SPN Sep 2020

Sep 2020

SUSTAINABLE

PACKAGING NEWS

Taking the lead in sustainability

20-20 Vision Providing the global packaging industry with a overview of the latest developments in how to manage the impact of the corona virus

Corrugated Packaging Looking at the latest developments contributed by industry trend-setters and analysts, such as Mondi, Smithers and Smurfit Kappa, that are keeping corrugated packaging ahead of the curve

WELCOME TO SPN MAGAZINE

Welcome to S.P.N is a publication that is devoted exclusively to promoting and optimising sustainable packaging worldwide. In a fast-changing global marketplace, the need for a greater focus on sustainability has never been more urgent.

Based in the UK, we plan to provide a unique and dedicated service to the global packaging industry, in its entirety. We are fortunate in that we have attracted some of the industry’s most passionate and experienced forward-thinking scientists and journalists.

With Interpack not far away, you can expect to see more evidence of why SPN is the publication taking the lead in sustainable packaging and thereby adding greater efficiency and profit to your overall packaging operations.

We all know that Covid 19 has had a dramatic impact on manufacturing industries worldwide, however with the increased knowledge and understanding delivered by SPN, we will be in a position to help companies to minimise the negative effects of the pandemic and build a brighter, more sustainable future for us all.

Today, Sustainable Packaging News offers a new way forward to achieve and surpass your packaging sustainability goals.

We invite you to make the most of it.

Philip Yorke ( Editor )

SUSTAINABLE

PACKAGING NEWS

Sep 2020 Sep 2020

SUSTAINABLE

PACKAGING NEWS

Taking the lead in sustainability

20-20 Vision Providing the global packaging industry with a overview of the latest developments in how to manage the impact of the corona virus

Corrugated Packaging Looking at the latest developments contributed by industry trend-setters and analysts, such as Mondi, Smithers and Smurfit Kappa, that are keeping corrugated packaging ahead of the curve

Director

Kevin Gambrill

Editor

Philip Yorke

Designer

Dom Thorby

linkedin.com/company/ sustainable-packaging-news/

news_packaging

spnews.com SUSTAINABLE PACKAING NEWS

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CONTENTS

Contents

TOPICS

Smart Packaging 21 The increasing role of Smart Packaging Bio-Compostable?

24 Biodegradable vs Compostable Packaging Corrugated Packaging 30 The latest developments keeping

REGULAR FEATURES SUPPLY-CHAIN SLEUTHS 6 The latest developments in supply chain management

SPN SPIN DOCTORS 10 Looking at edible, and very tasty packaging!

corrugated packaging ahead of the curve

2020 PACKAGING INNOVATIONS 34 Top 5 sustainable innovations for 2020 Security and preservation 38 Bringing you the latest

developments and news as it happens

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DIGITAL DIGEST 14 The latest advances in digital printing that improve shelf appeal

20-20 VISION 16 The Impact of Covid 19 on the Industry

16 Issue 1 Sep 2020

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CONTENTS

30 12 24

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SUPPLY-CHAIN SLEUTHS

Supply-chain Sleuths A regular feature dedicated to providing the global packaging industry with a broad overview of the latest developments in supply chain management. In particular, those required to help companies counter the impact of the corona virus.

Survive and thrive

Never in the history of modern manufacturing has there been a greater challenge than the one that is facing us today. To help companies to meet this challenge, SPN has been scouring the latest business reports in order to provide packaging companies worldwide with the best tools possible to confront it.

These strategies are designed to help the industry to overcome the setbacks that Covid-19 has thrust upon us all and to provide positive options to help organisations survive and thrive in an uncertain future.

Restructuring for global resilience

With the Covid-19 crisis, fundamental changes in consumer behaviour, supply chains, and routes to market are forcing companies off balance, in particular the global packaging industry. Responding to the pandemic has underscored the need for companies to accelerate the adoption of agile ways of working and value chain transformation to help outmanoeuvre this uncertainty.

