Here is a round up of some of the latest business and market news involving Smart Packaging: Stories cover Mars & Microsoft, Markem-Imaje & Blue Bites, Honeywell, Authentix, KMPG on illicit cigarettes in the Europe, and Good News about QR Codes & Connected Packaging generally...
AIPIA member SML Group has released an inlay for the pharmaceutical industry, designed for tracking single-dose drugs produced in disposable vials. The new product, known as the GB32U9, is SML's smallest inlay to date, according to the report in RFID Journal and is engineered to transmit data effectively when applied to vials filled with liquid and made from plastic or glass packaging...
AIPIA member Scantrust and ePac Flexible Packaging have announced a global agreement to bring smart, connected packaging solutions to brands of all sizes, including small and medium-sized businesses. Through ePacConnect, which was announced in October of 2020, the companies offer secure, serialized QR codes on all of ePac’s packaging and provide access to a suite of Scantrust applications for consumer engagement, brand protection, and track and trace...
Approximately 50 million tons of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste is produced annually, largely due to food and drink packaging, particularly soda and water bottles of all shapes and sizes. Scientists have been looking for ways to cut down on this waste and a study for Green Chemistryshows it may now be possible. Using genetically-modified bacteria, a team at Edinburgh University in Scotland, has been able to convert PET plastic waste into vanilla flavouring...
Longstanding AIPIA member Toppan, a provider of communication, security, packaging, décor materials and electronics solutions, has integrated tamper-evident NFC tag functions into the structure of paper-based and other packages to develop a new type of smart packaging that enhances security and helps streamline the manufacturing process, while also preserving package design, according to the company...
Following the successful conclusion of its first live event since 2019 – the China Summit in Shanghai – AIPIA returns to the virtual stage for its two remaining Congresses for 2021. Both are carefully focused, covering the highly important and topical issues of Supply Chain Solutions (16th September) and the whole spectrum of Digitization: Connected Packaging & Sustainability (2nd November.) Each will address how these issues are impacting on current Smart Packaging development and use...
A Swiss food testing company SwissDeCode has launched the A2 INSIDE Label, which is intended to help end user to identify the efforts of dairy producers in guaranteeing authentic A2 milk products. The label will be used by companies who analyze their herds and milk batches with the rapid DNA tests from the company...
Tech Mahindra a major Indian IT company is partnering with start-up StaTwig, a Singapore and Hyderabad, India based digital supply chain solution provider, to implement a new blockchain-based traceability solution for vaccines, VaccineLedger. The partnership aims to roll-out the solution for international vaccine supply chain transparency to predict and prevent failures in these supply chains, including problems related to expired vaccines, stock shortages and counterfeiting...
Kezzler, a leading AIPIA member providing traceability solutions,and Farmforce, a source of first mile data by large multinational corporations, have announced the creation of a new partnership for end-to-end Field-to-Fork traceability...
Mondelez International has confirmed that customers purchasing its Triscuit brand crackers will be able to trace the journey of the white-winter wheat used in some crackers from a co-op of farmers in Michigan to where the product is made. The global snack company said the supply chain transparency pilot is the first of its kind for Mondel?z in North America...
Toppan Printinga leading AIPIA member offering communication, security, packaging, décor materials, and electronics solutions, and Toppan (Shanghai) Management will be showcasing itslatest solutions at AIPIA Asia Summit 2021 (June 23), the international congress for smart packaging, and Luxe Pack Shanghai 2021 (July 7–8), the premier trade show for luxury packaging...
Proving that even simple ‘smart’ solutions on packaging can be effective, Zydus Cadila, an Indian pharma company, has introduced a new feature called Zydus Verify in its packaging of critical drugs.This helps patients ensure that the product is not fake or counterfeit. The company has incorporated a new IT enabled scratch code which will be printed under a scratchable surface...
Global hardware and software company Cisco has deployed an RFID solution at the Cisco Store based at its corporate headquarters, as well as in a traveling store that pops up wherever Cisco conferences take place. The company sells its own branded merchandise and apparel and claims its retail model is unique, in that it comes in these two distinct formats: the traveling stores and the permanent HQ location in San Jose, California. The solution, provided by RFID company Keonn, is now live at both formats, says the report in RFID Journal...
Nestlé will shortly launch a new Smart Seas special-edition of its confectionery brandSmarties in Europe.It comes in paper packaging with a theme of marine animals, available in four different designs, according to a report in Industry Intel. By scanning the packaging's QR code with a mobile phone consumers can bring marine animals to life via anaugmented reality (AR) feature...
JCB Collection has launched a solution using AIPIA member Avery Dennison’s Smartrac technology combined with SUKU’s traceability and transparency solution for its Passion red wine, enabling consumers to tap their smartphone against a bottle's label and view videos, tasting note and othercontent about the winery, the product and its origins, from creator Jean-Charles Boisset (JCB)...
With the AIPIA China Summit (Shanghai 23rd June) less than two weeks away the strong agenda is already attracting considerable interest from Chinese Brand Owners and packaging/supply chain experts. The event is the first fully ‘live’ AIPIA event since the pandemic and, while delegates across China can also attend remotely AIPIA China is confident that around 200 ‘in person’ delegates will be present...
This month saw HP’sdigital printing arm, HP Indigo, launch HP Indigo Secure, a suite of ‘never-before-seen’ security and brand protection solutions, it claims. These solutions will help security printers and print service providers protect their customers from counterfeiters and other product threats, which now cost trillions of dollars every year, it says...
