U-Label, the European e-label platform for wines and spirits, has announced a partnership with the Italian-based Giunko to ensure consumers can access digital information about product packaging and recycling in Italy as of 1 January 2023.

From 1 January 2023, wines and spirits placed on the Italian market will be obliged to inform consumers about the identification and classification of the product packaging, i.e., the nature of the packaging materials used and their disposal. Italian authorities allow producers to convey this information digitally via an e-label, accessible by scanning a QR code on the bottle with a smartphone.

Thanks to the collaboration between U-Label and Giunko a single QR code on the bottle will feature both the nutrition declaration and list of ingredients (as provided by the U-label Platform) and the disposal information of all packaging components (as provided by Giunko). Since rules on waste sorting change from city to city, in Italy, the QR code will provide geo-located information for each product, in order to convey the correct information to consumers who are in Italy. No doubts, no mistakes, no fines.

Commenting on the integrated e-label offer by U-Label & Giunko, Ignacio Sánchez Recarte, Secretary General of CEEV said that “This is an important step in expanding and scaling up our e-label offer. For the first time, consumers can benefit from an integrated digital labelling solution that provides both information on the nutritional content and ingredients of a product while also giving them tailored information about the recycled content, correct disposal and potential re-use of the packaging materials used.” 

Ulrich Adam – Director General of spiritsEUROPE – added “EU digital labelling rules for wines and the Italian legislation on digital packaging information show that e-labels work and are here to stay. We call on the European Commission to allow and regulate digital labels for all food and drink products in the upcoming proposal for a Regulation on Food Informatiºon to Consumers. In addition, we call on EU Members States to follow the Italian example and allow for the use of digital labelling solutions to provide product-specific packaging and recycling information to consumers.”