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Becoming an Intelligent Enterprise means shifting from top-down decision-making, empowering teams guided by purpose, driven by data, powered by technology and enabled by cloud for faster speed to market. It calls for erraising rigid structures that emphasise territory and control and creating a porous organisation with modules that plug and play.

The Intelligent Enterprise is capable of dynamic self-management and continual adaptation.

It is built for agility, resiliency and growth.

SUPPLY-CHAIN SLEUTHS

Adopting a distributed global services model can also help packaging companies to diffuse the risks. Furthermore, automating routine tasks with human and machine models, can also help to serve businesses and to position them for growth post Covid-19. So today more than ever, supply chain efficiency is critical. Companies need to supply goods and services quickly, safely and securely. They also need to develop a rapid response strategy to address current disruptions and to repurpose and reshape their supply chains for the future by increasing both resilience and responsibility.

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“ For some, liquidity has become a matter of survival “ Immediate action is also needed to address short-term liquidity challenges, as well as to provide for unforeseen costs and generate funding to invest in new opportunities. Many CEOs are faced with plummeting sales and revenue and increased costs.

Interventions to adapt may require investments in key technologies, processes and people.

For some, liquidity has become a matter of survival. Actions taken now can have an immediate impact on the survival of a company, how quickly it rebounds from the global downturn, and its financial health and sustainability going forward.

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Pairing people with opportunity

Organisations globally are experiencing workforce disruption at an unprecedented scale and speed. Virtually all companies are still determining how we will work in the short and long-term. But speed is of the essence, as our workforces and communities try to function and perform, while struggling to cope with what is happening in their daily lives.

Creating liquidity in the face of Covid 19 In the face of the Covid-19 crisis, leaders have had to act quickly to optimise their company’s resilience to the current situation by rebalancing their strategy for risk and liquidity. This must be done whilst assessing opportunities for growth coming out of the downturn. Current and future viability depends upon swift action, including near-term actions for stability and strategic moves that will create new futures for the packaging industries.

Managers across all industries are rising to the challenge, helping to navigate workforce movements that address the urgent need to shift to a remote workforce to protect and empower employees, serve customers and establish business continuity. Expertise in developing agile workforce strategies is critical to keeping the global economy viable and helping people and their families survive financially, both now and in the future.

Opportunities are emerging as companies and industries work together to keep people in paying work.

SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING NEWS

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SUPPLY-CHAIN SLEUTHS

11 People, organisations and communities need answers now. Plans need to be fit-for-purpose today but also capable of evolving as the global health and economic environment changes.

Businesses, governments and citizens, all play critical roles in establishing a human-centred, systems-minded approach that promotes shared workforce resilience. This is not a oneoff process.

It requires the development of persistent capabilities and relationships across stakeholder groups. CEO’s are on the front line of this response, equipped with the advanced technologies and intelligence they need to help navigate these sudden, massive workforce shifts.

Reset mind-set

The impact of the coronavirus outbreak has forced companies to move at an unprecedented speed in order to continue to serve their customers with quality products and services, whilst caring for their employees with compassion. Companies need to reset their mind-sets and re-evaluate how contact centres are leveraged, how employees deliver relevant customer experiences, where they work, and how digital channels can be used to support business continuity through the crisis and beyond.

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The global Covid-19 pandemic has forever changed our experience as customers, and employers. As a result, our attitudes and behaviours are also changing. The crisis is fundamentally altering how and what consumers buy and is accelerating immense structural changes, particularly in the consumer goods industry. For example, once the immediate threat of the virus has passed, companies will need to consider the impact of these changes on the way we design, communicate, build and run the experiences that people need and want.

With these emerging new behaviours, organisations also have an opportunity to accelerate the pivot to digital commerce, by expanding existing offerings and creating new lines of service, in the same way that retailers have been rallying to provide “contactless� delivery and curb-side pick-up services for consumers. This acceleration will force companies to revisit and even reimagine their digital strategies in order to capture new marketplace opportunities and digital customer segments.

Facts and figures by courtesy of Accenture.

