A packaging hierarchy is a packing structure that ranges from the for-sale unit of a product to the shipping unit of a product. Packaging hierarchies are required for GDSN syndication when the item sold contains more than one level of packaging, such as a pallet that contains 24 boxes of 12 sellable units. These are often referred to as “Parent/Child” relationships, with the sellable unit being the child of the box, and the boxes being the child of the pallet. Each of these packing levels, or “trade item units” must be registered with GS1, each with a unique Global Trade Item Number, or “GTIN.” In addition to GTINs, each packing level must also be associated with the appropriate “Trade Item Unit” within your account prior to establishing your hierarchy. You have several options when selecting your Trade Item Unit:
Base Unit or Each indicates the lowest level of the hierarchy intended or labeled for individual resale. Generally this is a consumer unit sold at checkout or online with an associated GTIN-12 code, also known as a UPC.
Case is a standard shipping unit than contains two or more identical Base Units or Inner Packs.
Pack or Inner Pack is a shipping unit, not intended for resale, that contains two or more of the same Base Units, cases, or other inner packs.
Display Shipper is a shipping unit that is also a self-contained display. It may contain one or more unique Base Units.
Pallet is a shipping unit, not intended for resale, that contains at least one case, inner pack, or base unit.
Mixed Module indicates a shipping unit that contains multiple unique GTINs. This maybe a case, pallet, inner pack, or other shipping units.
GS1 Packaging Level
GS1 Definition
Corresponding Value in the Syndigo platform
Each
The lowest level of the item hierarchy intended or labeled for individual resale. Generally this is the consumer unit sold at check out or online. This item would be assigned a GTIN-12 (U.P.C.).
Example: a jar of jam.
Base Unit or Each
Inner Pack
Intermediate package of multiples of the same trade item or a predefined assortment of trade items (representing a single GTIN).
Example: four jars of jam for shipping/receiving only.
Pack or Inner Pack
Case
A standard shipping unit that contains “eaches” (packaged either individually or grouped as an inner pack). All of the items in a case must have the same GTIN.
Example: a case containing 8 jars of strawberry jam.
Case
Mixed Case
Contains more than one type of “each,” and must contain more than one GTIN. The case can contain eaches or inner packs.
Example: a case that holds 4 jars of strawberry jam and 4 jars of blueberry jam.
Mixed Module
Pallet
A shipping unit that contains either cases, inner packs, or eaches. It must contain one GTIN regardless of the number of items in the grouping.
Example: a pallet containing 18 cases of strawberry jam.
Pallet
Mixed Pallet
A shipping unit that can contain any combination of cases, inner packs, and/or eaches and must contain more than one GTIN.
Example: a pallet containing 9 cases of strawberry jam and 9 cases of blueberry jam.
Mixed Module
Display Shipper
A shipping unit that is a self-contained display. It can contain a single type of “each” or multiple types of eaches.
Example: a promotional display containing both strawberry jam and blueberry jam.
Display Shipper
Case as Each
Designed for goods that are shipped as a case, but the contents of the case are NEVER offered for sale on their own. This is used by industries such as foodservice that need to designate the case as its lowest orderable unit. The contents inside are neither assigned GTINs, nor are they sold at checkout or online.
