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....
One Of the centrepieces of the recent AIPIA & AWA Congress (June 23-24), was the launch of the Interactive Brand Packaging Network (IBPN). It delivered a comprehensive program that demonstrated how connected packaging is transforming from functional container to strategic media asset. The initiative brought together leading brands, technology providers, and industry experts to establish frameworks for measuring and maximizing connected packaging ROI. Here, co-founder of the IBPN, Jenny Stanley, describes the proceedings...
McCormick, ‘the global leader in flavour’ hosted this year’s Brand Challenge at the AIPIA & AWA World Congress held in Amsterdam at the end of June. The company, which operates in 150 countries and boasts a portfolio of famous Brands, including Schwartz – the UK’s #1 brand for herbs, spices and seasonings and French’s - the world’s number one mustard brand, had opened the Congress with an enthusiastic endorsement of Smart Packaging...
An Italian start-up from Sardinia claims to be redefining the concept of sustainable packaging. Founded in 2024, Alkelux has developed a simple yet innovative solution: transforming liquorice processing waste into a natural antimicrobial bio-additive for use in food packaging materials. The result is an active, functional packaging capable of extending the shelf life of fresh produce, such as strawberries and blueberries, with no need for artificial preservatives or synthetic chemicals, it says...
The HolyGrail 2.0 plastics sorting and recovery project achieved Technology Readiness Level 9 (TRL9), making the watermarks ready for market according to the consortium members. It entailed 3 testing stages. In Phase 3 PET non-food bottles, rigid PP, PP films, rigid PE and PET trays, enhanced with digital watermarks by the participating brand owners and retailers, were placed in the German and Danish market for consumer use, disposal and collection...
Hot on the heels of its Goodday (Philippines) cultured milk drink connected packaging campaign reported here recently (Newsletter 11-06-25) Asahi has come up with another piece of clever technology. It harnesses the release of carbon dioxide when opening its Mirai no Lemon Sour beverage can to float real lemon slices to the surface of the drink, targeting a ‘unique sensory experience’, it says...
Identiv, one of the platinum sponsors at the imminent AIPIA & AWA Smart Packaging World Congress 2025, is taking a leading role in the preparations for Digital Product Passports (DPPs). Their forward-thinking approach to smart packaging will be a key topic of discussion at the Congress, taking place June 23–24 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. There is still time to Register here: https://events.awa-bv.com/AIPIAWC25#/tickets?lang=en
AIPIA returns to CPHI South East Asia in July (16-18) with a Showcase featuring members’ expertise in Smart Packaging for the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device sectors. This year the event will be held in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, following its successful launch in Bangkok, Thailand. The event organisers, informa markets, plan to make it a regional exhibition covering all of South East Asia, where pharmaceutical manufacturing and distribution is increasing rapidly...
For those looking to dive deeper into the opportunities Connected Brand Packaging can offer, the upcoming AIPIA & AWA Smart Packaging World Congress on June 23-24, 2025, in Amsterdam will have plenty of innovative ideas and products on hand to give you the latest insights, trends and knowhow to help your company make the right choices...
AIPIA member Dracula Technologies, an ambient light energy harvesting specialist, and Platinum Sponsor of the up-coming AIPIA & AWA World Congress (23/24 June) in Amsterdam, has announced a strategic collaboration with Linxens, a developer of component-based solutions for authentication and traceability, to develop battery-free smart labels...
Hot on the heels of its takeover of De La Rues authentication assets, (see Newsletter 28-05-25) AIPIA member Crane Authentication has unveiled the InsightPulse™ system, which pairs patented, discreet digital marking technology with an intuitive smartphone app, delivering enhanced supply chain security and real-time insights into counterfeit activity across global markets, it says...
Goodday, a cultured milk drink owned by Asahi Beverages Philippines and distributed by Universal Robina Corporation in the Philippines, has again partnered with connected packaging agency, Appetite Creative to revisit and refresh its 2024 interactive connected packaging experience, now with over 22 million codes hidden under caps or labels. Jenny Stanley, managing director of the agency will be talking about this and many other Connected Packaging projects at the upcoming AIPIA & AWA World congress (23/24 June) in Amsterdam...