Aptar CSP Technologies, a longstanding AIPIA member which develops active packaging solutions (part of AptarGroup), has announced its Activ-Film™ technology is being used to protect two new ‘athome’ COVID-19 tests,both of which recently received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the USA’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA)...
Mettler Toledo Product Inspection has announced a strategic partnership with, AIPIA memberEVRYTHNG, pioneers of the Product Cloud. The partnership provides food manufacturers, retailers and brand owners with an end-to-end traceability and food production reporting solution...
Several developments in the Smart Packaging arena in Australia indicates increasing implementation and investment in active and intelligent packaging technologies.
EY, better known to some as Ernst & Young, has announced that Italian beer brand Birra Peroni, part of the Japanese Asahi Group, is now using EY OpsChain Traceability on the public Ethereum blockchain for supply chain traceability. The solution mints non-fungible tokens (NFTs), providing a unique, digital certificate of ownership for each batch of beer...
Belgian fresh fruit and vegetable auctioneers Coöperatie Hoogstraten has worked with RFID technology supplier Aucxis to provide visibility and to track the movements of its strawberries throughout the supply chain. The system enables it to ensure fast and efficient delivery of its empty cardboard trays and punnets to growers for packaging the fruit. The berries are then tracked through the delivery of product to auction sites, stores and consumers.
Diabetes patients depending on lifelong insulin treatment have to administer the vital medication to themselves using insulin pumps, syringes or pens. Ypsomed produces a disposable pen, UnoPen™, with variable dose setting, for this and other multidose therapies. Schreiner MediPharm has developed an NFC-Label for this injection aid that serves as a communication interface between the injector and the SmartPilot™—an electronic pen add-on. The resulting smart device interactively supports patients using the pen and helps them adhere to their therapy plans.
Stora Enso's ECO Meal UHF RFID tag for the food and beverage industry has a printed paper antenna and can be applied to, or built into, microwaveable packaged foods without posing a fire or arcing hazard, says the company. The tag rounds out AIPIA member Stora Enso Intelligent Packaging’s portfolio of food and beverage RFID labels, known as the ECO RFID Food & Beverage Collection.
Kezzler, the cloud-based Level 4 traceability solutions provider and Syntegon Technology, one of the largest Level 1 to Level 3 process and packaging technology providers, both leading AIPIA members, have announced the creation of a new partnership for product digitization and traceability.
Dutch biotech company Parx Materials has partnered with Norwegian-based hygiene specialist ZincIn to develop an antibacterial food tray made from recycled fishing industry waste. Through a combination of Parx’s Saniconcentrate antimicrobial additive and ZincIn’s self-cleaning technology, the tray is said to offer an over 99.9% reduction in bacteria when compared with a typical food tray, according to a report in Plastics in Packaging.
Major USA salt producer Morton Salt says it’s “salty about food waste.” According to The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), a typical American household of four throws out $1,600 worth of food each year. So the company has begun an initiative to inspire home cooks to turn forgotten foods into something delicious with their Erase Food Waste augmented reality (AR) experiences. These are accessible until the end of July 2021 via QR codes on specially marked culinary salts.
As we are regularly informed, about one third of food produced globally is wasted. Supermarkets are a major cause as they have a lot of food with a limited expiry date. To reduce this particular source of food waste, the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) has supported Israeli start-up company Wasteless, which has developed a smart algorithm that allows the application of dynamic pricing markdowns based on expiry dates.
Label solutions specialist Multi-Color Corporation and Digimarc, creator s of a platform for digital identification and detection, both longstanding AIPIA members, have announced a partnership to serialize product packaging and labels with Digimarc Barcode in support of food safety and traceability initiatives.
REVL, the AR consumer-engagement division of AIPIA member Chromaprint, based in India, has developed, in only two weeks, an augmented reality campaign, for beer brand ARNA, the first AR for a Nepalese consumer product. Instead of elaborating on the product characteristics, the brand chose to enable people to have fun and celebrate the Holi ‘Festival of Colours’ which took place all over the Indian subcontinent in March. For the uninitiated the Holi revelers splash brightly coloured (washable!) paints powders or inks over just about everyone and everything!
Packaging built with Michigan State University ( MSU) nano electronics expertise could help create a more intelligent supply chain, it claims. Researchers are working to develop smart packaging to improve the world’s food safety and security with the support of new grant of $500K from the US Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
Uniqueid a Turkish based company specializing in IoT Technologies and UHF RFID Systems, has come up with a smart cup system to deliver your favourite beer or coffee without touching a thing. Based on an NFC chip attached to, or embedded in, the cup or glass, the special coffee machines or beer taps recognise your unique glass and pours out a pre-selected drink without the need for any human action...
Two schemes, one private and the other state sponsored, look to improve food safety and security using traceability including ‘on pack’ or consignment smart packaging features. In the USA a food supply chain specialist ReposiTrak is setting up a consortium with the aim of developing an open, low-cost approach to food tracing technology. Meanwhile China has implemented mandatory traceability requirements for all foods transported via cold chain, which it believes could be the cause of Covid 19 transmission...
Amcor China has collaborated with JD Farm, which is part of China’s largest on-line retailer JD.com, to create the next generation of packaging for a more effective and interactive consumer engagement, they claim. The jointly created NFC (Near Field Communication)-enabled packaging uses state-of-the-art technology to give consumers access to information about the quality, safety and origin of JD Farm’s products...
Three stories which have appeared recently highlight the importance of Augmented Reality (AR) technology for big Brands in their marketing and messaging campaigns these days, according to reports in Industry Intelligence.
InnovationLab has announced a partnership with AIPIA member Evonik that will enable the first fully printed, flexible, rechargeable, solid-state, batteries for integration in printed sensor systems, they claim.