For further information go to: www.accenture.com

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commercial content

SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING SOLUTIONS Yes, we float! Innovative Shrink Sleeve solution approved by EPBP CCL Label, the global supply chain leader of innovative premium packaging and comprehensive label solutions, created the cutting-edge TD Shrink Sleeve material EcoFloatTM, enabling the packaging industry to meet their recycling targets and to support sustainability. This material has now been approved by the European PET Bottle Platform (EPBP).

Triple S® - Super Stretch Sleeve The extremely low density of the film used for the Triple S® not only allows easy and clean separation for recycling - the combination of less raw material and expendability of a shrink tunnel makes the Triple S® to an environmentally friendly sleeve solution.

Watch the video & learn more

SPN SPIN DOCTORS

SPN Spin Doctors The latest Spin from SPN

Eat your Words!

As a leading authority on sustainable packaging, SPN is dedicated to bringing you the latest, ground-breaking developments. The latest cutting-edge technology comes to you in an easy-to-access colour-coded format issue by issue.

This new packaging is based on a substrate made from “Wiki-Cells”, and can be reproduced in limitless plant-based formulas.

This simply means that when you eat your dinner, instead of throwing the packaging away…. you eat it!

“ when you eat your dinner, instead of throwing the packaging away…. you eat it! “

The latest examples available of this new, exciting advance, includes Pumpkin Soup packaged in a spinach membrane, Lemon Juice packaged in a lemon membrane and Melted Chocolate packaged in a cherry membrane!

The possibilities are endless…..as is the potential! The research has been led by Professor David Edwards, who claims that in the future, Wiki -Cells will help to create the most sustainable and bio-degradable packaging in the world.

One of the most exciting and ground-braking developments announced recently was by a leading research team at Harvard University, who developed a unique range of edible, and very tasty packaging!

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SPN SPIN DOCTORS

12 8 A micro-miracle

In another major development, a research team at Texas A&M University has developed what may possibly be the next food packaging miracle known as, micro-film. The material, which is thousands of times thinner than human hair, consists solely of water, a soluble polymer and 70% clay particles. While Jaime Grunlan, the associate professor who led the endeavour, asserts that the film is “basically dirt”, the packaging is significantly more eco-friendly than plastic, has the preservation qualities of glass and could hold the fizz in a soda better than anything currently on the market.

Meanwhile, Bayer, the global chemical and pharmaceutical company, has developed a plastic film called Durethan using clay nanoparticles that prevents oxygen, moisture and carbon dioxide from decomposing food products. Similarly, Nanocor, a nanoclay technology developer, has created nanocrystal-embedded plastic that prevents the escape of oxygen from beer bottles, significantly extending their shelf life by up to 18 months.

“ anti-microbial packaging does not just shield food from bacteria, it actively acts against it “ While companies such as Pepsico and McDonald’s are still wary of any negative associations elicited by the word “nanotechnology”, the food and beverage industry is looking on with close interest, hoping that researchers can get a handle on micro packaging and how to use it safely and effectively.

Anti-microbial “Killer paper”

As packaging experts know, anti-microbial packaging does not just shield food from bacteria, it actively acts against it. An Israeli graduate student called Ronen Gottesman has produced a product that he calls, “Killer paper”.

SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING NEWS

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SPN SPIN DOCTORS

This is an ‘antibacterial silver nanoparticle coated paper’ that fights to keep germs out of food. Gottesman said, “The smaller the size of the particles, the more effective they are against bacteria.” Similarly, Kodak is also generating special anti-microbial packaging that can absorb oxygen and thereby keep food fresher for longer.

A penchant for pouches

MonoSol, a U.S. water soluble product manufacturing company, has created Vivos edible delivery systems. Essentially, these are, food pouches that dissolve in water. The plastic film packaging, which dissolves faster under hot water, accordingly cannot be tasted when eaten.

MonoSol claims its product is ideal for ‘on-thego’ consumers and could be used to package such liquid-friendly items such as drink powders, cereals, soups and sauces. Whilst MonoSol contends they are fielding interest from multinationals, the technology would need to be customised to each individual product. Furthermore, it would still require secondary packaging to guarantee protection against contamination. Truly ground-breaking?

