A unique LED smart packaging solution - which can be applied to bottles, cartons and other forms of packaging - is being used in a commercial application for the first time.
Cogniflex's LightPad, in use by Romanian URSUS Breweries, allows the contents of glass and plastic bottles and other types of containers and packaging to be illuminated via tiny electronic illumination devices attached to the outside of the packaging – for example in the recess of a beer bottle base.
The illumination effects can be in many colours, made time variable and activated in a variety of ways.
The technology will enable brands to differentiate themselves from competitive offerings and to attract and interact with consumers in new and exciting ways.
NANOPARTICLES RAISE SAFETY CHALLENGES
The use of nanoparticles in food packaging will raise new safety evaluation challenges for regulators and industry, according to a report released by the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies (PEN) and the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA).
Engineered nanoscale materials (ENMs), contain novel properties that offer potential benefits for use in food packaging.
The food-packaging industry, food companies and consumers all share an interest in ensuring that any possible safety questions are identified and are carefully evaluated and resolved before marketing packaging materials that contain ENMs, according to the report by former Food and Drug Administration policy official Michael Taylor.
The PEN-GMA report, Assuring the Safety of Nanomaterials in Food Packaging: The Regulatory Process and Key Issues, was a result of an effort by experts from government, industry and the public interest community to examine the path of a number of hypothetical nanotechnology food packaging applications through the current regulatory system.
"The system is not widely understood and legitimate questions have been raised about how it would apply to nanoscale substances used in food packaging," Taylor said.
SEALED AIR UNVEILS IMPACT FILM
Sealed Air has unveiled its new tear resistant, versatile and resilient Cryovac IMPACT shrink film, which protects odd-shaped and sharp items, while also cutting costs.
The tough, puncture resistant, multi-layer, cross-linked polyolefin can be applied to distinctively-shaped and bulky goods, with additional merchandising advantages at point of sale.
Cryovac IMPACT film can be used on all types of automatic machines, is easy to use, stays taut and wrinkle-free and will not crack at extreme temperatures, Sealed Air said.
The film ensures the product will keep its original form under difficult conditions during shipping, retail stocking and customer handling.
SUPERFOS RELEASES CO2 CALCULATOR
Superfos has developed a new, professional tool that enables precise calculations of the carbon footprint of packaging solutions.
The CO2 tool calculates each packaging container's precise CO2 emissions through the choice of raw material, energy consumption in production, transport and disposal.
Superfos product design manager Torben Noer said the calculator is an important part of the firm's carbon footprint strategy.
"Though packaging accounts for only 10% of an average product's total CO2 emission, there is still room for improvement, and precise calculations give us a head start on reaching a smaller carbon footprint because it enables us to pick out the best way to take action," he said.
CONFIDEX INTRODUCES UHF RFIS LABEL
Finnish firm Confidex has introduced a new UHF RFIS label for returnable plastic containers.
Millions of plastic transit items such as totes, crates and trays are used in various applications that require proven durability under heavy use and challenging environments, Condfidex said.
Confidex Carrier, with its high performance acrylic adhesive and proven EPC Class 1 Generation 2-compliant reliability, was specifically developed to meet these demands by providing an RFID tag solution that will reliably withstand the daily use of plastic transit items for several years.
A reliable UHF RFID tag solution can provide a fast return-on-investment for asset tracking applications where identification in inventory and cleaning management are critical, such as meat crates or other similar assets used for delivering food.
By Elizabeth Clifford-Marsh