News that holograms could be ‘printed’ on food shows how innovation continues to push the technology’s boundaries, says the International Hologram Manufacturers Association (IHMA). This follows reports from the USA that scientists have moulded edible holograms onto chocolate...
1. Research Scientists from two Iranian Universities (Tabriz & Urmia) with Guelph University in Canada have developed bioactive, edible chitosan thin films laminated with electrospun nonwovens containing Zataria multiflora and cinnamon essential oils for active food packaging purposes. The bilayer films displayed enhanced antimicrobial, physical properties...
Tattoos are usually considered a form of personal expression, but a team of researchers in Europe have created what they’re say is world’s first light-emitting tattoo based on organic light emitting diode (OLED) screen technology that could serve as a visible warning about potential health issues or even to warn if food has passed its expiry date....
nMark is a new nano technology platform from Advanced Material Development (AMD), a UK-based AIPIA member which specializes in funding research into 2D nanotechnologies and materials. It has been developed to enable next generation provenance and anti-counterfeiting capabilities for products and packaging, says the company...
Toppan Printing a AIPIA member offering a range of printed security solutions has launched Near cross D 2.9, an RFID tag with a battery-free display that can enhance traceability, facilitate labour-saving, and drive paperless processes in manufacturing, distribution, and retail, it says...
Inspectron will introduce MagID, its patented marking technology, to the South Asian market at the AIPIA Smart Packaging conference on Friday 19 March...
Silicon Craft Technology, based in Thailand, is well placed to understand the ‘Asian Experience’ of Smart Packaging technologies. In his presentation, Chayasorn Suansomjit will explain how his company is helping to exploit the huge increase in on-line, as well as in-store consumer experiences...
With 25 speakers covering almost every aspect of smart packaging technologies the AIPIA India Summit will be the most comprehensive event of its kind for the South Asian markets. Topics covered include Track & Trace for Food and Pharmaceuticals, Anti-Counterfeiting, Authentication, enhancing the shopping experience with Connected Packaging, Recycling and the Circular Economy, ‘printing’ without ink, Augmented Reality, Printed Electronics, Monitoring Food Freshness and of course the all-important Brand Protection...
Avery Dennison’s commitment to the Indian and South Asian markets is reflected in the company’s new factory in Greater Noida in the Delhi NCR. The new plant will use the latest technology – both for running the plant and for producing label stock. It will be equipped with the technology to create something like a smart factory – state of the art in terms of equipment, speed, and technology...
Innovations in material science are enabling ground breaking solutions for a wide range of challenges that impact patient care and consumer experiences in healthcare. Some of the latest will be presented by Aptar CSP Technologies at the up-coming Indian Smart Packaging Summit ...
A team of researchers from Montenegro, Serbia, Finland and the Netherlands has undertaken a pilot study for a range of wines produced in Eastern Europe. They have developed a solution based on smart tags applied to the bottles of wine to provide track and trace capabilities, based on QR codes, plus additional information printed using an invisible photochromic ink...
The Laughing Cow® an iconic brand known for creamy cheese wedges, part of Bel Brands USA , likes to embrace life's laughable moments, it says. To ring in its 100th anniversary with fans, initially in the USA - but with celebrations kick off globally shortly - it has produced a limited-edition packaging and a 360-degree global ad campaign, including online video, digital, social media and public relations, with more surprises to follow, it promises...
The line-up of speakers for the up-coming Indian Virtual Smart Packaging Summit includes an enticing mixture of well known AIPIA event regulars, such as Aptar, Avery Dennison, NXP, Systech and Zappar as well as a number of new faces, such as VerifyMe and Faciculus. In addition the India based Authentication Solution Providers Association, ASPA, an India-based group with a strong local market knowledge will talk aboutbrand security and authentication challenges in India and South Asia, based on its 20 years of knowledge.
During clinical trials of new drugs pharmaceutical companies must be able to depend on strict adherence to therapy regimens. But up to 50% of patients involved in trials do not adhere to the prescribed dosage regimen, resulting in distorted outcomes and delayed time to market. So Schreiner MediPharm and AARDEX Group have developed an electronic solution for medication adherence monitoring to digitally monitor and manage medication intake of trial participants...
Product tracking and brand protection specialist VerifyMe, an AIPIA member, has received an initial purchase order for 2 million VeriPAS shipping labels for Personal Protection Equipment (PPE.) The order is the first made through the company’s strategic partnership with US company Renavotio, announced in February this year, according to the company...
Lyngsoe Systems, headquartered in Denmark, has developed a solution to track every COVID-19 vaccine vial from receipt at a clinic to a patient's arm, using UHF RFID sensor-based tags to detect the temperature and liquid level of each vial being stored and then used to administer vaccines to patients, says a report in RFID Journal.
Australia’s top 100 wineries will have the opportunity to use digital wine labels to connect to consumers directly, as wine tech companies Cellr and Junovate team up for a new packaging solution, according to a recent report in the leading Aussie packaging journal PKN.
rfxcel, a US headquartered digital supply chain traceability solutions provider and AIPIA member Digimarc, which offers software and services for automatic identification, have announced a partnership to provide a digital supply chain solution for track and trace, brand protection, personalized consumer engagement and sustainability.
Tapwow, in conjunction with Avery Dennison, has announced the release of its Getting Started with NFC Tag Kit. The kit features a variety of Near Field Communication (NFC) tags from Avery Dennison's Smartrac brand, featuring NXP Semiconductors' NFC ICs combined with Tapwow's DIRX2 tag-management software platform that helps customers commence NFC projects.
