Authentication and security features for ‘high end’ spirits was one of the first applications for Smart Packaging - recognised as a major breakthrough for anti-counterfeiting and brand protection, as well as consumer engagement. So it is good to see that tradition is being maintained, albeit using a combination of older and newer Smart technologies...
Kyushu University researchers have developed a food packaging framework that combines intelligent sensors, self-healing materials, and AI. The smart packaging system uses natural pigments, gas, and pH sensors to identify spoilage signals. The researchers say the technology could help reduce food waste by supporting better storage, transport, and consumer decisions.
The latest self-cooling beverage can, from deltaH Innovation, is designed to chill drinks at the push of a button while remaining both cost-effective and recyclable. The Cool>Can features a simple button mechanism on its base. When pressed, it triggers an endothermic chemical reaction inside the can’s walls using a patented salt-based cooling agent called DC15. This reaction chills the drink by approximately 10–15°C, depending on the starting temperature, claims the company...
Avery Dennison, a prominent AIPIA member and a global leader in materials science and digital identification solutions, has announced the launch of the AD Visi product line, a new range of Active Bluetooth® Low Energy labels designed to deliver advanced tracking for time critical and high-value shipments across global supply chains...
AIPIA member Beontag, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of self-adhesives and smart tags such as RFID and NFC, announced, during the summer, the launch of Fiberwave Soft, a premium extra?soft UHF RFID care label designed to be embedded directly into apparel. The innovation allows fashion, luxury and premium brands to replace external adhesive tags or stiff woven labels with a fully seamless, textile?integrated RFID solution—preserving the highest standards of softness, comfort, and garment finishing for both the brand and the consumer, it claims...
Some of America’s leading beverage companies – including The Coca-Cola Company, Keurig Dr Pepper and PepsiCo – recently announced the nationwide expansion of a shared digital ingredient transparency infrastructure designed to empower consumers with easy-to-understand information about the ingredients in their drinks so they can make the decisions that are right for them...
ProAmpac, an AIPIA member and leader in flexible packaging and material science, recently announced the successful commercialization of ProActive Intelligence® Moisture Protect MP-1000, a breakthrough active packaging technology developed in collaboration with Ozzi, a brand specializing in stick-pack formats for sensitive powdered products.
Its been a while since the AIPIA materials guru has taken a swing through the myriad research and development projects developing antimicrobial, antibacterial, gas scavenging or shelf-life extending materials. It is his opinion that there are still too many of these projects and most will never see the light of day commercially, however worthy of note they are. But here are a few which caught his eye...
A new labelling technology from longstanding AIPIA member Securikett replaces conventional heat sealing with a secure labelling solution, it claims. The system combines multiple functions in a single label, offering a solution that is safer, faster, and more cost-efficient than traditional heat-sealing processes, according to the company...
Hardly a month goes by without AIPIA member company Polytag announcing a new trial for its UV tagging technology. The latest announcement is from UK supermarket Aldi and dairy cooperative Arla who are adopting the recycling technology platform on an operational pilot at its Oakthorpe site, to track milk bottle packaging through the recycling process. The project uses Sun Chemical’s specially developed ink on wrap-around labels. The labels, printed by Saica Flex, are designed to support real-time tracking of packaging as it moves through the recycling stream...
Checkpoint Systems, a leading AIPIA member offering RFID solutions for retail and industry, has introduced READFINITY®, a next-generation all-in-one RFID readers family designed to support the operational demands of today’s rapidly evolving retail environment. It says...
Polytag, which develops UV coding systems and markings to allow data retrieval and product recovery, has announced a partnership with Multi-Color Corporation (MCC), a global leader in premium label solutions. Both are longstanding AIPIA members...
Longstanding AIPIA member Pragmatic Semiconductor has launched NFC Protect PR1311, a flexible NFC chip that detects pack tampering and lets consumers verify seal integrity. The technology targets high-risk categories, including wine, spirits, pharmaceuticals, wellness, beauty, baby food, pet food, and industrial products...
