This document discusses smart and intelligent packaging technologies. It defines active packaging as technologies that interact directly with products to enhance performance, like oxygen absorbers. Intelligent packaging uses indicators to monitor products and provide information to consumers. Examples discussed include time-temperature indicators, sensors for oxygen, ammonia and shocks, and interactive technologies like QR codes, augmented reality and NFC tags. The document emphasizes how these technologies can improve the customer experience, product quality, and help manage risks.

1. "Smart" Package Printing
Value-Add BEYOND the Graphics
Dr. Mark Bohan
Vice President, Technology and Research

2. © Printing Industries of America | www.printing.org 2
Session
Overview
▶ What do we mean by smart
packing?
▶ Active packaging
▶ Smart / intelligent packaging
▶ Packaging innovations
▶ Summary

3. © Printing Industries of America | www.printing.org 3
Packaging
Growth and innovation
▶ Many different
processes
▶ Offset, inkjet,
electrophotographic,
flexographic, gravure …
▶ While we buy “stuff” it is
not disappearing
▶ Growth market globally

4. © Printing Industries of America | www.printing.org 4
Technology trends
Planning and design, faster turn around times
▶ 3D packaging
design
▶ Integrated into
color cycle
▶ What happens
when we need to
shrink fit?
▶ Proofing solutions
▶ Surface, gloss and
texture effects

5. © Printing Industries of America | www.printing.org 5
Technology trends
Digital marketplace
▶ Digital making inroads
into packaging
▶ Many solutions
▶ EP and Inkjet
▶ Short to medium run
▶ Static and
personalized

6. © Printing Industries of America | www.printing.org 6
Technology trends
Flexographic, the quality is there
▶ Plate and ink
technologies
▶ High quality
▶ Screening algorithms
▶ 4 versus 7 color
▶ Curing technologies

7. © Printing Industries of America | www.printing.org 7
Packaging
Key trends in the industry
▶ Sustainability
▶ Functionality
▶ Interactivity
▶ Flexibility
▶ Messaging
▶ Food safety / risk management

8. © Printing Industries of America | www.printing.org 8
Sustainability
Overview
▶ Reduction in package
materials
▶ Increase in the
recyclability of
packaging
▶ Bio-based materials

9. © Printing Industries of America | www.printing.org 9
Flexibility
Overview
▶ Convenience
▶ Single use
▶ Smaller packages
▶ Microwavable
▶ Ease of use
▶ Easy open
▶ Re-sealable
▶ Portable

10. © Printing Industries of America | www.printing.org 10
Messaging
Overview
▶ Personalization
▶ True one off
▶ Generic
▶ Storytelling as part of
the package
▶ Brand message
▶ Transmedia

11. © Printing Industries of America | www.printing.org 11
Smart packaging
Why are we looking to use this?
▶ Enhance the customer experience
▶ Add value in some means
▶ Improving the product
▶ Quality control about the product
▶ Additional information

12. © Printing Industries of America | www.printing.org 12
Active Packaging

13. © Printing Industries of America | www.printing.org 13
Active packaging
Overview
▶ Enhance performance
of the product
▶ Interact directly with
the product
▶ Food applications
▶ Manufactured into the
packaging materials
▶ Printed or coated
PackagingConsultancy.com

14. © Printing Industries of America | www.printing.org 14
Oxygen absorbers
Why do we use
▶ Extend shelf life
▶ Reduced growth of
pathogens
▶ Improved product
quality
▶ Reduced oxidation
▶ Vitamins, spices…
▶ Extend
pharmaceutical life

15. © Printing Industries of America | www.printing.org 15
Oxygen absorbers
Active packaging
▶ Chemicals to absorb O2
▶ Fe → Fe(OH)3
▶ H2 → H2O
▶ Applications
▶ Sachets
▶ Bags
▶ Labels
▶ Bottles
www.appepackaging.combestinpackaging.com

16. © Printing Industries of America | www.printing.org 16
Moisture absorption
Active packaging
▶ Applications include
▶ Pharmaceutical
▶ Electronics
▶ Food applications
▶ Materials
▶ Sachets: Silica gels,
calcium oxide ….
▶ Sheets: Multi layer with
superabsorbent polymers
▶Polyacrylate salts. Starch
copolymers ….
www.multisorb.com

17. © Printing Industries of America | www.printing.org 17
Preservative releasers
Active packaging
▶ Antimicrobial and
antioxidant films
▶ Cosmetics, pharmaceutical
…
▶ Cereals, meats cheeses ..
▶ Mislead customers!
▶ Many different chemicals
▶ Organic acids, spice
extracts ….

