Labels
QR Code Labels
The Labels module generates print-ready QR code labels from published Digital Product Passports. Labels are GS1-compliant and encode a GS1 Digital Link that resolves to your product's public compliance record. They are suitable for EU ESPR Digital Product Passport (DPP) requirements.
Purpose
Labels bridge your digital passport data and your physical product. Once a passport is published, you can generate a QR code label and apply it to packaging, hangtags, or product surfaces. Anyone who scans the QR code with a phone camera is taken directly to the passport's public compliance page, satisfying traceability and transparency obligations under EU ESPR and GS1 standards.
When to Use
You have finished building a passport and are ready to label physical products.
You need to provide a GS1-compliant QR code for EU ESPR DPP compliance.
You want to give end-customers or auditors a scannable link to product sustainability data.
You need print files for a label printing vendor (roll or sheet format).
Prerequisites
Labels can only be generated for published passports. Draft passports do not have a GS1 Digital Link assigned yet and cannot produce a label. Publish your passport first, then return to this page.
Before generating a label, confirm the following:
- –You have at least one passport with status PUBLISHED (green badge).
- –The passport is linked to a product with a valid GS1 GTIN or product identifier.
- –You know which label format your printer requires (ROLL or SHEET).
Generating a Label
Navigate to /dashboard/labels from the sidebar. The generation form is at the top of the page; the history of previously generated labels appears below it.
- 1
Select a passport
Open the "Passport" dropdown and choose the published passport you want to label. Only published passports appear here. If your passport is missing, it is still in draft status.
- 2
Select a label format
Choose either "Roll" or "Sheet" from the format selector. See the Label Formats section below for guidance on which to choose.
- 3
Click Generate Label
Click the "Generate Label" button. The API issues a POST /labels/generate request with your passport ID and chosen format. Generation typically completes in under five seconds.
- 4
Download the output
When generation finishes, the new label entry appears in the list below with Download PNG and Download PDF buttons. Use PNG for digital use and PDF for sending to a print vendor.
Label Formats
ROLL
Continuous roll format for dedicated label printers (Zebra, Dymo, Brother QL series). Each label is sized for the roll width. Use this when you are printing in volume at a warehouse or fulfillment center.
SHEET
Standard A4 or US Letter sheet layout for office laser or inkjet printers. Multiple labels are arranged on a single page. Use this for low-volume runs, samples, or when sending to a print vendor who works with PDF sheets.
Downloading and Printing
PNG download
A rasterized image at 300 DPI. Suitable for embedding in design tools (Illustrator, Figma, Canva) or sending directly to a digital print service.
PDF download
A vector-compatible PDF that preserves quality at any print size. Send this to professional print vendors or use it with office PDF printers.
Print directly from browser
Open the PDF in your browser and use the browser's native print dialog. Set margins to None and scale to 100% to avoid distortion.
QR Code Content
The QR code encodes a GS1 Digital Link URL. This is a standardized web URI that resolves to your product's public passport page. The format is:
https://id.gs1.org/01/{GTIN}When a consumer or auditor scans the QR code with any standard phone camera, the GS1 resolver redirects them to your product's live compliance page on PassportBox. The page displays the passport name, manufacturer, materials, sustainability data, and EU DPP and GS1 compliance scores.
The URL embedded in the QR code is stable and permanent. It does not change if you later update the passport's data — updates are reflected automatically when the URL is visited.
Label Specifications
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum resolution | 300 DPI (print quality) |
| QR code format | GS1 QR Code (not EAN-13) |
| QR code error correction | Level M (15% restoration capacity) |
| PNG color space | RGB, transparent background optional |
| PDF version | PDF 1.4 compatible |
| Sheet size (SHEET format) | A4 (210 × 297 mm) or US Letter |
| Roll width (ROLL format) | Matches selected roll configuration |
| GS1 standard | GS1 Digital Link 1.3 compliant |
Validation Rules and Edge Cases
Draft passport selected
The API returns a validation error. Draft passports have no GS1 Digital Link and cannot be labelled. Publish the passport first.
No published passports exist
The passport dropdown shows an empty state with a prompt to create and publish a passport before generating a label.
Format not selected
The Generate Label button is disabled until a format is chosen.
Concurrent generation requests
Each request is independent. Multiple labels for different passports or formats can be generated without conflict.
Label regenerated for same passport
Each generation produces a new label entry in the history list. Previous entries are not overwritten and remain downloadable.
What Success Looks Like
The generated label appears in the history list with a download timestamp.
The PNG opens in an image viewer and shows a clear, high-contrast QR code with the PassportBox logo or product branding.
The PDF opens without errors and the QR code prints at the expected size.
Scanning the printed QR code with a phone camera resolves to the correct product passport page.
The compliance scores and product details on the resolved page match what you entered in the passport.
Troubleshooting
Error: passport must be published before generating a label
Open the Passports module, find the draft passport, and click "Publish". Return to Labels once it shows a PUBLISHED status badge.
QR code does not scan or phone camera cannot read it
Ensure the printed label is at least 2 × 2 cm. Low-resolution printing (below 150 DPI) will produce a blurry QR code. Re-download the PNG at full resolution and reprint using the PDF rather than a screenshot.
PDF download fails or opens blank
Try a different browser or PDF viewer. If the issue persists, download the PNG instead and use it in your design tool. Contact support if the PDF consistently fails to generate.
Passport is published but does not appear in the dropdown
Refresh the Labels page. If it still does not appear, check that the passport has a linked product with a valid GTIN. Passports without a GTIN cannot produce a GS1 Digital Link.
QR code scans but resolves to a 404 or error page
The passport may have been unpublished after the label was generated. Re-publish the passport from the Passports module. The GS1 Digital Link is only live while the passport status is PUBLISHED.
Related Links
External reference: GS1 Digital Link standard
Labels are generated server-side
Label generation happens on PassportBox servers. No external QR generation service is involved. Your passport data is not sent to third parties during this process.