As usual the recent AIPIA/AWA Smart Packaging World Congress brought a stellar line up of innovators and new ideas to the event. Along the way key themes, such as preparation for Digital Product Passports and PPWR; GS1 Digital Link, Data collection and management; as well as the interface between Sustainable and Intelligent packaging, were all given a very thorough shakedown by panelists and presenters...
The HolyGrail project has been a landmark initiative for the Smart Packaging sector, aiming to exploit digital watermarking technology to improve recycling. Following the first phase - HolyGrail 2.0 - the partners launched HolyGrail 2030 in 2025. Now PepsiCo, Ferrero, Mondel?z International and pladis are among the contributors to the latest project, which will test the intelligent sorting and recycling of polypropylene snack packets into new food packaging...
The Active & Intelligent Packaging Industry Association (AIPIA), and AWA Alexander Watson Associates, is pleased to announce the winners of the AIPIA Brand Challenge 2026, held during the AIPIA & AWA Smart Packaging World Congress - the leading global platform for active and intelligent packaging innovation. Hosted annually by AIPIA, the Brand challenge is one of its key highlights of the event, held annually in Amsterdam and has involved many leading Brand owners who present real-world packaging challenges and invite the AIPIA community -technology providers, innovators, and packaging experts to pitch live solutions...
Developed by Der Grüne Punkt, a subsidiary of GreenDot Group, in collaboration with Austrian company Digi-Cycle GmbH, which joined the Group in April 2026, the “DigiDot” solution enables consumers to access accurate, location-specific instructions for sorting and disposing of packaging waste through a single QR code on product packaging, helping address one of Europe’s circular economy’s key challenges...
George Schmitt & Co., a USA-based manufacturer of advanced label manufacturing and smart packaging, has announced a collaboration with longstanding AIPIA member Wiliot to convert, test, and manufacture it’s Gen3 IoT Pixels. This continues Wiliot’s policy of collaborative agreements announced over the last few months (with Walmart -see newsletter 6/10/25 and Tageos – see newsletter 10/02/26)...
With the increasing complexity of regulatory requirements for packaging in Europe, many companies face the challenge of efficiently managing their Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) obligations. Lizenzero, a trademark brand within the German-based Interzero Group providing a range of environmental services, aims to set a new standard in this area by offering a central dashboard for the efficient management for up to 31 countries. A free compliance check, a cost estimate, and – if necessary – an integrated authorised representative service make the solution particularly simple and practical, says the company...
One in four bottles of spirits consumed worldwide may not contain what it claims to be. According to some estimates (referenced by an article in the Journal of the American Society of Brewing Chemists), counterfeit and illicit products in the global spirits market range from 25% to 40% of total consumption, translating into billions in annual sales and tax revenue losses. Additionally, according to the World Health Organization, 21% of all alcohol consumed globally falls outside any form of government oversight, being illegally imported, counterfeited, or otherwise untraceable...
With less than two weeks to go before the AIPIA/AWA Smart Packaging Congress (20/21 May) opens its doors at the Novotel City hotel in Amsterdam the finishing touches to the program are being made to deliver an agenda for business. Congress will address regulatory issues such as DPP, ESPR and PPWR in the context of where Smart Packaging will be a necessary tool. But it will also bring some of the latest innovations covering Connected Packaging, Smart Labelling & Coding, Supply Chain Monitoring, Food Waste Reduction and much more...
On May 20-21, AlmaScience will be at the AIPIA/AWA Smart Packaging World Congress 2026, (Novotel City, Amsterdam) the global forum where brand owners, technology providers and packaging experts come together to turn smart and connected packaging into real-world deployment...
Molson Coors Beverage Company is bringing back its ‘Peak of Technology’ campaign this April, In the UK helping consumers perfect their at-home beer serves through Coors’ distinctive cold-activated packaging technology. This thermochromic ink tech has been around for some years and always adds a useful feature to the product as well as enhancing the graphics...