As if to reinforce the importance of Connected Packaging as a key marketing and consumer engagement channel, Hershey, the famous chocolate brand has teamed up with AIPIA member ADT Security Solutions on tech-enabled packaging that guards against chocolate theft! It’s a clue to why attendance at the up-coming AIPIA & AWA World Congress is a must for Brand Owners!
AIPIA, in conjunction with its partner Netpress, is proud to announce the first comprehensive online course for the Smart Packaging Industry. Entitled AIPIA Certification | Leveraging Sustainable Smart Packaging to Revolutionize Your Business, the course will be officially introduced by its author and creator Edson Perin, at the upcoming AIPIA/AWA World Smart Packaging Congress in Amsterdam...
In a world where traditional media channels continue to fragment and lose effectiveness, packaging is emerging as, perhaps, the most reliable direct touchpoint between brands and consumers. That's why there is great excitement about the launch of the Interactive Brand Packaging Network (IBPN), a groundbreaking initiative announced by the Active & Intelligent Packaging Industry Association (AIPIA) in March...
Crane Authentication, already a longstanding AIPIA member and Congress participant, has launched its new brand identity. This follows the recent takeover of De La Rue Authentication for $300m which is being aligned with Crane’s OpSec Security operation, purchased in 2024...
Coldcha, a Netherlands-based logistics platform provider, has introduced a paper-based NFC temperature label designed to simplify temperature monitoring during transport. This new solution is aimed at growers, fresh produce producers, food companies and flower and plant shippers seeking an affordable alternative to real-time monitoring...
In cold chain logistics, especially for fruits and vegetables with strict temperature requirements, even minor fluctuations in temperature or humidity can significantly impact product quality. To address this challenge, AIPIA member Shenzhen Tzone Digital Technology, based in Shenzen, China, has launched an upgraded version of its TT19 series real-time temperature, humidity, and location data logger: the TT19SE. The company will showcase this advanced device at Transport Logistic 2025, Munich, Germany, in June...
Checkpoint Systems, an AIPIA member at the forefront of RFID/RF-driven solutions, has developed Chinook™, an innovative RFID inlay designed specifically for reusable food packaging, providing microwave safety and resistance whilst improving traceability in the supply chain. This solution is an important bridge between sustainability and innovation, especially to address the environmental challenges facing the industry, says the company...
As part of an expanded pilot, Tesco is now trialing the next generation of barcodes — QR codes powered by GS1 — in a number of selected stores, as the retail industry starts to shift towards a smarter, more connected supply chain...
The newest ‘hot topic’ for Brands is the implications of introducing Digital Product Passports (DPPs) across a huge range of products, in terms of both implementation and cost. It puts Smart Packaging front and centre of the need to invest in the right technologies. So the first Panel Discussion at this year’s Congress brings together experts who can offer informed views on this topic, hence its title Smart Packaging in Combination with Digital Product Passport...
DataLase, an AIPIA member offering cutting edge Photonic printing solutions and fellow member TamperTech, which designs and manufactures tamper-evident packaging and security solutions, have joined forces to introduce a groundbreaking innovation in tamper-evident tape technology, they say. The development marks the first time DataLase’s photonic printing technology has been incorporated into tamper tape, combining security, authentication and tracking into a single, seamless solution...
The RePLHA consortium, facilitated by AIPIA member Searious Business, based in Eindhoven, in the Netherlands, is at the forefront of creating an environmentally sustainable and economically efficient reuse system for transport packaging in the large household appliances (LHA) sector...
Hot on the heels of the Borrow Cup project in Glasgow (AIPIA Newsletter 05.02.25) comes a ‘pioneering’ AI technology to help consumers in Cardiff tackle paper cup waste. The three-month trial which began in late April – is organized by the National Cup Recycling Scheme, Keep Wales Tidy and innovative waste sorting app Bower – rewards the city’s consumers for recycling used paper cups at Caffè Nero, Costa Coffee, Greggs, McDonald’s and Pret a Manger stores...