We are all used to struggling to get into those little blister packs containing AAA batteries for our TV remote and most kids toys, or pondering why the shrink-wrapped battery pack contains 3 of them when we only want to buy two! But the advent of the lithium-ion battery has brought a whole new set of issues to think about. Remember the famous story of a major mobile phone brand’s latest model self-combusting?
One of the speakers at the up-coming Indian Smart Packaging Summit, Fasiculus, is an Indian company based in Haryana, which supplies security and authentication solutions based on its print, label and packaging technology. Its presentation, Smart Authentication – Deploying a Perfect Phygital Solution explores the transformation of packaging by making it digital – linking the physical and the digital.
Applied DNA Sciences, an AIPIA member specializing in Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)-based DNA manufacturing, has announced a definitive agreement with TruTrace Technologies, which has developed a fully-integrated blockchain platform for the legal cannabis, food and pharmaceutical industries. This allows them to approach the cannabis industry with an integrated solution comprised of Applied DNA’s CertainT® platform and TruTrace’s StrainSecure™ platform.
Nanotech Security Corp, which develops secure nano-optic security features used in government and banknote and brand protection, has won new brand protection business with Canadian Vita, that country’s leading ginseng supplier. Nanotech will supply custom LumaChrome™ colour-shifting labels with printed logos and trackable serial numbers for Canadian Vita’s ginseng products.
Researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have invented a new method of anti-counterfeiting called DeepKey. Developed in just eight months, this security innovation uses two dimensional (2D)-material tags and artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled authentication software.
OEM companies in the high-tech industry place high demands on their suppliers regarding the quality of packaging, to make sure their fragile and valuable components are delivered in perfect condition. In order to protect products, avoid defects and delivery problems, nowadays customers more often specify in advance which packaging should be used...
Embrapa, a Brazilian state research company, created in partnership with Siena Company, a Brazilian startup, has created a package that delivers active and intelligent solutions in one shot, according to a report in the Internet of Packaging journal, AIPIA’s partner in the country...
Japan based AIPIA member Toppan Printing which provides printed security solutions has announced a development for Hitachi Construction Machinery’s aftermarket parts packaging labels. The solution combines Toppan’s anti-counterfeit holograms with its ID-NEX service, which facilitates authentication and traceability with QR Codes scanned with smartphones...
Blackwell Rum, a famous Jamaican brand, has announced its partnership with AIPIA member Zappar and the 007 film franchise, to celebrate the highly anticipated 2021 release of the 25th James Bond film ‘No Time To Die’. As part of the release, Chris Blackwell, Island Records founder and now owner of James Bond author Ian Fleming’s former ‘GoldenEye’ residence on the island, has launched a special 007 limited edition bottle of his Blackwell Fine Jamaican Rum...
Kezzler, the leading cloud-based traceability platform, and Laetus, a leader in inline quality control and track & trace systems, has announced the signing of a new partnership agreement. Both are active members of the AIPIA eco-system...
RFID company EM Microelectronic has announced the availability of its em|linq Near Field Communication (NFC) tag-authentication integrated circuit for brand protection and consumer engagement. The AIPIA member explains the tag enables brands to engage with customers via NFC and offer product authentication, says a report in RFID journal...
Avery Dennison is partnering with Schreiner MediPharm and PragmatIC to leverage NFC technology by extending smart packaging to the unit-level for everyday pharma products to improve patient safety and experience...
AIPIA’s series of virtual and hybrid events for 2021 has met with strong approval from the members and Smart Packaging ecosystem. “We have been inundated with enquiries about the Program,” said AIPIA managing director Eef de Ferrante. “Clearly there is a strong desire to find ways to improve the performance of packaging, due to the pandemic, continuing waste and distribution issues, as well as on-going environmental pressures. Smart packaging technologies are increasingly seen to deliver clear and cost effective solutions...”
It is almost Super Bowl time again and it is now quite common for smart packaging to feature as part of the huge advertising and promotion splurge surrounding the event. This year the CBS network is rumoured to be charging $4.5 million for a 30 second slot. And last year advertising revenue for the Fox network, which carried this final game of the NFL season, topped $450 million...
The need to verify the authenticity of medical equipment and now vaccines, which are on the front line of the fight against COVID-19, has never been greater. Sadly they are also prime targets for counterfeiters. It is imperative to authenticate these products. TrueMed, a Finland-based tech start-up, says it has come up with the first end-to-end counterfeit medicine detection service able to be accessed from every pocket...
Food producers and retailers are piloting a solution from Detego that utilizes RFID technology to gain insight into when fresh and perishable foods were packaged, shipped and sold. The aim is to reduce food waste and ensure an efficient supply chain and accurate shelf inventory levels, as well as enable faster and efficient recalls, according to a recent report in RFID Journal...
Shelf-life guidance for vacuum and modified atmosphere packed (VP/MAP) chilled fresh beef, lamb and pork has been updated by the FSA. According to a spokesman for AIPIA this could be a real opportunity to roll out more smart condition monitoring labels for the proteins packaging market...
Tetra Pak is the world’s largest food processing and packaging solutions company, is working closely with its customers and suppliers to provide safe food. The Brand has been focusing on sustainability and working on innovative ways of incorporating it into all aspects of its processes. It wants to take consumers along this road by sharing these efforts and educating them on environmental issues...
Finnish spirits company Arctic Brands Group is using unique holographic metallization effect on cartons for its Arctic Blue Gin. The ‘result is as close to an actual northern lights flare as printed materials can accomplish,’ according to Mark Beamesderfer, packaging services director for the Americas for the material supplier, Metsä Board.
