Smart Packaging – How Technology is Embedding Intelligence into Packaging

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The packaging sector is on the edge of massive transformation with emerging technologies such as AI, alternative reality, IoT, robotics, and nanotechnology in action to advance automated, connected, eco-friendly, and customized packaging solutions, as well as better, engage customers with product content and immersive purchasing experiences. Technologies such as smart labels, QR codes, RFID tags, NFC chips, augmented reality are disrupting traditional packaging by fetching real-time information and establishing communication about products that can enhance customer experience and engagement.

Sustainable packaging is gaining traction as consumers are becoming more aware of the negative consequences of plastics used in packaging While one innovator is using sugarcane-based packaging to replace plastics in milk cartons, another is offering aluminum-free aseptic cartons packs for oxygen-sensitive products such as fruit juices. Nanotechnology is being leveraged to develop cellulose-based renewable packaging material to replace plastics, waxes, and non-biodegradable materials in packaging.

Technologies such as 3D printing and nanotechnology are providing advanced customization in packaging. For instance, stereolithographic photopolymer materials-based 3D printers are providing packaging options for material, color, and product development. Expanded polystyrene (EPS) packaging with an active protective layer leveraging nanotechnology is being used to ensure hygiene in the transportation and storage of food and protection of vegetable products, consumables, or vaccines from viral agents.

What are the key strategic challenges faced in the packaging sector?

Traditional packaging is often challenged by various factors, including rising material cost, the use of plastics threatening the environment, and creating compelling first impressions to consumers. The key challenges faced in the packaging sector include:

Distribution: The rise of e-commerce and last-mile delivery forces packaging to scale up while keeping the products inside safe and fall within health and safety guidelines.

Point of sale impression: As consumers rely heavily on first impressions, the focus on the packaging is more driven towards customer interaction and engagement, convenience, and ergonomics.

Rising costs: Increasing material cost directly impacts the packaging cost, which necessitates alternative ways to reduce it through production optimization.

Sustainability/regulatory: As the world is progressing to fight climate change for a sustainable future, companies are subject to compliance with the changing regulatory standards.

Product protection: Amid growing consumer awareness, companies are obligated to translate packaging quality into customer satisfaction with a value proposition in terms of product strength and brand reputation.

Which technologies are helping the packaging sector?

3D printing, AI, AR, blockchain, cloud, digitization, machine learning, robotics, nanotech, and IoT are the technologies that are helping the sector. The adoption of emerging technologies to address bottlenecks and accelerate innovation is significant across the value chain of the packaging sector. Some of their use cases include custom packaging, interactive packaging, supply tracking, and production optimization.

Smart packaging sector, by key technologies

Smart packaging sector, by key technologies

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What are the key use cases of emerging technologies in the smart packaging sector value chain?

The value chain consists of packaging material production, packaging converters, filling & packing, wholesale, distribution & logistics, and retailers/consumers. The use cases of emerging technologies are increasing across the packaging sector value chain to broadly maximize output, minimize risk, and control cost.

Packaging material production: Technologies such as IoT and 3D printing are increasingly crucial in packaging materials production to decrease the production time and improve the strength. Key packaging vendors are leveraging 3D printing technology to improve the flexibility and efficiency to produce packaging products. 3D printers offer options such as material, color, and efficiency for design and development. Sweden’s technology startup Celwise has partnered with Pennsylvania’s machine industry company ExOne to develop sustainable packaging materials Celwise leverages metal tools 3D printed by ExOne in 316L stainless steel to transform wood and other cellulose fibers into sustainable molded fiber products that can replace single-use plastics. The key part of Celwise’s patented production method for producing the new type of molded fiber product is uniquely featured metal tooling that can only be made with additive manufacturing including ExOne’s binder jetting technology.    

Packaging converters: Technologies such as 3D printing, AI, and AR are driving innovation in the packaging converters value chain to optimize design and production. Packaging system provider Gogliohas integrated standard 3D printed parts into its packaging machinery. The machine boosts the manufacturing of packaging machines, flexible laminates, and plastic accessories. Goglioaims to improve the production process to engage customers in the long run, therefore, garnering revenues. 