This year AIPIA is delighted to announce that the world’s number one supplier of herbs, spices and seasonings McCormick & Company will present the famous Brand Challenge at this year’s World Congress in the Steinberger Airport Hotel, Amsterdam, taking place on 23/24 June...
Waitrose is to track its single-use plastic packaging from stores to recycling centres to better understand how much of it ends up in landfill. In partnership with AIPIA member Polytag, packaging will be marked with “invisible UV tags” which are detected and read when it arrives on a conveyor belt at one of 12 Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs) in the UK...
Zebra Technologies Corporation an AIPIA member experts in digitising and automating frontline workflows and fellow member Merck KGaA, a leading science and technology company, today announced a new collaboration aimed at co-creating solutions to address challenges around product verification, authenticity, and trust. Through this collaboration, M-Trust™ will be the first cyber-physical trust platform with a mobile computer scanning solution for addressing the growing issues of product safety, traceability and counterfeiting, the companies say...
What the partners describe as a groundbreaking development sees ThermoCarrier, specialists in high-performance passive cooling transport boxes, and an exciting new AIPIA member, Cold Chain Control, pioneer smart temperature monitoring for individual high-value items. Together, the companies say they are setting a new benchmark for precision, compliance and sustainability in cold chain logistics...
Major European packaging manufacturer Coveris has extended its built-in, covert security solutions offer to now include printed cartons, tackling rising rates of theft in the fresh meat, beverage and luxury goods sectors, it says. Targeting high levels of retail theft in the UK – currently costing multiples around £1.8 billion a year – Coveris has introduced its new innovative SourceTag cartons...
The next AIPIA & AWA World Congress, taking place at the Steigenberger Airport Hotel, near Schiphol in Amsterdam on 23 & 24 June is already attracting leading companies from the Active & Intelligent Packaging sector as both sponsors and speakers. In addition it will be the launching pad of a number of initiatives, helping to raise the profile and importance of the Smart Packaging industry as key components of Brand and Retailer strategies for sustainability, marketing and supply chain efficiency...
Capri Sun, a Kraft Heinz company, has launched Moon Punch – the brand’s first glow-in-the-dark pouch - ahead of the Total Lunar Eclipse. For the first time, Capri Sun is turning the moon itself into a scannable code through Snapchat, inviting fans to take part of the lunar phenomenon for a chance to unlock an exclusive first taste of Moon Punch...
For more than a decade the agenda for packaging innovation has been dominated by the sustainable agenda. The familiar themes of reducing plastics use, paperization, biodegradability, recyclability and, latterly, reuse, have been played out across numerous stages around the world, involving Retailers, Brands, Packaging Material Makers, NGOs and, not least, Governments...
Schreiner MediPharm, which develops and manufactures functional labels for the healthcare industry, presented its latest product developments at Pharmapack 2025 in Paris earlier this year. The innovative light protection labels for syringes offers effective protection for light-sensitive active ingredients (APIs) such as biologics and biosimilars. The product solutions combine light protection, safety and functionality and can be used for a wide range of prefilled syringes, it claims...
Infor Nexus™, a global supply chain platform provider, used the major Retail event, the NRF Big Show in New York City in January, to launch NexTrace, an innovative solution designed to improve customer transparency and provide a competitive advantage, it says. It provides end-to-end transparency by seamlessly tracking raw materials through to finished products and beyond, ensuring full traceability throughout the entire supply chain journey...
IBM Research is developing new AI technology that can help organizations address materials and chemicals of concern challenges, such as around PFAS “forever chemicals”.
Researchers from Chalmers University of Technology have come up with a novel approach to packaging canned tuna infused in the water-based solution of amino acid cysteine. It was shown to remove up to 35% of the accumulated mercury in canned tuna, significantly reducing human exposure to mercury via food, the report claims...
