RFID, sensors, printed electronic displays, and discreet batteries have for many years been touted as smart packaging-enabling technologies, but few are ready for commercialisation, suggests a new report from Lux Research.
According to Jonathan Melnick, lead analyst of the Wrapping Value into Smart Packaging and Retail Communication report, brand owners are hesitant to work with untried technologies, unless returning value can be clearly demonstrated, by increasing sales, conveying information, or enhancing brands.
The report notes that technologies such as RFID are still, after many years, being deployed at shelf and pallet level, where their cost can be spread across multiple items.
The Lux report suggests technologies must find appropriate match. While many developers tout smart packaging as a generic concept, different packaging applications have different requirements.
Market-specific
Some successful developers are finding commercial success with strategies that focus on the needs of a specific market. Cypak worked with Stora Enso to establish its technology as a core enabling component of the paper and board producer's intelligent compliance packaging line, DDSi.
The knowledge gained in exposing its technology to patient trials has enabled Cypak to develop other healthcare applications. With investment from Tyco Retail Solutions, printed silicon developer Kovio is commercialising printable electronic barcodes compatible with near-field communication infrastructure, for product inventory and source tagging applications in Tyco's retail markets.
The report also concludes that high-value products, predictably, will be the first adopters of smart packaging technologies and systems. Already the pharmaceutical packaging industry is one of the highest users of smart packaging technologies, for managing compliance.
Healthcare
According to Brand Enhancement by Electronics in Packaging 2012-2022, a report recently published by Companies & Markets, the healthcare markets provide opportunities for smart packaging and similar technologies to serve the needs of a consumer demographic with an increasingly higher average age. Applications include as disposable medical testing, medication monitoring, and communicating hard-to-read information on labels and packaging.
The report suggests that falling cost in printed electronics will help drive the wider adoption of smart packaging. By 2022 the report forecasts the market for electronic smart packaging devices will be worth $1.7 billion (€1.2 billion).
Enjoyed reading this article? For even more high-value content on the plastic electronics industry, subscribe to +Plastic Electronics magazine.
Documents and links
-
Lux Research report
Wrapping Value into Smart Packaging and Retail Communication
External Link
-
Subscribe to +Plastic Electronics magazine
Subscribe to +Plastic Electronics magazine, published six times a year, for just £100/€110/$160. Find out more here
External Link
-
Printed electronics cards to appear in 2012
UK company PragmatIC Printing announced plans to commercialise products with integrated printed electronics at the recent S2K conference
External Link
-
The future role of printing in plastic electronics
Dr Sean Smyth, a leading consultant for the digital and analogue printing industry, examines opportunities and challenges for printing electronics
External Link