Filling & packing: Robotics is one of the major emerging technologies widely used to automate various activities like filling, labelling, palletizing, and inspection. Packaging companies are increasingly adopting AI and robotics for automated inspection to improve traceability and ensure desired quality of the final product. Italian multinational company Stevanatohas unveiled an AI-equipped robotic-controlled inspection system ‘Vision Robot Unit’ (VRU). It is designed to fulfill and adapt to emerging smart factory needs of automated inspection that enhances the control process reliability. VRU’s ML capabilities automate the inspection of applications in the pharma development and manufacturing landscape, including biotech products such as vaccines and lyophilized drugs, and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs).

Wholesale, distribution & logistics: Robots and NFC-powered supply tracking solutions find their application in the wholesale, distribution & logistics value chain to improve operational efficiency. They are widely deployed for packaging assembly and to automate repetitive tasks in the warehouse. Polish robot startup No magic has introduced warehouse robots to automate the role of humans picking items up out of a box. The robots can automate repetitive tasks in warehouses that were previously carried out by humans.

Retailers/consumers: The benefits of emerging technologies are seen notably in the retailers/consumers value chain where robotics, AI, blockchain, cloud, IoT, and ML are helping for automated replenishment, medication adherence, product authenticity, recycling, and shelf-life analysis. Automated replenishment solutions leveraging AI and ML are gaining popularity to improve operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. Finland technology company Relex has unveiled an automated replenishment and allocation solution that enables businesses to reduce their inventory, out of stocks, and food waste. The company leverages AI and ML for demand forecasting and improving planning processes across merchandising, supply chain, and operations. The new solution can be adapted according to a business’ changing needs.

Market report scope

Outlook Year 2021
Emerging Technologies Packaging Materials Production, Packaging Converters, Filling & Packing, Wholesale, Distribution & Logistics and Retailers/Consumers

Scope

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the following. It provides:

  • Innovation Map: key real-world innovation use cases of emerging technologies implemented by enterprises and startups in the sector.
  • Innovation Insights: innovation examples by each value chain segment of the sector to present key trends.
  • Vendor Map: represents a sample list of vendors in each use case highlighted in the report.

Reasons to Buy

  • No surprise that technology has been a driving force in business transformation for years, but the term ‘emerging technologies’ has all of the sudden become the key catalyst to drive the next wave of innovation across sectors.
  • The sense of urgency weighs different across different sectors, where the direct customer-facing sectors are at the forefront compared to other capital-intensive sectors. Companies in one sector can take cues from successful innovations in other sectors to either draw analogies with existing products, services, and processes or transfer strategic approaches for a revolutionary transformation.
  • Against this backdrop, enterprises need to understand which emerging technologies are impacting their sector and how various companies are implementing them to meet various challenges.
  • The innovation landscape report in packaging, published by GlobalData as part of an ongoing series, covers some of the key trends, use cases, and real-world examples related to the implementation of emerging technologies across the packaging sector value chain.

3ntr
A&E
ADNAS
Alibaba
Aptar
Carlsberg
Danone
ePac
Epson
FedEx
FreshTag
Goglio
Heineken
HERMA
Jabil
Jokey
Linksmart Technologies
LOG Pharma
Metsa
Muller
MWES
Nexa3D
Nomagic
Nulogy
Omron
OneThird
PatchRX
Pickle Robot
Piramal Glass
Proco Machinery
Quadpack
Relex
Responsible Gold
S&R Robot Systems
Siasun
Softweb Solutions
Stevanato
Sunvato
Syntegon
Systech
Termotecnica
Tetra Pak
Unilever
Voith
Woola
Yaskawa

Table of Contents

1. Sector innovation insights: overview

2. What are the key sector strategic challenges faced?

3. Which technologies are helping the sector?

4. Innovation map by sector value chain: key use cases

4.1 Packaging Materials Production

4.2 Packaging Converters

4.3 Filling & Packing

4.4 Wholesale, Distribution & Logistics

4.5 Retailers/Consumers

5. Vendor map by sector value chain: key use cases

6. Methodology

Frequently asked questions

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