Only time will tell.

Self-heating and self-cooling packaging

While consumers and industry executives have long fantasised about self-cooling and self-heating food and beverage packaging, the reality is that there is no record of any major commercial success so far. However, two recent innovations aim to change all that.

While Joseph Company International launched the Chill Can last year without too much global fanfare, the 19-years-in-the-making, EPA Stratospheric Award-winning “Microcool”

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technology, adsorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere which is then released when the activitation button is pressed.

This causes the liquid inside the can to drop to 30 degrees Fahrenheit within a matter of minutes. Similarly, Crown Holdings have developed a self-heating component called Heat-Genie which can heat a product to 145 degrees Fahrenheit in two minutes and is embedded at the bottom of a product’s packaging. While the success of these particular technologies is yet to be fully proven, the convenience and marketing potential for temperature-changing packaging technology is obvious.

With thanks to Brand Studio, Harvard University and Texas A&M University.

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SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING NEWS

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SPN SPIN DOCTORS

Digital Digest The Digital revolution is upon us and gaining ground throughout the packaging industry. It is the catalyst for greater packaging efficiency, economy and profit.

SPN is dedicated to providing our readers with the latest advances in all areas of its application, including print, measurement and quality control systems. In this issue we cover some of the latest advances in digital printing that improve shelf appeal.

Invercote Metalprint Digital helps coffee company shine In the first in this series we look at how Coffee company Aroma Coffee Roastery has utilised Invercote Metalprint Digital to create standout packaging for its range of lightly toasted granola.

The paperboard, supplied by Antalis, has a metallic sliver PET laminate to the print side, which provides ‘an exceptionally good printing surface that requires no preprint treatment.’

The product leant itself ‘beautifully’ to the Aroma Coffee Roastery’s new packaging. Using HP Mosaic to create 500 unique designs and using Scodix digital embossing to highlight details in the pattern, the customer said ‘the result is an eye-catching range of packs with a luxurious metallic finish, but without the associated with traditional foil blocking.

Invercote Metalprint Digital is produced at Iggesund’s Bruk mill, which recently received top sustainability rating from EcoVadis.

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The platinum award recognises the mill’s sustainability achievements, putting it in the top 1% of all 65,000 companies rated by EcoVadis.

In addition to creating deluxe packaging, Invercote Metalprint Digital has been used in the production of high end, design-led book covers and calendars, thanks to its ability to faithfully reproduce the most sophisticated printing images.

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20-20 VISION

20-20 Vision

No one could have predicted what the year 2020 had in store for manufacturing industries worldwide.

The full impact may not be known for many years to come. However SPN has been looking at what is trending and how some of the world’s foremost research companies are looking at the current situation based upon what we have learnt in 2020 and what the packaging industry can do to combat the negative effects of the global pandemic moving forward.

Packaging Gateway has published an important review of the EU’s ‘Covid 19 Recovery Plan’, excerpts of which are published here. In addition Technavio have looked into the integration of advanced technologies in relation to packaging and how the increase in the deployment of robotics will help to stimulate both growth and profits throughout the packaging industry.

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20-20 VISION

The EU recovery plan

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As part of its recovery plan announced recently by the EU leaders, it has introduced a levy on plastic waste starting January 2021. This will contribute towards the EU’s €750bn Covid-19 recovery package and its overall €1tn 2021 to 2027 budget.

The levy will see non-recycled plastic packaging waste calculated at a call rate of €0.80 per kilogram. The document announcing the plastic waste tax does not specify whether the income generated from the levy is categorised as a new tax.

The document from the General Secretariat of the Council to Delegations said: “As a first step, a new resource will be introduced and apply as of 1 January 2021 composed of a share of revenues from a national contribution calculated on the weight of non-recycled plastic packaging waste with a call rate of EUR 0.80 per kilogram with a mechanism to avoid excessively regressive impact on national contributes.”

Response from the German state secretary for the environment Jochen Flasbarth said: “The agreement contains clever new instruments that will help us to make Europe more environmentally friendly. The new plastic levy is a strong motivation for member states to massively expand their recycling systems. It will depend on a concrete design that it is as un-bureaucratic as possible and leads to less plastic waste.”