Tesco is replacing traditional barcodes with QR codes on a selection of its own-brand meat products, in what it says is it described as “one of the most revolutionary retailing improvements in decades”. The UK’s major supermarket retailer is applying QR codes to 13 lines of own-brand sausages, including Tesco Pork Sausages, Tesco Pork Chipolatas, Tesco British Pork Sausage Meat, British Cumberland Sausages and British Lincolnshire Sausages...
The Kraft Heinz Company has become the first branded food manufacturer to join Polytag’s Ecotrace program, an industry-led initiative aimed at improving the recyclability of packaging in the UK, according to a recent report in Labels and Labelling magazine. Polytag are a longstanding member of AIPIA...
At the upcoming Smart Packaging World Congress in Amsterdam (20-21 May), organised by AIPIA and AWA you will have the opportunity to take part in the most comprehensive event for the Smart Packaging sector this year. Nowhere else can you meet both technology providers and End Users in a crucible of ideas and red hot innovation...
Recent revelations from the British Broadcasting Corporation’s (BBC) Disclosure: Hunting the Whisky Bandits documentary sent shockwaves through the Scotch whisky sector. The investigation uncovered widespread fraud within cask investment schemes, exposing how investors were misled by false claims and, in some cases, entirely fictitious casks. The findings have intensified industry-wide calls for stronger regulation, digital transparency and verified ownership records...
Avery Dennison an AIPIA member known as a global leader in materials science and digital identification solutions, continues to blaze a trail in RFID technology adances with the launch of its AD IdentiFresh™ inlay series. In association with fellow member Iminpj it claims to be advancing the use of RFID technology in fresh food categories including bakery, meat, deli and produce...
While this newsletter does not normally dive into scientific areas this particular story caught our eye as it seems this kind of sensor technology developed primarily for Human Machine Interface (HMI), and already suitable for medical devices, could eventually find wider applications in packaging...
With the introduction of the Digital Product Passport (DPP) requirements and the GS1 Sunrise 2027 transition toward two-dimensional identifiers, packaging is set to become a carrier of verified product information, no longer just a means of communication. This is one of the major developments under discussion at the upcoming AIPIA/AWA Smart Packaging Congress in Amsterdam (20-21 May) and is sure to be a ‘hot’ topic. So it is interesting to see this particular development from Italy.
The global Smart Packaging event of 2026, the AIPIA/AWA World Congress, is pleased to announce that major fresh food manufacturer, Cranswick, will host this year’s Brand Challenge at the event, which takes place in Amsterdam on 20/21 May...
Schreiner MediPharm, which develops and manufactures functional labels for the healthcare industry, has cooperated with CDMO OECHSLERhealth, to introduce Cap-Lock for Vials, a novel solution for analog and digital first-opening indication. The solution addresses key challenges around product integrity, patient safety, and digitalization of primary packaging they say. It was presented for the first time at Pharmapack in Paris...
Firstly Securikett now produces a partial adhesive coating as a security feature on labels, with custom coating patterns which make imitation of security labels difficult. The adhesives are not applied over the entire surface but in customer-specific patterns that are not available in standard materials...
AIPIA member Appetite Creative, a creative agency in the connected packaging arena in partnership with fellow member Koenig & Bauer AURAVEO, has released results from its fifth annual Global Connected Packaging Survey 2026. The research reveals that 92.3% of those surveyed say that connected packaging will be increasingly important to the packaging industry in the next 12 months and beyond, up from 88.8% in 2025...
Longstanding AIPIA member Scantrust, which provides all-in-one QR code solutions for global brands, has acquired New Zealand -based company Trust Codes Global, extending its foothold in Australasia. This comes on the heels of expanding the range of Scantrust solutions with U-label.com, and marks something of a milestone in the company’s development, it says...
Longstanding AIPIA member Checkpoint Systems, which provides RFID solutions for retail and industry globally, has strengthened its position as an innovator in contactless identification by integrating the powerful new RAIN RFID UCODE® X chip into its smart labels, it says. The new chip has been developed by fellow AIPIA member and major semiconductor manufacturer NXP®...