DoseID, a US consortium and the first industry association dedicated to standardizing the use of RFID tags in healthcare, (see newsletter 14/10/20) was established for the purpose of introducing an industry-wide standard. Schreiner MediPharm has joined this alliance of leading players in the healthcare sector...
With food safety now the paramount concern amongst consumers, Markem-Imaje which provides a range of product identification and traceability solutions, has launched a new thermochromic ink that changes colour at high temperatures to show the correct sterilization level has been achieved for all packaged food products...
LOOK LABS, a German studio, has launched CYBER Eau de Parfum (EDP), the first ever unisex fragrance with an illuminated label, embedded printed electronics and a sustainable message, it claims...
Domino Printing Sciences has announced the launch of the K600G – an innovative new blister foil and web digital printing solution for product-level serialization in pharmaceutical applications. It has been developed in collaboration with pharmaceutical industry specialist Gallarus, along with input from life science industry company SeaVision...
Major paper packaging supplier and AIPIA member, DS Smith has teamed up with Touchguard, a leading surface coating technology company, to produce corrugated cases with ‘safe handling zones’ to inhibit the possibility of passing on COVID-19 infections, as well as other microbial contamination, during transit.
For the first time ever, Coca-Cola is giving fans the chance to create their own personalized Christmas can, featuring a name and festive image. A total of 1,000 cans a day will be available and, for every can ordered, a donation of £2 will be given to the UK national homelessness charity CRISIS...
Staying in the Christmas spirit, The Good Crisp Company, based in Boulder, Colorado, USA,which is a new and better-for-you take on the classic canister chip it says, is launching an augmented reality (AR) feature on its packaging that will turn The Company’s canisters into a holiday-inspired winter wonderland, complete with Santa. The festive web-based AR was developed by WebAR Agency Aircards which has worked with major brands such as AB InBev and Samsungon similar projects.
As thoughts turn to the Festive season, despite Santa being lockdown in the Arctic Circle, it is good to see some retailers and packaging suppliers doing their best to light up the Holidays. The Nottingham-based packaging manufacturer Wilkins Group has helped turn a range of gold-leaf-infused Christmas Liqueurs into festive snow-globe centrepieces.
Innoscentia AB, a Swedish developer of dynamic sensor labels with the ability to measure food status in real-time. has chosen AIPIA member Ynvisible Interactive's displays for its dynamic expiry date labels on food packages. Instead of static expiry date estimations on the packages, Innoscentia has developed materials that combine with the Ynvisible display, enabling real-time quality monitoring of the food. This solution aims to reduce food waste significantly and detect spoiled food in time, even before the expiry date, according to the report in Printed Electronics Now.
WISeKey International, an AIPIA member which provides global cybersecurity and IoT services and OpSec Security which offers anti-counterfeiting and brand protection solutions and platforms, have announced that they have joined forces to deliver a seamless solution for product authentication and trusted customer engagements.
And AIPIA members EVRYTHNG and Result Group share podcast on Smart Packaging at PKN The Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP) has become a member of the Active Intelligent Packaging Industry Association (AIPIA) to be able to access the leading advancements and technologies in this field. Also AIPIA has become a partner organisation of the Institute.
Scientists at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Food Technology Division, in Mumbai, India have developed a composite active food packaging film with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and gelatin incorporated with Amaranthus leaf extract (ALE) to monitor freshness of raw fish and chicken meat.
Food brand Yeo Valley Organic has rolled out connected packaging across all products as part of the new ‘Put Nature First’ brand platform. Working with connected consumer agency SharpEnd, Yeo Valley Organic says it can now engage directly with consumers through its most scalable media asset...
Kezzler’s director of presales & delivery in China, Pengfei Zang announced the expansion of the use of its traceability technology to include high-value locally produced water melons and rice being produced at the government sponsored National Model Agricultural Industrial Park located in Hanting, Shandong. This follows the successful pilot for radishes produced in Weixian, (see newsletter 19/05/20) he told Food Navigator Asia recently...
Keeping up the Halloween theme, Amazon USA has got in on the act with limited-edition boxes meant to engage consumers while bringing attention to its environment-saving initiatives. The boxes feature a large white pumpkin on the side that consumers can draw on. Then, using Amazon’s augmented reality (AR) app, consumers can scan the QR code with their smartphone camera to see their customized pumpkin drawing come to life, similar to Snapchat’s AR filters...
Adding a bit of fun for those able to go out trick or treating this Halloween, Sun-Maid in America is releasing limited-edition glow-in-the-dark packaging for its Sour Raisin Snacks and yogurt-covered raisins. So you can be a spook or be ghoulish during the festivities on 31st October but stay healthy!
More than 65 speakers, including two Brand Owner Challenges (for Takeda and KraftHeinz), panel discussions, keynotes, live broadcasts and technology streams made the Congress program the most interesting and effective event for Smart Packaging on the planet! And there is still a chance to enjoy it all! But hurry!
The Summit Authentication Platform™ from Microtrace provides a reliable and easy to use method for organizations to ensure genuine products are moving through the supply chain - from manufacturing facilities to retail locations—including verifying consumables at point of use, says the company...
DoseID is claimed to be the first member driven industry consortium for the use of RFID technology in the healthcare space, using serialized RFID-tagged medications to support the quality, performance and interoperability of tagged drug products along the pharmacy supply chain...
Avery Dennison has launched a dual-technology AD-362r6-P inlay that combines item-level tracking and digital ID capabilities of a high-performance RAIN RFID (UHF) tag. The AIPIA member says this is suitable for a wide range of retail apparel products and applications with the secondary loss prevention functionality of an EAS tag...
