Can a Digital Label Last 100 Years? Now It Can.
With new EU regulations mandating digital labels for wine, long-term accessibility is no longer optional—it is a requirement. While compliance is necessary, at Labellink, we believe premium wineries deserve more than just a minimum standard.
A great wine tells a story. Its digital label should do the same—enhancing the experience with rich storytelling, AI-powered interactions, live customer engagement, and seamless support tools. But to truly honor the craftsmanship of exceptional wines, a digital label must stand the test of time.
That is why Labellink now offers a 100-year digital label for wine, designed to remain accessible for generations.
The Challenge: Digital Longevity
The digital world is constantly evolving—websites go offline, companies change platforms, and digital regulations shift. Unlike paper labels, digital labels must be actively maintained to ensure they remain functional.
How do we extend digital label longevity to 100 years?
The answer lies in technological and operational resilience—and GS1 standards play a crucial role in this solution.
Labellink’s Breakthrough: A Digital Label That Lasts a Century
To extend digital label longevity, we have developed a multi-layered approach that ensures long-term data availability, link persistence, and regulatory compliance.
Permanent, Decentralized Storage
Labellink’s solution transitions from a dynamic platform to a static HTML version stored via decentralized, long-term storage protocols such as:
- Arweave – A blockchain-based storage network built for permanent data retention.
- IPFS (InterPlanetary File System) – A decentralized system designed to ensure files remain accessible, even if the original host disappears.
- Blockchain verification – Ensures that the stored label cannot be altered or tampered with.
By utilizing decentralized technology, digital labels can persist without requiring ongoing hosting from a single provider.
The GS1 Resolver Challenge: How Do We Keep Links Active for 100 Years?
A major obstacle to long-life digital labels is domain registration limits. GS1 digital links rely on internet domains, which can only be registered for 10 years at a time. This creates a risk—what happens if a domain expires?
The Solution: A GS1 Resolver Trust Mechanism
To ensure long-term stability, Labellink proposes a domain trust mechanism that secures rolling domain renewals for an extended period, backed by legal and financial guarantees.
How does this work?
- A dedicated trust entity maintains ownership of the GS1 resolver domain.
- Funds are allocated upfront for automatic renewals over multiple decades.
- A backup mechanism ensures that if the domain needs to be moved, the GS1 resolver redirects without breaking existing digital links.
This means that even if a winery changes ownership, platforms, or digital strategies, the resolver infrastructure remains intact, ensuring long-term accessibility.
Why GS1 QR Codes Offer a More Resilient Solution
Even without Labellink’s longlife digital label technologies, simply utilizing GS1 resolvers is already a major step toward longevity. Unlike ordinary QR codes that link directly to a single website, GS1 digital links allow for:
- Link persistence – If a brand changes platforms, the resolver can be updated without breaking the QR code.
- Future-proofing – GS1 standards ensure that labels remain compatible with evolving technologies.
- Global compliance – GS1 standards align with EU regulatory frameworks for digital labeling.
This flexibility ensures that even decades from now, the digital label will still lead to relevant and up-to-date product information.
This is why GS1-based Connected Labels are the smartest choice for wineries looking for long-term reliability.
A Digital Label That Lasts as Long as the Wine Itself
As digital labels become a standard, ensuring their longevity becomes a responsibility.
Labellink is working with GS1 UK, GS1 in Europe, and GS1 France to deliver cutting-edge digital label solutions that meet global standards while pushing the boundaries of what is possible.
For wines crafted to stand the test of time, their digital identity should do the same.
100-year digital labels are here. The future of wine storytelling starts today.
Want to future-proof your wine labels? See Labellink’s Premium E-Labels for the World’s Finest Wines
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