DataLase, a global supplier of laser printing solutions, has introduced a revolutionary clear-to-white coating for plastic bottles. The AIPIA member says Brands worldwide are accelerating moves towards label-free packaging to reduce waste, improve recyclability and meet tightening sustainability targets...
Tageos announced a strategic partnership with ambient IoT pioneer Wiliot. The first outcome of this collaboration is the launch of a new passive Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) inlay, the EOS-654 BLE G3. In response to the growing demand for real-time location and condition monitoring across retail and logistics supply chains, this inlay was developed to support large-scale deployment of Wiliot’s Gen3 IoT Pixel sensor and the Wiliot Intelligence Platform...
In response to the rapid evolution of distribution models, rising regulatory requirements, and the growing number of product references in the beauty and makeup market, Sleever® and AIPIA member Avery Dennison® have announced the launch of INVENTRA® — an intelligent product that integrates RFID technology into the shrink sleeve label...
Identiv, Inc, a longtime member of AIPIA and a global leader in RFID- and BLE-enabled Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, recently announced that it has been selected as winner of the "IoT Connected Retail Application of the Year" award in the 10th annual IoT Breakthrough Awards program. The company is a main sponsor of the upcoming AIPIA/AWA World Smart Packaging Congress in Amsterdam, (May 20/21). IoT Breakthrough is a market intelligence organization, the Awards program recognizes innovative companies in the global Internet of Things (IoT) market today...
Longtime AIPIA member HD Barcode, based in Florida, USA, has introduced a groundbreaking new technology: HD InfoCode+. This next generation printed code can embed complete “directions for use” in virtually any language—without requiring an internet connection, it says...
As businesses return from 2025’s holiday trading season, new data has revealed that food waste continues to erode margins and is one of the most costly, yet hidden, challenges in the global retail supply chain. This is according to the Making the Invisible Visible: Unlocking the Hidden Value of Food Waste to Drive Growth and Profitability report, published recently by AIPIA member Avery Dennison, the global materials science and digital identification solutions company...
AIPIA member Fresh Inset has introduced the MCPBag, an active packaging solution designed to extend the shelf life of pears and reduce waste throughout the supply chain. The packaging – branded as Vidre + which AIPIA has previously reported on - leverages the freshness-preserving compound 1-MCP (1-methylcyclopropene), which is released directly inside the bag, providing growers and retailers with a powerful tool to combat the rapid spoilage of fruit...
It’s been a while since we took a look at the overcrowded space of R&D in the field of flexible films to help reduce spoilage and extend the shelf life of perishable or sensitive foodstuffs. It seems that there is no let-up in the number of universities or research establishments – both private and public – operating in this space. With the caveat that not everything will come to market, here is one development which is likely to see the light of day due to its military provenance...
Koenig & Bauer Kyana gave a first public viewing of its new digital tool, AURAVEO, at DMEXCO 2025 one of Europe’s leading digital marketing & tech events, held in Cologne, Germany. With this tool, the company is expanding its digital portfolio to include the Digital Experience Platform, which was first showcased as a proof of concept at drupa 2024, it reveals...
Longtime AIPIA member Zappar, creators of Zapvision and Accessible QR (AQR) technology, have joined forces with io.tt, the connected packaging platform born out of fellow member SharpEnd’s creative studio, to accelerate the rollout of vision inclusive, connected packaging, they say...
The 2026 Connected Packaging Survey, a comprehensive industry benchmarks of the sector, is again being organised and managed by AIPIA member Appetite Creative. Last year, 700 leaders across FMCG, retail, and marketing shared their insights, according to its managing director Jenny Stanley. “This year, we're capturing where the industry is truly heading, and your perspective matters,” she says. The survey takes just 2–3 minutes to complete, and all responses are completely anonymous...