“ The agreement contains clever new instruments that will help us to make Europe more environmentally friendly ”

German federal environment minister Svenja Schulze said: “With this agreement, the EU is demonstrating its ability to act. For climate protection, the agreement provides a good basis on which we can build on in further legislation.

There has never been so much climate protection in an EU budget. Europe will emerge from [Covid-19] stronger and more climatefriendly than when it came in.

“Response from experts in the industry included a posting by online environmental activist Planet Shine founder and sustainable business advisor Rachel McClelland told Packaging Gateway: “This is a positive move if it begins to shift the market but, above all, we urgently need to reduce plastic waste and move towards a global circular economy. I hope that the proposed tax drives behaviour change and encourages industries to analyse their supply chains and rethink their business models throughout Europe and in the UK.”

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UK-based recycling expert Vanden Recycling MD David Wilson told Packaging Gateway: “This is an interesting twist on the usual approach of setting a recycling target with punishment for not meeting it. Instead, this is a penalty for the total amount left unrecycled. Questions, of course, remain at this early stage. This tax will be levied on nations and be payable to the EU. What impact that will actually have on recycling behaviours will depend on each nation’s implementation on clawing it back from their individual and business taxpayers.

“These are significant sums too. For example, if the UK was staying in the EU, and assuming it met this year’s recycling target, the cost of the tax on the remaining unrecycled content would be €368M. That’s significantly more than the likely total cost of plastics producer responsibility this year.

SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING NEWS

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20-20 VISION

The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment, particularly in consideration of the Covid 19 pandemic.

Technavio has suggested three forecast scenarios: optimistic, probable, and pessimistic, in relation to the impact of COVID-19. The company says that the market is concentrated, and the degree of concentration will accelerate during the forecast period. ABB Ltd., DENSO Corp., FANUC Corp., KUKA AG, Midea Group Co. Ltd., Mitsubishi Electric Corp., OMRON Corp., Robert Bosch GmbH.

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Some of the major market participants include, Teradyne Inc., and Yaskawa Electric Corp.

Technavio says that to make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fastgrowing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments.

“ This latest study identifies the emergence of collaborative robots as one of the prime reasons driving the food packaging robotics market growth during the next few years. ”

Robotics to the rescue

Business Wire’s London office has announced that Technavio has been monitoring the global food packaging robotics market and how it is poised to grow by USD 813.02 million during 2020-2024, thus progressing at a CAGR of 5% during the forecast period.

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The integration of advanced technologies has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. However, the high cost of deploying robotics might hamper market growth. The 2020-2024 Food Packaging Robotics Market is segmented by Tecnavio as follows: Application, Primary Packaging, Secondary Packaging, Geography, APAC Europe, North America, MEA and South America.

20-20 VISION

12 8 Today, ‘Scope Technavio’ presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. The company’s Food Packaging Robotics Market report covers the following areas: Food Packaging Robotics Market size , Food Packaging Robotics Market trends , Food Packaging Robotics Market industry analysis. This latest study identifies the emergence of collaborative robots as one of the prime reasons driving the food packaging robotics market growth during the next few years.

Technavio also provides a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the food packaging robotics market, including vendors such as ABB Ltd., DENSO Corp., FANUC Corp., KUKA AG, Midea Group Co. Ltd., Mitsubishi Electric Corp., OMRON Corp., Robert Bosch GmbH, Teradyne Inc., and Yaskawa Electric Corp.

Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, the research reports on the food packaging robotics market are designed

to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support.

Key Highlights include, CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2020-2024, detailed information on factors that will assist food packaging robotics market growth during the next five years. In addition, there is estimation of the food packaging robotics market size and its contribution to the parent market.

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior are also presented as well as the continuing growth of the food packaging robotics market. Analysis of the market’s competitive landscape and comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of food packaging robotics, are also recorded here.

