What is Smart Packaging and What Does it Do?

Smart packaging combines intelligent, active, and connected features for enhanced product monitoring and customer engagement.

Smart Packaging, also known as intelligent or connected packaging is packaging that uses embedded sensors or other technology to provide additional functionality and benefits. These functionalities are enabled by NFC, RFID, and active packaging and can include traceability, product information, augmented reality, freshness sensors, and any unique experience a brand wants to deliver.

‍Video Courtesy of Bizongo on Youtube showing smart packaging can be simple and effective

The reason Smart Packaging has risen in popularity is due to government policy and traceability requirements for EPR reporting, supply chain transparency, customer satisfaction, and corporate ESG and CSR initiatives.

Smart Packaging can be divided into three main groups: Intelligent Packaging, Connected Packaging, and Active Packaging. When all three groups come together, they create Smart Packaging as shown in the diagram below.

‍Intelligent Packaging: Packaging that contains items that monitor the condition of the product, such as temperature, gas accumulation, chemical levels, moisture, and any other metrics of concern. The technologies that enable these capabilities are RFID, biosensors, chemical sensors, gas sensors, and tags.

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Active Packaging: Packaging that provides an extra function besides protecting the product. This can be as low-tech as moisture-control silica gel packets, or packaging that provides an interactive experience. Technologies used to enable active packaging vary depending on the use case.

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Connected Packaging: Packaging that customers or members of the supply chain can interact with in order to learn more about, identify, or enhance customer engagement with the product. Connected packaging utilizes technologies like QR codes or RFID tags as low cost ways to engage.

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The overall benefits of smart packaging include an enhanced customer experience, improved quality control, traceability, and data insights, and theft prevention. Smart packaging is a continually developing space where new innovations keep coming out by the day. Smart packaging doesn't have to be expensive, with some being as simple as a QR code linking to a web page or video about the product. Keep tabs on innovations, but don't get too caught up in the hype.

How can Scrapp help?

Scrapp using the existing GTIN barcode on packaging to help derive data insights on the correct disposal of a given packaging and its product. Our waste scanning technology is already compatible with GS1's Digital Link that is going live in 2027. Reach out the team to start your smart packaging journey and improve waste disposal options for your products at the end of their use.

Sources

1. https://impacx.io/blog/what-is-smart-packaging-and-its-benefits/
2. https://www.atlasrfidstore.com/rfid-insider/smart-packaging-using-rfid/

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