In late 2023 Berry Global introduced a range of reusable plastic cups aimed at the Food Service and Catering sectors. The latest iteration, launched in early 2025 has a notable option with the availability of embedded RFID chips or unique QR codes, which make the cups easy to track, manage, and reuse...
A recent survey conducted by Appetite Creative in collaboration with AIPIA, Polytag and Digimarc has revealed a significant surge in industry confidence regarding connected packaging, with 88.8% of respondents acknowledging its growing importance...
Identiv, an AIPIA member and a major sponsor of the World Congress in 2025, a leading provider of RFID and BLE-enabled Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, and the Axia Institute at Michigan State University, are joining forces to present a webinar on March 12, hosted by industry alliance AIM...
VALSER, a leading premium water brand from Switzerland, has launched an innovative AI-powered Augmented Reality campaign in collaboration with Zappar’s in-house creative studio, Studio Z, and Scantrust – both longstanding AIPIA members...
Antares Vision Group, a longstanding AIPIA member has extended its DIAMIND ecosystem of integrated and modular solutions with the addition of the Diamind Connect platform, which manages traceable data and production processes to guarantee end-to-end sustainability, comprehensive traceability and seamless customer engagement for brand owners in a variety of industries, it says. These include the food, beverage, cosmetics, textile and chemical sectors, with bespoke approaches for each segment...
Holographic labels have been around for a long time and are often overlooked as a first line of defence against counterfeiting. Of course, these days, there are highly sophisticated holographics and often they are used in alignment with other smart security technologies such as NFC and QR codes. However as a cost effective and easy to apply initial security measure they continue to be a highly successful anti-counterfeit measure – as three recent stories sent to AIPIA remind us...
At a ceremony in New York in early February, the PAC Global Awards 2025 recognised the very best in packaging innovation. Zappar and its partners walked away with three major wins due to their use of its Zapvision technology and Accessible QR codes (AQR). The company says these awards are a testament to the transformative power of AQRs and what happens when brands take bold steps towards inclusive packaging design.
The WarmMark QR is a single-use, battery-free temperature sensor that can revolutionize cold chain monitoring, say the makers SpotSee. Enabled by smartphones, it detects temperature excursions, providing essential data like time, date, location, and serial number. This information is uploaded to the SpotSee Cloud, delivering actionable insights to improve shipping quality and efficiency...
A new automated system, Feedentity, promises to redefine the concept of traceability and monitoring in the agri-food supply chain, according to its creators, Italy based FEED SRL. In addition to logistical traceability, Feedentity allows the monitoring of environmental parameters such as temperature, relative humidity, and vibrations experienced during transport. "These data are crucial to guarantee product quality throughout the supply chain and to meet the needs of producers, processors, and end consumers," explains Fabrizio Ferraiuolo, CTO of FEED SRL...
AIPIA, in conjunction with its partners AWA Alexander Watson Associates, as well as other organisations has confirmed its plans for events in the coming year. Chief among these is a new, earlier, date for the World Congress, which will take place once more in Amsterdam, on 23 and 24 June at the Steigenberger Hotel, close to the airport at Schiphol and well connected to the city...
During the recent NRF Retail Show in New York City, Phenix Label, a well-established supplier of tags, labels and flexible packaging, from Kansas USA, announced it has doubled production capacity of RFID-enabled packaging for hard-to-tag retail items. With this increased capacity, the company is enabling its clients to ramp up production volume, including packaging for water-based food items that have not been previously tracked using radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology. The company is working with AIPIA member Avery Dennison to make the new label range...
AIPIA has reported on several Return/Reuse systems for coffee cups and other food service containers. While many of these had wider ambitions on a regional or even national scale (which did not work) the trend in recent times is for ‘Closed Loop’ systems rolled out in a more localised environment such as a city or at a major venue...