The two Brand Owner Challenges by pharmaceutical giant Takeda and international food behemoth Kraft Heinz were hotly contested by over 20 companies. Each company had just three minutes to get their product/concept across to a panel of experts from these Brands. So just doing the Challenge was quite a challenge! Add the fact this was all being done on line then the factor of difficulty was almost off the scale. In the end it all went off remarkably smoothly, as usual brilliantly coordinated by AIPIA’s Eef de Ferrante, and each Brand chose a ‘top four’ with whom they will continue discussions...
AIM, the European Brands Association, has officially launched HolyGrail 2.0 with 85 partner companies across the value chain, to prove the viability of digital watermarking for sorting waste at scale. Several leading AIPIA members are involved in this project which was the subject of a Panel Discussion in the recent Virtual Congress ‘Recycling and Sustainability.... where digital fits in’ involving one of the leading players in the project Digimarc...
At the AIPIA Smart Packaging virtual exhibition, Inspectron gave delegates the first opportunity to see its MagID marking technology, which provides advanced protection abilities for brands of any size, by enabling magnetic ink codes to be printed on or inside packaging...
Just to prove that Smart Packaging is developing a truly global footprint, last week, Chekkit Technologies, a Nigerian startup, founded in 2018, that offers product verification, anti-counterfeiting solutions, announced that it secured a partnership to pilot its technology in Afghanistan for pharmaceutical products...
Researchers from Purdue University in Indiana, USA hope their new technology can help transform paper sheets from a notebook into a music player interface or make food packaging interactive. The university’s engineers have developed a simple printing process that renders any paper or cardboard packaging into a keyboard, keypad or other easy-to-use human-machine interfaces. This technology was published in the Aug. 23 edition of Nano Energy...
Leading AIPIA member Kezzler today announced the signing of a new Master Service Agreement (MSA) with Bayer. Kezzler, a global supply chain traceability and serialization technology provider and Bayer, the Life Science company, with a more than 150-year history and core competencies in the areas of healthcare and agriculture, have had a working relationship for the last 4 years...
Here is a selection of the User Cases which will demonstrate how smart Packaging is already hard at work in the real marketplace: User case: Agriculture Authentication & Traceability for the Chinese RunHui. Bringing safe and sustainable products to consumers, while helping radish farmers make significant increases in both output and production thanks to Kezzler’s authentication solution. By revealing the hidden pin consumers can check authenticity. Full traceability across the entire supply chain...
Mission Produce an advanced avocado network, has partnered with Hazel Technologies to launch AvoLast by Hazel®, a new shelf-life extension program that gives avocados an three extra days of optimal ripeness on average, it says. Integrating Hazel® technology across Mission’s global supply chain will make it easier to enjoy the perfect avocado worldwide...
Sonoco ThermoSafe, a unit of Sonoco, the global provider of temperature assurance packaging for pharmaceutical distribution, is building PharmaPortal™, a vendor-neutral blockchain platform for use by pharmaceutical manufacturers and carriers. Built on IBM Blockchain Transparent Supply, PharmaPortal intends to meet the industry’s needs to trace assets across many different supply chain participants...
With a consumer spotlight being placed on food safety, companies across the fresh produce industry are looking for innovative new solutions in packaging. California based Veg-Fresh Farms has recently incorporated anti-microbial technology by Smart Plastic™ into film packaging used for their organic and conventional brussels sprouts. It hopes to incorporate the technology into other items such as lidding film, clamshells, etc...
CVS Pharmacy, the major USA pharmaceutical outlet, announced in July that it has developed Spoken Rx, a new feature of the company’s app that can read a specific type of label for patients with visual impairments and those who cannot read standard print labels. Spoken Rx is the first in-app prescription reader application to be developed by a national retail pharmacy, it says...
A new project, which will be launched on 22nd September this year aims to provide a portal for food innovators to see the latest developments and to share the information with other stakeholders in the Dutch language. A article will be published in the Netherlands and Belgian edition of New Scientist magazine as well as appearing on line via www.planet-cause.nl
Tapwow, an AIPIA member innovating in the field of smart packaging and customer connection, has announced they will partner with AIPIA to present touchless engagement experiences to entertain and educate attendees as part of the AIPIA Virtual Congress on September 10, 2020...
One of the newest, but already one of the biggest names in Packaging Technology Syntegon Technology (the new name of Robert Bosch Packaging) is making its Congress debut with a presentation on a very ‘hot’ topic, even in these pandemic-dominated times. Fit for Sustainability - How smart packaging and digitization can support players along the value chain will present a practical concept that can link packages to value chain data in order to make good sustainable solutions even better...
While the European Cannabidiol (CBD) industry remains plagued by regulatory uncertainties, the Cannabinoid Association of the Netherlands (CAN) has unveiled a free blockchain-based CBD tracker for customers to trace a product’s journey from seed-to-sale...
AIPIA member Parkside Flexibles, a UK based flexible packaging laminator and printer, has collaborated with high-tech surface protection suppliers, Touchguard™, to launch a new packaging solution incorporating an antibacterial coating. The new development enables brands to protect consumers against bacteria and viruses, including Covid-19...
With a tag costing just 3 cents (USD$) Talkin' Things is introducing a groundbreaking product to RFID & NFC market, it claims. The aim is to make wide implementation of this technology into mass market FMCG goods a reality...
GS1 is a not-for-profit federation with 115 local country organisations worldwide…but our origin starts back in 1969 when the retail industry in the US was searching for a way to speed up the checkout process in shops. A few years later, the decision was taken to align on one barcode (the U.P.C code) and the Uniform Code Council (UCC) was founded to administer the standard...
