article 13 of the EU Batteries Regulation. Here is what SMEs actually need to do — and what they can safely ignore.
Industry Insights · 26 June 2026Does Your Cordless Drill Need Two DPPs? Battery vs Electronics Passports, Explained
A practical guide to when your cordless tool, appliance or e-bike needs a Battery Passport, an Electronics DPP, or both — and what happens when the battery is built in.
News · 28 April 2026The 20p Pivot: Why the UK's DRS Mandate Is a Secret Weapon for Beverage Brands
Exchange for Change has confirmed a flat 20p deposit for the UK's October 2027 Deposit Return Scheme — but Wales is going its own way. Here's why a single intelligent QR code is now the smartest move for beverage brands.
News · 27 March 2026UK Supermarkets Lead the Charge: The Traditional Barcode Is Being Replaced by 2D QR Codes
Major UK supermarkets including Tesco are phasing out traditional 1D barcodes in favour of dynamic 2D QR codes — marking the biggest shift in retail packaging in decades.
News · 22 December 2025EU Digital Product Passports: 2026 Is When the Real Work Begins
The EU's Digital Product Passport regulation is no longer a future concept — it's becoming enforceable reality, with mandatory deadlines starting in 2027 and a central registry expected by mid-2026.
News · 15 September 2025Sunrise 2027: The Barcode Wake-Up Call Every Retailer Needs to Hear
GS1 US has issued a wake-up call to the retail industry: the transition from traditional barcodes to 2D QR codes is happening, and retailers must be ready by the end of 2027.
News · 15 June 2025SmartLinks Self-Serve Launch — Connected Packaging for Small Brands
SmartLinks launches self-serve connected packaging for small brands, with GS1-powered QR experiences and Digital Product Passport support.
News · 8 April 2025Earth Positive x SmartLinks: Revolutionising Sustainable Fan Merchandise
Earth Positive and SmartLinks team up to create eco-conscious fan merch with NFC-powered digital experiences, launching with Band of Skulls.
Industry Insights · 15 January 2025GS1 Digital Links Are Going Global — The QR Code Revolution Gains Momentum
GS1's campaign to replace traditional barcodes with Digital Link QR codes has reached 449 million people worldwide, signalling a seismic shift in retail.
Case Studies · 10 August 2024Transformulas Partners with SmartLinks to Revolutionise Skincare Packaging
Leading skincare brand Transformulas integrates SmartLinks QR technology across its entire product range, setting a new benchmark for connected beauty packaging.
News · 11 July 2024Tesco Trials QR Codes in What's Being Called the 'Second Barcode Revolution'
Tesco is piloting GS1 Digital Link QR codes on its products, giving shoppers access to dynamic product information and marking a major milestone in UK retail.