18. © Printing Industries of America | www.printing.org 18
Thermochromic inks
What temperature is the product at?
▶ Color change inks
▶ Indicate the current
temperature
▶ Food products
▶ Drinks and for
promotions

19. © Printing Industries of America | www.printing.org 19
Thermochromic inks
What temperature is the product at?
▶ Fanta program in
Australia
▶ Funstigator
▶ Interactive program
▶ Dependent on the
sale

20. © Printing Industries of America | www.printing.org 20
Active Packaging
Some additional examples
▶ Ethylene absorbers
▶ Strawberries
▶ Releasing elements
▶ CO2, preserving agents
▶ Antimicrobial
▶ Silver applications for
office, electronics …
▶ Heating elements
▶ Metals for microwaves

21. © Printing Industries of America | www.printing.org 21
Example with coffee
Active packaging
▶ Ground coffee
absorbs moisture and
oxygen
▶ Reduces flavor
▶ Seal the bag
▶ CO2 build up
▶Burst bag!!!
▶ One way release valve
▶ O2 and CO2 scavenger

22. © Printing Industries of America | www.printing.org 22
Intelligent Packaging

23. © Printing Industries of America | www.printing.org 23
Smart or intelligent packaging
Overview
▶ Indicator on packaging
▶ Internal or external
▶ Monitor the product and
provide information
▶ Quality
▶ Change
▶ History
▶ Communicate
nofima

24. © Printing Industries of America | www.printing.org 24
Time Temperature Indicators (TTI)
Also referred to as Time Temperature Integrators
▶ Temperature over
time
▶ Warning above/below
set temperature
▶ Color change over
time
▶ Partial or full history
▶ Different solutions
available
▶ Different activators
Fresh-Check ™
Defrost Watch ™ Fridge Thaw ™

25. © Printing Industries of America | www.printing.org 25
Oxygen / Carbon Dioxide
Smart packaging
▶ Oxygen sensors
▶ Detect leaks in packaging
▶ Issue with responsiveness
▶ Microbial action
▶ CO2 indicators
▶ React to changes in pH
▶ Used in meats ….
AGELESS

26. © Printing Industries of America | www.printing.org 26
Ammonia (NH3) sensors
Overview
▶ Meat freshness
▶ Change with time
▶ Developmental
sensors
▶ Color change sensors
▶ Linked with other
options

27. © Printing Industries of America | www.printing.org 27
Shock indicators
Labels, circuits or sensors
▶ Look at shocks or
impacts
▶ Record over time
▶ If pre-determined value
exceeded
▶ Delicate materials
▶ Shipping, handling and
use
ShockWatch

28. © Printing Industries of America | www.printing.org 28
Interactivity

29. © Printing Industries of America | www.printing.org 29
Interacting with the consumer
How do we get information?
▶ Barcodes
▶ QR codes
▶ Mobile Action Codes
▶ Augmented Reality
▶ NFC
▶ RFID

30. © Printing Industries of America | www.printing.org 30
QR Codes
Integrating electronic media with packaging
▶ Synonymous on
packaging
▶ Download app to use
▶ What does it do for me?
▶ Discounts
▶ Information
▶ Entertainment
foerstel

31. © Printing Industries of America | www.printing.org 31
QR Codes
The links continue ….
▶ Promotion to
design own label
▶ Heinz Tomato
Ketchup Hot
▶ url been allowed
to lapse
▶ Taken by other
user
▶ Challenges if use
custom sites