Trace, which provides an advanced hemp seed-to-sale tracking solution in the USA and leading AIPIA member Kezzler, a global provider of supply chain traceability and serialization technology, have announced a new partnership agreement which is is certain to redefine supply-chain visibility in the hemp and agro-industry at large, they say. Trace leverages the power of Ethereum-based blockchain technology to distribute crucial information, while removing the potential for altering accurate information, to enhance public and regulatory trust.
Serpiente Ultra Premium Tequila is the first spirit under the umbrella of Mayo Akindele’s Houston, Texas based liquor importation company Nomad Spirits Company. This tequila is made from 100% Weber Blue Agave & bottled in one of a kind crystal glass king cobra bottles in the town of Tequila, Jalisco, he says. To make Serpiente, the distillery selects a mixture of 50% Highland Agave and 50% Lowland Agave and use naturally refined water that’s been treated via reverse osmosis and deionization...
One of the cornerstones of intelligent packaging development has been the increasing use of RFID and NFC technology. As Raghu Das will predict, based on an impartial analysis, IDTechEx expects that almost 21 billion packages sold in 2030 will feature an electronic feature to enhance the package and the market global demand for electronic smart packaging features will be a $895 million by then, from around $55 million today...
Specialty inks that are popular among consumers for creating special effects on packaging for beer, soda and candy are now feasible for water and soda fountain cups as a result of AIPIA member Chromatic Technologies’ invention of solvent-specialty inks, it says...
Aptar Food + Beverage, an AIPIA member offering a wide range of food protection solutions and proprietary active packaging systems for seafood and fresh-cut fruits and vegetables, has launched its SEAWELL™ Protective Packaging System with a leading US retailer, in more than 3,800 store locations. A first-of-its-kind active packaging solution, the SEAWELL™ system is designed to preserve seafood freshness and maintain optimal quality from sea to table, says the company...
SIG is extending its range of PAC.ENGAGE QR code solutions into closures with the launch of ‘One Cap, One Code’ for one-to-one online marketing opportunities, aiming fully at consumers. The company says its unique digital closure solution will be launched initially in the combiGo closure for on-the-go packs. It enables food and beverage customers to apply QR codes to the inside of closures, which are only visible to the consumer...
COVID-19 has had a remarkable impact on the food supply chain and issues such as food safety, security and reducing waste. Even before it reaches the consumer, hundreds of thousands of tonnes of food are wasted every year. In its presentation at the Congress Jenton Dimarco will explain that much of this is due to food labelling errors, which can lead to costly product withdrawals...
As part of our new partnership with The IoP Journal in Brazil we are featuring extracts from a recent interview with Marcel Sacco, general director of Hershey Brasil, which explores the company vision about the use of Smart Packaging and general trends in this technology. Sacco spoke about the benefits achieved in several campaigns using smart packaging and its growing needs for this kind of technology...
A product design student from Ravensbourne University in London, UK, has replaced the many plastic sachets that accompany a pack of instant noodles with an edible, spice-infused wrapper that breaks down when cooked to season the broth. Holly Grounds develops the dissolvable ramen packaging after becoming frustrated with the many small bits of plastics waste generated by traditional instant noodle packs...
A team from the Research Centre for Bio-based Chemistry at the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT) has developed a cold-chain safety sticker based on nano-fibre technology. The sticker indicates whether any cold-chain food products, such as fish, meat, or fruits and vegetables, may have spoiled, by being exposed to temperatures outside the permitted range...
Following the introduction of its integrated security label recently (see AIPIA News 4/6/20) Swiss ink producer and AIPIA member, SICPA and another member, Belgian label printing company REYNDERS have joined forces to strengthen their brand protection and anti-counterfeiting efforts across Europe...
We may not be able to bring you the Reality of a face to face Congress this year, but already the AIPIA Virtual Congress on 10th September 2020 is shaping up to be the best Smart Packaging encounter of the year! More than 30 speakers and 22 booth holders (already) in the presentation area means there is a real buzz of expectation...
Bacardi has used a digital printing technology supplied by Dekron on an O-I: Expressions bottle to customize a limited edition promotion. The company has replaced the usual sleeve label with direct-to-bottle digital printing, using organic inks. In addition, an innovative Augmented Reality (AR) experience and a Snapchat Lens can be unlocked via the Snapcode on the bottle...
Smartrac, a longstanding AIPIA member which is now part of Avery Dennison, has announced the introduction of its new Circus Tamper Loop Pro inlays and tags, combining tamper detection and highly secure product authentication in one NFC product, it says. This is the first offering based on the SIC43NT chip from another PPMA member, Silicon Craft. The new inlays and tags complement Smartrac’s “Pro” series for ‘one-time password’ product authentication...
VerifyMe, which provides digital technology solutions, specializing in counterfeit prevention, authentication, serialization, data mining, track & trace, features for labels, packaging and products, has announced its first VeriPASTM track and trace technology order from the cannabis industry...
Cargill, the multinational food producer, headquartered in Minneapolis, USA has launched three new chicken products for the Chinese market, using blockchain technology to ensure their traceability to customers. The company has formed a partnership with the China Animal Health and Food Safety Alliance (CAFA)...
Inuru, based in Berlin, Germany, has announced a € 2.3 Million Series-A funding round led by the Warsaw based venture capital fund ARIA. It will setup an automated production line to increase production capacities of its recyclable luminous packaging and labelling products. These are capable of lighting up, warning and displaying small animation and even contain videos, in future...