OnAsset Intelligence, a Texas, USA based provider of intelligent tracking solutions recently announced the launch of the Sentinel Flex Tag™, a new smart label for global shipment visibility. The tag combines ultra-thin design, temperature and impact sensing, aviation compliance and AI-powered intelligence to deliver end-to-end visibility for high-value goods, according to the company...
AWA Alexander Watson Associates (AWA), a leading global market intelligence and market insights firm specialized in the packaging, converting, materials, labelling, and specialty papers sectors, is pleased to announce the acquisition of AIPIA (the Active & Intelligent Packaging Industry Association). This strategic acquisition marks a significant milestone in AWA's ongoing mission to expand its reach in the growing field of smart and intelligent packaging and labelling solutions. It will also help to strengthen the position of users and technology suppliers across the value chain in this new era of consumer engagement, sustainability and innovation...
Solidus, a producer of sustainable, fibre-based packaging solutions, and UK-based technology company BlakBear- both longstanding AIPIA members - are joining forces to explore the future of smart packaging, they say. The partners are combining Solidus’ expertise in fully recyclable fibre-based packaging with BlakBear’s wireless freshness sensors to demonstrate how innovation can transform food safety, shelf life and combat food waste...
Wiliot, the AIPIA member leading the way in ambient IoT technology, has announced a collaboration with Walmart, one of the world’s leading omnichannel retailers, to revolutionize supply chain operations. This work represents the first large-scale deployment of ambient IoT technology in the retail sector, with millions of Wiliot IoT Pixels being integrated throughout Walmart’s supply chain...
MM Pharma and Healthcare Packaging is spearheading a breakthrough in pharmaceutical packaging security, it says, after signing a major licensing deal with a leading nanomaterials developer and longtime AIPIA member, Advanced Material Development Limited (AMD)...
AIPIA member Authentix now offers brand owners and authorized contract manufacturers a method to quickly deploy a sophisticated covert security ink to products and labels by simply substituting its Traceless® Security Thermal Transfer Ribbons (STTR) into existing Thermal Transfer Ribbon (TTR) printers. In just moments, users can transition from standard TTR printing to a specialized and covert STTR solution only verifiable with a specialized Authentix handheld reader, it says...
Ahead of an expected global conversion to more advanced barcodes in the next couple years, driven by GS1’s Sunrise 2027 program, Amazon is collaborating with additional packaging partners to highlight the benefits of serialization. One company, USA-based Menasha Packaging, announced its strategic partnership on anti-counterfeiting program Amazon Transparency in September, using the recent Pack Expo in Las Vegas to provide more details about their partnership...
Schreiner MediPharm, one of the leading developers and manufacturers of functional labels for the healthcare industry, showcased its new Cap-Lock Label with RFID functionality at this year’s CPHI in Frankfurt. The new Cap-Lock plus RFID is based on the established principle of the company’s Cap-Lock Label...
Disposable temperature data loggers, as a key tool for cold chain monitoring of fresh produce, provide accurate records throughout the entire process, helping ensure quality and safety from production to retail. Tzone Digital Technology, a Chinese manufacturer of temperature and humidity monitoring devices, introduced the company's upgraded paperless TempU02A disposable USB temperature data logger at the recent Asia Fruit Logistica event in Hong Kong...
A new consumer survey commissioned by GS1 US reveals that while 85% of Americans believe food recalls are effective in protecting public health and safety, 93% are concerned about how frequently they occur. The results reveal shifts in consumer behaviour following a recall and underscore the importance of traceability advancements, according to the report in Industry Intel...
Rolling Optics a Swedish based innovator in micro-optics has announced the official launch of Fidaro™, a next-generation visual authentication solution designed to help brands combat counterfeiting through intuitive, consumer-friendly technology, it says...
Leading AIPIA member Avery Dennison a globally recognised provider of digital identification solutions and another longstanding member, Wiliot, which has been one of the pioneers of ambient IoT, have announced an expansion of their strategic partnership to scale the manufacturing, performance and market reach of Wiliot’s ambient IoT technologies worldwide...