For copies of the full Covid-related reports and further information go to: www.packaginggateway.com and www.technavio.com

SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING NEWS

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SMART PACKAGING

DataLase Case Coding Unlocking environmental and operational benefits

Inkless laser printing of variable information directly onto corrugated and SRP boxes Eliminates consumables from production lines Minimal preventative maintenance servicing Laser reliability to reduce unscheduled downtime No waste disposal considerations Late-stage customisation of packaging Enhance operational efficiencies and quality with packaging automation

Eliminates Single Use Plastics Label

Thermal Transfer Ribbon

from the supply chain

150mm x 100mm

150mm x 100mm

16.8

%

1 million shipping labels

Reduction in carbon emissions against alternative solutions*

300Km Backing Waste to Incinerator

CO2e Assessed Product

1:1 ratio labels/ribbon

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DataLase.com

SMART PACKAGING

The increasing role of Smart Packaging Smart packaging is still evolving, but we cannot ignore its importance.

Agile businesses are looking at packaging as a possible holistic solution to transform the way they deliver, sell, and use products.

Innovative smart packaging applications are being embraced by market leaders across industries who are trying to leverage the benefits of smart packaging solutions to enhance their operations and at the same time provide an unparalleled customer experience.

Smart packaging can help avoid such counterfeits and combat excessive losses for companies. By using advanced technologies such as block-chain, brands can create a secure, unalterable record of a product’s origin as well as the path to market.

Inventory & lifecycle management Smart packaging can provide solutions to common supply chain challenges including sourcing raw materials from suppliers, managing the supply chain, and delivering products to the final customer. With smart packaging solutions, companies can gain real-time ability to track and trace the exact product location in the production and distribution cycle.

It also offers benefits including agility, quality and safety, and sustainability.

Protection against internal and external threats

Packaging of a product often acts as a valuable layer of defence against both internal and external threats affecting the product integrity.

In the food retail industry alone close to 30% of food products are known to be discarded due to spoilage.

To know more, visit: www.infinitiresearch.com

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SMART PACKAGING

Profiting from Smart Packaging

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Optimization for transport and efficiency in logistics Perhaps this advantage will become the main driver for the adoption of smart packaging systems. This technology will be able to avoid innumerable unnecessary costs for distributors and traders of products. For example, it is possible to generate a package that provides interactive information on how it should be handled and stored to ensure product safety.

In addition, this technology also makes it possible to track packages more accurately and comprehensively.

Smart packaging thus becomes a perfect complement to the most advanced transport simulation systems to move forward and ensure that products arrive safely at their destination.

Improved security for the user

Smart packaging will be particularly useful in ensuring the safety of perishable products belonging to the food and pharmaceutical industry. This is the case of smart labels that warn of possible problems during the distribution cycle that compromise the product (if the cold chain is broken, for instance), or announcements regarding expiration dates.

Boosting differentiation and marketing

This technology will also bring branding and marketing advantages. The truth is that the trend is towards the search for sustainability in packaging and the industry is already setting the pace to generate more minimalist packaging and generate less waste.

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In this sense, smart packaging systems will allow companies to continue to surprise and make a difference.

Final customer satisfaction

Smart packaging technology is capable of providing more complete and comfortable experiences for the end customer, which results in greater satisfaction and loyalty.

It will go one step further than Amazon’s Frustration Free packaging, which tries to eliminate the complications of opening a package and the so-called ‘wrap rage’.

SMART PACKAGING

Smart packaging systems in the food and pharmaceutical industry The application of smart packaging technology will be especially useful in those industries where products are particularly fragile to environmental factors or are directly related to the health of the final consumer.

This is the case in the food and pharmaceutical industries, where optimizing packaging means ensuring that the user receives a product that is safe for consumption.

Thus, with regard to the application of active packaging or intelligent packaging in food, some examples illustrate its usefulness: • Packages capable of communicating that there has been a break in the cold chain.

• Interactive labels that provide information on the origin of the product or possible incompatibilities (with regard to allergens, for example).

• Proposal of personalized recipes to the consumer once the package has been opened.

• Possibility of reducing food waste through real time information on the state of the product.

