How transparent supply chains are accelerating Kenya’s green shift.

Kenya’s manufacturing scene is turning green, and traceability is at the heart of it. Over the past week, industry leaders and government officials have highlighted the importance of sustainable production during the Kenya Manufacturing Summit 2025 in Nairobi. The focus? To ensure that products made locally can be tracked through every stage of production and verified as eco-friendly.

GS1 standards provide the digital backbone for this movement. With Global Trade Item Numbers (GTINs) and Global Location Numbers (GLNs), manufacturers can trace raw materials from certified suppliers, track factory processes and provide transparent data about the carbon footprint of each product. This traceability not only builds consumer trust but also opens export opportunities to markets that now demand sustainability proof.

   

Imagine a paint manufacturer in Thika using GLN-tagged raw materials from a certified chemical supplier. Every can of paint leaving the factory carries a unique GTIN and a 2D barcode, allowing retailers and consumers to scan and see the product’s full journey from source to shelf. This level of transparency aligns with Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) goals and ensures compliance with KEBS standards on environmental safety.

By integrating GS1 identifiers into green manufacturing, Kenya is making traceability synonymous with sustainability, showing that what is good for the planet is also good for business.