“Packaging waste remains one of the biggest challenges in the consumer goods industry. Only around 14% of plastic packaging is recycled each year, whilst food waste continues to rise with at least 1.3 billion metric tons of food wasted globally each year. The environmental cost too is mounting, with higher carbon emissions arising from production, transport, and disposal. Smarter, more sustainable packaging could solve this growing problem by providing freshness insights, for example, or encouraging recycling options.
“Intelligent packaging could transform the waste industry, and flexible chips are making this viable. Adaptable to all kinds of packaging materials and form factors, Pragmatic’s ultra-thin, flexible chips built directly into packaging materials enable brands to add smart connectivity to their products to address these sustainability challenges.
“With built-in sensors and Near-Field Communication (NFC) technology, this packaging could monitor food freshness and storage conditions in real time, alerting consumers when products remain safe to eat beyond their printed date. A simple tap of a smartphone could give access to accurate recycling information, or to deposit-return schemes, helping to cut unnecessary waste and support circular design. Consumers, meanwhile, can get instant access to product details, freshness updates and sustainability information, building transparency and trust and helping them proactively manage their food waste.
“As packaging becomes smarter and more recyclable, brands can also benefit from richer, more engaging interactions with their customers, delivering greater insight and deeper, longer-lasting connections. For manufacturers and retailers, this same technology delivers valuable insight into recycling and reuse rates, turning packaging into both a sustainability tool and a bridge for better customer engagement.”