Smart packaging links the physical world with the digital world: It forms a perfect “digital bridge function” between manufacturers, retailers, consumers, and social media channels. What is still often used to protect and label goods today will increasingly receive new functions in the future, thanks to digital technologies. As a result, packaging will be more individual, personal, and communicative. But what is smart packaging, and how will it take shape in the future? We explore in further detail in this blog.

What Exactly is Smart Packaging?

In principle, smart packaging describes packaging with extended functions. There are usually two types of smart packaging – active packaging and intelligent packaging, with each having unique benefits and functions.

How Does Smart Packaging Work?

Smart packaging works in a variety of different ways, depending on the type of packaging it is. Specifically, active packaging involves the addition or removal of substances to preserve the contents for longer. Alternatively, intelligent packaging involves electrical components that can provide additional information to users through technology.

We go into further detail about the distinction between the two types of smart packaging below:

Active Packaging

Active packaging is packaging that interacts with its contents, thereby improving their shelf life or quality during storage. Either certain substances are released into the medium, or certain substances are removed from the medium or its immediate surroundings. This is achieved by using light-filtering materials, oxygen and ethylene absorbers, antimicrobial surface coatings, or moisture-regulating materials.

The active component can be integrated into the packaging or added separately in the form of inserts. A typical example is beer in a plastic bottle, which contains an oxygen absorber in the screw cap. This extends the shelf life from three to six months.  Another example is film packaging with ethylene absorbers. The ripening hormone ethylene is absorbed during food storage, thereby extending shelf life.

Intelligent Packaging

Intelligent packaging is packaging that offers an additional benefit that goes beyond the mere packaging task. The “intelligence” of packaging essentially results from “communication” with the outside world. The additional benefit can include diagnostic and indicator functions that use indicators or sensors to monitor the condition of the product and provide information on, e.g., tightness, storage time, temperature or freshness. 

Alternatively, the indicators or sensors can be integrated in the packaging – placed on the outside or inside the packaging. Thanks to the integrated freshness and/or time/temperature indicators, retailers and consumers can see whether a critical limit value has been exceeded. For example, a colour change in the packaging indicates an interruption in the cold chain, leaky packaging, or an unwanted proliferation of salmonella.

In addition, intelligent packaging also fulfils information, automation, marketing, or protective functions, e.g., through barcodes, LEDs, augmented reality, NFC, loudspeakers, radio chips, or displays. One example is intelligent pharmacy packaging with built-in RFID chips, with LEDs that register the removal of pills and sound an alarm if they are taken incorrectly or even inform the doctor treating the patient. The same applies to packaging with NFC chips, which, using an NFC reader (e.g., smartphone), make it possible to read out the package insert and re-order the medication.

Extended packaging offers smartphone users additional product information on origin, production conditions or ingredients. By scanning barcodes or RFID chips, the information can be retrieved via a suitable app on the internet. Packaging equipped with augmented reality elements goes one step further. This often refers to visualisations that virtually supplement real images on a smartphone or tablet. The application possibilities are manifold. Virtual tours, competitions, virtual theme worlds, or operating instructions that appear on the packaging when photographing or filming a product have already been realised.

Smart Packaging Is a Growth Market

Smart packaging is still in the infancy of its development, but its potential is immense. Although the technology for smart packaging is already available in many areas, its widespread adoption has not yet been realised. However, this will change. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Modular Solid-state Technologies (EMFT), for example, are currently working on several highly efficient production processes that develop sensory labels consisting of flexible silicon chips and modern films, in which both elements are brought together by a rational roll-to-roll process.

Regulatory bodies, please take note of the upcoming changes that will soon flood all markets, particularly the pharmaceutical packaging and healthcare packaging sectors, which are ripe for innovation and digitisation.

Smart Packaging From the Consumer’s Point of View

The development of innovations in the field of smart packaging will, in the future, open up a wide range of opportunities to reach consumers and understand their needs.

Experts agree in principle that the consumer’s need for information will continue to increase and that “communicating” packaging will be well received by consumers. This is also confirmed by the Mindshare study “Everyday Connects”: The willingness to use smart packaging is very high, but under the premise of simple and fast interaction. Smartphones are the best way to do this, but ideally without installing an app in advance.

Conclusion: Smart Packaging Is a Means to an End

The use of smart packaging should not be primarily orientated towards trends and image cultivation but should focus on the benefits for the stakeholders, consumers, or patients. The added value that innovative packaging solutions can bring to the marketplace is immense across supply chain management, track-and-trace, authentication, patient engagement, and compliance. Smart packaging represents a powerful medium that will, in time, transcend and improve the quality of all of our lives for the better.

Innovative Packaging at Origin

At Origin, we pride ourselves on our innovative practices, ensuring that our packaging pushes the capabilities of its potential benefits for consumers.

To aid the progression of smart packaging’s greater commonality and adoption, we conducted a range of beta and UEX tests to simulate the use of our concept-connected packaging. We developed a small batch of prototype digital packaging products with a small, independent power source, with a focus on their safe and reliable inclusion. Alongside developments within digital packaging, our progress in sustainable pharmaceutical packaging similarly offers packaging solutions that meet the needs of the future.

If you’d like to find out more about how we can work with you to produce forward-thinking packaging products that precisely meet your requirements, get in touch with us today, and a member of our team will be happy to discuss your ideal solution.

This article is written by Jon Lant, a healthcare and pharmaceutical packaging expert and the current Head of New Product Development at Origin Packaging.