32. © Printing Industries of America | www.printing.org 32
Augmented reality
Interacting with the package
▶ Interact with package
▶ Download app to start
the application
▶ Many examples,
increasing with time
▶ Pepsi, Pringles, Milka,
Coca-Cola ..…

33. © Printing Industries of America | www.printing.org 33
Augmented reality
Video 1

34. © Printing Industries of America | www.printing.org 34
Augmented reality
Video 2

35. © Printing Industries of America | www.printing.org 35
Image recognition
Documobi

36. © Printing Industries of America | www.printing.org 36
Interacting with packaging
Customer use of NFC (RFID from a producer)
▶ Utilize NFC enabled
device
▶ NFC tag
▶ Provide added value
to the consumer
▶ Growth worldwide in
linking packaging with
mobile

37. © Printing Industries of America | www.printing.org 37
Smart packaging
Growth for communication
▶ Integrating RFID/NFC
communication into
packaging
▶ Added functionality to the
user
▶ Instructions
▶ Interactive guides
▶ Additional content
▶ Promotions
▶ Live updates

38. © Printing Industries of America | www.printing.org 38
Chateau Le Pin
NFC integrated into wine labels
▶ Reliable anti counterfeiting
solution
▶ $3,000 average, up to $10,000
▶ Evaluated many technologies
▶ Linked the ID to the bottle and
customer
▶ Encrypted
▶ Created added value
▶ Details of wine, virtual cellar, notes
on wine etc.
http://www.rfidjournal.com

39. © Printing Industries of America | www.printing.org 39
MIT
Research published using NFC
▶ Sensors connected
to NFC tags
▶ NFC tag adapted to
detect the chemical
using carbon
nanotubes
▶ Simple scan with
phone
▶ Used either by
manufacturer or
customer

40. © Printing Industries of America | www.printing.org 40
NFC in packaging
Video 1

41. © Printing Industries of America | www.printing.org 41
NFC in packaging
Video 2

42. © Printing Industries of America | www.printing.org 42
Risk management
Why?
▶ Takes years to build
trust in brands and
products
▶ Only seconds to
destroy that trust
Robert Bowling, Nestle Americas, Color Conference, 2014

43. © Printing Industries of America | www.printing.org 43
-Monomers
-Antioxidants
-Colorants
-Pigments
-Solvents
-UV stabilisers
-Slip agents
-Resins
Chemical
industry
Co-packers
Retailers
Consumers
Paper and board
Metal, Glass
Adhesives
Plastics
Inks
RAW MATERIALS
Co packersCo packersCo packers
PACKAGING
MATERIALS
Packaging
Materials
Nestlé
when things go “viral”….
Converter
s
NGO’s
Media
Authorities
Robert Bowling, Nestle Americas, Color Conference, 2014

44. © Printing Industries of America | www.printing.org 44
Risk management
Product lifecycle
▶ Complete supply chain risk
management
▶ Food safety, toxicology,
regulatory, perception
▶ Catastrophic effects to the
CPG
▶ Many regulations about this
▶ Nestlé list, USA FDA-21, Prop
65

45. © Printing Industries of America | www.printing.org 45
Summary
Closure

46. © Printing Industries of America | www.printing.org 46
Resources
Where to learn more
▶ TAGA Conference, Memphis, March 20th to 23rd
▶ Experts and presentations on topics
▶ http://tagaatc.printing.org/, http://www.printing.org/tagaatc
▶ Articles at http://www.printing.org/free
▶ Smart Packaging
▶ RFID and NFC
▶ White papers at http://www.printing.org/free
▶ NFC
▶ Intelligent Packaging coming soon!!!

47. © Printing Industries of America | www.printing.org 47
Thanks for listening!
Dr. Mark Bohan
Vice President,
Technology & Research
Tel.: 412 259 1782
Mobile: 412 576 9729
mbohan@printing.org
www.printing.org
www.printing.org/free
www.printing.org/markbohan
www.linkedin.com/in/markbohan