Ail Arian a start-up based in Wales ,UK is emerging as an innovator in the field of sustainable printed electronics. In less than a year, the company now employs a dedicated team of five, focused on tackling one of the packaging industry’s most pressing challenges: balancing technological innovation with environmental sustainability, it says...
Cadbury, the UK confectionery brand owned by Mondelez International, is trialing new packaging for its Crunchie multipacks in Tesco stores in the UK. As part of a test-and-learn initiative lasting until early 2026, the plastic overwrap on around 1.8 million Cadbury Crunchie Four Bar Multipacks sold in the stores will be replaced with stickers, reducing the outer plastic packaging by 60% per pack, it says...
Counterfeit spare parts posing a serious challenge to the automotive industry. They affect vehicle performance, increase maintenance costs and create potential safety risks. So an advanced security solution has been developed under the KURZ SCRIBOS brand has been introduced in collaboration with the BMW Group, specifically designed to protect original spare parts...
The countdown is on for manufacturers serving the EU to acquire digital product passports (DPPs), which will be mandatory by 2027. DPPs require every product to carry a transparent, accessible record of its origin, composition, and lifecycle. With counterfeit goods still flooding markets and consumer trust increasingly tied to product transparency, industries face mounting pressure to bridge the digital-physical information gap quickly and securely...
Two events from the AWA & AIPIA partnership are now set for your diary. Most imminent is the Smart Labelling Seminar in Barcelona which takes place on 15 September in Barcelona. Taking place around LabelExpo Europe it will offer the opportunity to kick off your visit to that exhibition with a deep dive into the latest Smart Labelling technology. Next for the calendar is the World Smart Packaging Congress which will return to the Novotel in Amsterdam on 11 & 12 June 2026...
Schreiner MediPharm has developed high-performance RFID-Labels adapted to the requirements of the KitCheck™ Scanning Stations enabling reliable identification of the drug containers, it says. KitCheck™ is a system in the USA by Bluesight, a provider of healthcare intelligence solutions for efficient and digital inventory management. To date, more than 325 million units of injectable emergency and anesthetic drugs have been captured by the system in 900 North American hospitals...
Apocryphal wisdom has it that if you get just one important idea , new contact or innovation from a conference then its been time well spent. Of course, these days companies are a lot more capricious with their employees’ time (and expenses). So conference agendas need to show some ‘high impact’ takeaways as well as offering valuable networking and data gathering. This year’s World Congress certainly delivered on all three, according to the feedback received from delegates...
As demand for secure and sustainable packaging continues to grow, UFlex the major flexible packaging and solutions company headquartered in India, is making strides in addressing counterfeiting challenges in pharmaceutical and cosmetics packaging, it has announced...
Following the announcement earlier this year that Waitrose was going to adopt smart tag technology to track its single use plastic (SUP) waste packaging (see newsletter 23-04-25) two other major UK food retailers, Marks and Spencer and Ocado have introduced the invisible, ultraviolet tags from AIPIA member Polytag on some products to track them through the recycling system. The supermarket and online retailer claims to be the first to roll out the packaging tags on shop shelves...
Two recent reports compiled by Euromonitor International - Top Four Trends in Packaging, and New Concepts in Loyalty – highlight how packaging has evolved from basic function to strategic tool that bridges digital branding with physical experiences via tech like QR codes. Information on packaging ranks as a top trusted source for global consumers--second only to word-of-mouth according to the company’s research. As the tangible representation of a brand’s identity, packaging bridges the gap between digital impressions and real-world experience, influencing consumer trust, perceived quality and buying behaviour, it says...
At the GS1 Connect event held recently in the USA, leaders from Walmart, Conagra, and The Fishin’ Co. explored how Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Rule 204 is reshaping traceability—and why packaging lines, labellers, and data systems must evolve to meet new retailer and regulatory demands. Matt Reynolds, editor of Packaging World (PMMI Media Group) explains in this edited article which we reproduce with their kind permission....