Today every CPG industry is looking for supply chain visibility. Whilst many examples can show this process at the level of one brand and its supply-chain, there are few examples of large-scale platforms. Now the European tobacco sector operates a traceability system which gives visibility across the entire supply-chain, via a digital marker on the packaging, according to Swiss headquartered developers Dentsu Tracking...
According to its most recent update on the impact of counterfeiting within the EU, the Union’s Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) estimates that the loss of direct sales in the key sectors of cosmetics & personal care, wines & spirits and pharmaceuticals, is almost €18 billion (with all sectors accounting for €50 billion). Fakes account for around 14% (€9.5 billion) of total EU sales for cosmetics and personal care, 2.5% 0f pharmaceuticals (€6 billion) and more than 5% of wines and spirits (€2.3 billion). See 2020 STATUS REPORT ON IPR INFRINGEMENT...
Many legitimate personal protection equipment(PPE) products do not have an effective anti-counterfeit protection solution. In the fight to protect both products and consumers, Systech has offered PPE manufacturers an anti-counterfeiting software solution, the Systech Brand Protection Suite™, that is deployable within weeks and includes special terms and pricing...
A new technology, developed in Australia has the potential to defend the wine export industry against the booming global trade in counterfeit wines, according to a recent report in PKN. The eBottli suite of tracking and blockchain data technologies includes geolocating services for bottles or containers and identifier labels for winemakers, helping to guarantee a wine’s authenticity...
MIWA, a technology company based in Prague in the Czech Republic since 2014, has developed what it claims is a complete business ecosystem for smart-powered reusable packaging – an ecosystem based on a clean and effective way of selling goods while minimizing packaging waste.It has created a circular system of reusable capsules, which, by using smart technology, are adaptable for today’s logistics and fit the logistic and hygienic standards of today’s supermarket chains, it says.
SML Group, an AIPIA member with specialistRFID supply chain technology for apparel and footwear manufacturers and retailers, recently undertook a survey of 20 major companies in these sectors as they swing back into operation, following the COVID-19 shutdowns throughout Asia, Europe and North America. The survey indicates that bringing visibility back to the supply chain is a top priority.
AIPIA is pleased to announce that the GS1 organisation has become sponsor of this year’s Virtual Congress. Here, the not-for-profit organization, which develops and maintains global standards for business communication, explains how the barcode on a product can do more with GS1 Digital Link:
A start-up based in Essex, UK, Iris Photonics, has developed ground breaking technology for security holograms, it says. The technology makes it much harder for criminals to illegally forgea wide range of items such as identity documents and high security packaging forcar parts, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment - such asCOVID-19 testing kits - according to the father and son team.
Since its launch in late April the AIPIA Virtual Congress 2020 (10 September) has attracted wide support from all parts of the industry. The Association is pleased to announce that two global brands have agreed to host the Brand Owner Challenges, which have, and continue to form, a central part of the Congress proceedings:
EVRYTHNG, the AIPIA member providing digital identities for the world’s consumer products, has announced a long-term global partnership with another leading AIPIA member, HP Inc., a world leader in digital printing for packaging and publishing...
AIPIA member SICPA, an international product security, revenue realization and track and trace solutions company, headquartered in Switzerland, has announced the release of new, integrated product security labels with innovative, counterfeit-resistant visual effects; secure traceable codes; and covert features to protect brands and consumers...
Smartrac, now part of AIPIA member Avery Dennison and blockchain startup SUKU, have produced a digital verification solution to authenticate COVID-19 testing kits and personal protective equipment (PPE). The NFC-powered platform enables instant verification of authenticity and provides end-to-end supply chain transparency, they claim...
Scientists at the National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI) based in Mohali, India, have developed non-toxic, edible coating materials to improve shelf life of fruits & vegetables based on wheat straw hemicellulosic polysaccharide (WP) and stearic acid derivatized oat bran polysaccharide (SAOP) that promise to overcome the problems of highly perishable produce going bad before reaching the consumer – currently running at 25-30 percent in that country ...
AIPIA member Logmore, the Finnish data logging developer has closed a €4.5M Series A equity investment round. The round was led by Nordic Ninja VC (FIN) in partnership with Icebreaker VC (FIN), Trind Ventures (EST), Tekton Ventures (USA), and Jaakkoo-Taara (FIN), to fund Logmore’s global expansion.
EVRYTHNG, an AIPIA member providing digital identities for global consumer products, has announced its support for GS1 Digital Link 1.1, released earlier in 2020. The GS1 new global standard upgrades the universal barcode used by 2M manufacturers across the $13.5-trillion consumer products industry. This ensures that every product can now be web-connected and smartphone-interactive, it is claimed.
You either love it or you hate it, but according to a recent report in Food Navigator Asia, researchers in Malaysia have come up with a method to develop a packaging material, using the skin from Asia’s ‘king of fruits’, the Durian, which is both antimicrobial and biodegradable.
EM Microelectronic, an AIPIA member supplying ultra-low-power semiconductors, part of the Swatch Group, with RFID development stretching back 30 years, recently launched the em|echo-V, its enhanced product authentication dual-frequency RAINFC technology.
Solucan, a Quebec, Canada based digital beverage can printer, has joined with local microbreweries, in an effort to emphasise solidarity and locally sourced products during the current pandemic, through the use of augmented reality. Solucan partnered with Ô Quai des Brasseurs, Kombuchanv, le Temps d’une Pinte, and AIPIA member Zappar for the launch of “Scan the Can” #cavabienaller (#thingswillgetbetter).
US companies - both longstanding AIPIA members - Chromatic Technologies and American Thermal Instruments, have partnered to donate free-of-charge new printable temperature, tampering and authentication technology to protect all new COVID-19 drugs...
