Labelling of packaging

Danish deposit labels are registered trademarks owned by Dansk Retursystem A/S. The labels are used to identify one-way packaging sold on the Danish market. One-way packaging can be labelled in one of two ways: primary labelling, or self-adhesive deposit labels.

Primary labelling

When using primary labelling of one-way packaging, the producer prints the Danish deposit label directly onto the packaging material or onto the original product label.

The rules governing the design of the deposit label, choice of colours, size and positioning are laid down in the Statutory Order. Primary labelling of packaging must be approved by Dansk Retursystem.

Deposit labels comprise the following elements:

• A deposit label and deposit code
• An EAN barcode (for exclusive use on the Danish market)

Deposit labels printed directly onto the packaging or onto the product label can have different combinations. The following are just examples:

Size requirement for EAN barcode

• Cans (aluminium or steel): the EAN barcode must be printed per the EAN standard size factor 1.0 or greater (minimum 24.5 X 31.35 mm). In addition, there must be space for the clear zone above and below the barcode.
   
  
• One-way packaging in glass or plastic: the EAN barcode must be printed on the original product label per the EAN standard size factor 0.8 or greater (minimum 19.6 X 25.1 mm). In addition, there must be space for the clear zone above and below the barcode.

Detailed information on primary labelling is available in our manual. Importers and producers registered with Dansk Retursystem can order a CD-ROM with deposit label print files.

Deposit labelling process

Before selling a product on the Danish market, importers and producers have a duty to label all one-way packaging with a deposit label. This means that the labelling process can be carried out both in Denmark and abroad. However, sales locations do not have the right to label packaging that they sell. Deposit labels can only be purchased from Dansk Retursystem A/S. Detailed information on secondary labelling is available in our manual.

Deposit label segments

A deposit label consists of 3 segments. The upper segment shows whether the one-way packaging is made from glass (GLAS), plastic (PLAST), aluminium (ALU) or steel (STÅL). The middle segment displays the value of the Danish deposit label: Type A (DKK 1.00), Type B (DKK 1.50), and Type C (DKK 3.00). The bottom segment consists of a row of five dots that can be scanned electronically by a reverse vending machine.

Security

Deposit labels are printed in a special security colour which is authenticated by a security camera as the label is scanned by the reverse vending machine. Deposit labels can also be checked manually with a special control card.

Deposit labels come in several different combinations of materials and deposit values:  

Deposit labels are also available with an EAN barcode. The labels come in two different widths which provides the option to choose the breadth that best accommodates the original bar code on the product.