Markem-Imaje, a leading supplier of end-to-end supply chain solutions and industrial marking and coding systems, has enabled Lunelli Group a major Italian wine brand , to adapti to the latest stringent EU regulations on wine labelling. Markem-Imaje owns longstanding AIPIA member Systech International...
AIPIA member Digimarc is primarily known for its digital watermarking. However, the company’s Illuminate platform is not limited to digital watermarks. In fact the company says it is a pioneer and leading provider of GS1 Digital Link QR codes. From co-chairing the Digital Link standard, to leading the industry’s first commercial deployments of GS1 Digital Links with global brands like Ralph Lauren, Patagonia, Puma, AstraZeneca, Reckitt, and Unilever., it is at the forefront of this project, it claims...
Christmas would not be the same if some spirit Brand did not take advantage of Smart Packaging technologies to get people into the holiday mood! In the past we have seen major Brands both big and small enhance their Yuletide offerings with Smart Packaging features...
One of the most exciting presentations at this year’s AIPIA & AWA Smart Packaging Congress was a panel featuring Matt Bolton, director of global clinical supply technology innovation from Merck, and Pieter Piron, manufacturing science and technology engineer for Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, who unveiled a collaborative effort to modernize the pharmaceutical sector using digital display labels. This technology, though not new, is being repurposed to address the unique challenges faced in clinical trials, offering a glimpse into a more efficient and adaptable future...
Avery Dennison, a prominent AIPIA member with global expertise in materials science and digital identification solutions, has announced the launch of Optica, which, it says is its first full-service portfolio of end-to-end supply chain solutions, which will start by addressing a series of traceability challenges within the apparel industry...
TrusTrace, a global SaaS company with a platform for product traceability and supply chain compliance , has announced that TWINSET, a high-end Italian fashion brand, has selected the company’s platform to help identify suppliers, support eco-design initiatives, and measure each product’s environmental impact...
Picadeli which operates an expanding premium salad bar chain has turned to Digimarc to solve the issue of fraud at self-checkouts. The company, based in Sweden, but with hundreds of outlets across Finland, France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and the USA has pioneered concept of fast food in a healthy salad format. The problem is with fraud occurring at the self-checkouts when customers enter a lower priced item on the product look -up (PLU) screen...
AIPIA member Adrich has announced a collaboration with Molex to ‘revolutionize smart label manufacturing’ and has launched a new trial of its smart label solutions. The company, which offers consumer insights and a smart replenishment platform powered by AI and IoT was a Brand Challenger at the recent AIPIA Congress. Molex is a global electronics company and connectivity innovator. Together the companies are aiming to greatly enhance the mass production of Adrich's patented smart labels using cutting-edge printed electronics...
In a thought provoking presentation, setting the scene for the Brand Challenge which followed, Omer Bin Younos, Nutrition Global Head of Packaging and N&I Head of Packaging Capability at the Unilever Foods Innovation Centre gave some clear pointers to where Smart Packaging can and is playing a key role in the future of its product and packaging development as well as its sustainability targets...
Evian the bottled water brand owned by Danone has partners with musician Pharrell Williams on limited-edition glass bottle, available in the UK, that responds to purchaser's location and the weather conditions and time of day, when a QR code on the bottle label is scanned. It links to a 'connected experience focused on wellbeing' designed by creative agency SharpEnd...
AlmaScience a longstanding AIPIA member and sponsor at the recent Congress, has launched PaperWeight AI, an innovative spin-off specializing in advanced technology for the retail sector. PaperWeight AI leverages paper sensor technology in a smart shelf solution, to transform traditional retail operations and offer real-time data analysis for better inventory management, waste reduction, theft detection, and increased operational efficiency, it claims...
Metsä Board, a leading European producer of premium fresh fibre paperboards, has launched a new solution to enhance and simplify the recycling process for packaging materials its customers receive as part of Metsä Board product deliveries. This could be regarded as an early move to anticipate the requirements which might fall upon the packaging sector as part of a future DPP (Digital Product Passport) scheme, AIPIA believes...