• Application of the MAP (Modified Atmosphere Packaging) system, a packaging technology that modifies the atmosphere surrounding the product to ensure its correct conservation.

medicine or to warn the family doctor of this consumption.

In addition, it highlights the importance of applying innovative protective packaging materials, capable of keeping the product in the right condition.

The future of packaging systems is getting closer and closer. If you are interested in knowing how to protect your goods or want to consult about the advances in testing systems for packaging please contact us. At Safe Load, we are international suppliers of packaging testing solutions for the optimization and validation of packaging.

For more information go to www.safeload.com

Interactivity in Smart Packaging

The pharmaceutical industry is a sector that could also benefit from interactivity in smart packaging. Some ideas for this sector include a technology that is able to warn the consumer about when their next intake is due, whether they are misusing the

SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING NEWS

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BIO-COMPOSTABLE

Bio-Compostable?

Recently the UK-based company, ‘Eco-to-Go’ published a thoughtprovoking and educational article - one that SPN believes deserves a wider audience. The ongoing issue of Biodegradable vs Compostable Packaging is a subject fraught with grey areas and confusion.

So here it is in black and white. Philip Yorke reports.

With the pressure continuing to build for biodegradable packaging, greater awareness is needed in order to optimise and understand the role of each in today’s quest for greater sustainability. Made from organic materials, biodegradable and compostable packaging can be broken down by microorganisms such as bacteria or fungi.

Biodegradable items designed to breakdown in landfills are loosely defined as any material that takes over 180 days to disintegrate.

Compostable materials break down in an average of less than three months under specific composting conditions which include nitrogen, carbon, high temperature and moisture.

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BIO-COMPOSTABLE

“ products labelled compostable or biodegradable present unchartered territory “ Today Eco-to-Go is the trail blazer when it comes to sustainability and the optimisation of biodegradable packaging for the fastfood market. The company specialises in the manufacture of sustainable packaging for the growing take-way sector. Here are the main extracts from its enlightening market overview.

“Purchasing a takeaway coffee is not the straightforward transaction it used to be, with various eco-friendly cups presenting different options for waste disposal. While most customers are familiar with the standard recycling procedures, products labelled compostable or biodegradable present unchartered territory.

This is due to a lack of public knowledge and infrastructure to support these cutting-edge products, as well as a number of variables that add a layer of complexity to the task.

Unfortunately, most packaging does not include step-by-step disposal instructions, leaving consumers to educate themselves on the finer points of the processes.

Of course, ‘Reducing’ is the holy grail of greenliving, but a zero-waste lifestyle and a diet of nude-foods are lofty goals, with most consumers opting to avoid single-use plastics as a more manageable starting point. In recent years this has led to radical changes within the food industry, most notably with the emergence of biodegradable and compostable packaging.

However, these two terms are relatively new to the market – resulting in frequent misinterpretation and a number of urban myths.

The fact that ‘biodegradable’ can technically be used to describe compostable options as well, has only compounded the confusion. The truth is the term ‘biodegradable’ has been used for many years to describe the organic process of disintegration. Although both packaging categories are biodegradable, the terms are now used to differentiate between the timeframe of decomposition.

“ eco-friendly waste disposal has become somewhat of a science “

Today, with an infinite array of biodegradable and compostable packaging on the market, eco-friendly waste disposal has become somewhat of a science. The green-living-trend has taken the world by storm, impacting every industry from cleaning products to highperformance sports cars. Gone are the days when customers purchased products without concern for the environment or packaging, and in recent years entire supply chains have been overhauled to reflect a greener brand.

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BIO-COMPOSTABLE

Compostable confusion

If it wasn’t for overflowing landfills and dwindling marine-life, the abstract terminology wouldn’t really be an issue. However, when biodegradable or compostable ‘plastic’ bags find their way into the ocean, this causes sea-life to suffocate in the same way as with their plastic counterparts. In light of this, it is questionable as to whether a disintegration-period over six months should be commercially categorised as ‘biodegradable’, let alone eco-friendly, thus leading to yet further confusion.

