European wines e-label platform U-Label has collaborated with Italy-based Giunko to provide customers access to digital information about product packaging and recycling in Italy from next year.
Wines and spirits sold in Italy from 1 January 2023 must disclose to consumers the identification and categorisation of the product packaging, or the type of packaging materials used and how they should be disposed of.
Italian regulators will permit manufacturers to provide this information digitally via an e-label that may be accessed by scanning a QR code with a smartphone on the bottle, EU spirits sector leader spiritsEUROPE said.
As a result of the partnership, a single QR code will be provided on the bottle that will include all the nutrition declaration and list of ingredients and the disposal information of all packaging components.
The ingredient list will be provided by the U-label Platform and disposal information will be offered by the Junker App. The app eases waste sorting for European citizens.
The QR code will provide geo-localised information for each product in order to send the correct information to customers who are anywhere in Italy. It will be helpful because waste sorting regulations vary from city to city in that country.
spiritsEUROPE director general Ulrich Adam said: “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 Information 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.”