In essence, the importance of using correct conditions for both compostable and biodegradable packaging, suitable to their unique compositions cannot be overstated.

There are various methods used to assist in the biodegradable and compostable disposal processes, none of which, contrary to popular belief, involve traditional recycling methods.

In fact, when organic packaging materials are included in the recycling process, entire batches of waste can be contaminated resulting in avoidable volumes being sent to the nearest landfill.

‘Green washing’

A number of companies have deliberately taken advantage of the unregulated eco-friendly terms, with some promoting ‘eco-friendly’ packaging that will ultimately take a century to fully biodegrade. Additionally, beyond the loosely defined timeframe of ‘biodegradable’, While a number of consumers are under the we enter into the shady world of impression that these products magically ‘Green-washing’. Green-washing is when disappear amidst the other waste, unfortunately, an organisation labels a product in a way this is not the case. Biodegradable and that sounds eco-friendly when in reality the compostable packaging does not decompose packaging is composed of unnatural substances. in compacted conditions that lack oxygen.

Instead, when these products find their way into Terms such as ‘degradable’ or ‘oxo-degradable’ a landfill they end up producing methane, the are the most commonly used with the intention harmful greenhouse gas, which causes more of misleading pro-green customers. Degradable harm than good. packaging can only be broken down with the addition of chemicals, and leave toxic traces behind that last for all eternity. These products “ ‘degradable’ or ‘oxo-degradable’ are even more harmful than conventional are the most commonly used with plastic products, causing an imbalance in the the intention of misleading ecosystem and damaging the environment permanently. pro-green customers “

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BIO-COMPOSTABLE

SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING NEWS

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BIO-COMPOSTABLE

“ With plastics taking an estimated four hundred years to disintegrate and permanently leaving behind traces of toxic residues, this undeniably functional material has severe environmental consequences “

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BIO-COMPOSTABLE

Best choice

Correctly disposed-of compostable and biodegradable packaging is the best choice for prolonging the existence of planet earth, providing an innovative and convenient solution to a modern throwaway culture. These products are far more sustainable than recycling, using fewer resources and offering an alternative to packaging that cannot be recycled.

Recycling is only a sustainable long term option for products made of aluminium and glass, as paper and plastic can only be recycled a finite number of times. More often than not after a certain number of cycles, this results in recycled paper and plastic ultimately ending up in the landfills. Inventions such as biodegradable landfill packaging offer a convenient solution to the waste-disposal, without a major change in lifestyle.

Ground-breaking discovery

The Bottom Line

Both biodegradable and compostable packaging options are able to decompose naturally and offer a potential solution to single-use plastics.

However, these innovative products require specific conditions in order to efficiently break down. Unfortunately, the current lack of industrial compostable and biodegradable disposal-facilities means that certain ecofriendly products are limited in terms of correct disposal.

As the majority of biodegradable products do not state how long they will take to decompose, it is generally safer and easier to go for convenient compostable packaging such as cardboard or paper-like bamboo�.

For further details and information relating to Biodegradability and Compostability go to: www.ecotogofoodpacks.co.uk

With plastics taking an estimated four hundred years to disintegrate and permanently leaving behind traces of toxic residues, this undeniably functional material has severe environmental consequences. Single-use plastics, most commonly found in packaging, have greatly contributed to the plastic islands found in the ocean.

Biodegradable packaging has presented a solution, with plastic-like products made from biopolymers, the molecules found in plant-based sources capable of natural decomposition. This ground-breaking discovery serves to preserve shelf-life of products, such as food, due to the water-resistant and breathable compositions. Mimicking the strength and flexibility of plastic, biodegradable packaging is an excellent choice for products that need to be stored over long periods of time.

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CORRUGATED PACKAGING

Corrugated Packaging ahead of the curve One of the oldest and most versatile forms of packaging, corrugated board, continues to lead the field in many applications.

This is particularly true when it comes to sustainability.

Philip Yorke looks at some of the latest developments contributed by industry trend-setters and analysts, such as Mondi, Smithers and Smurfit Kappa, that are keeping corrugated packaging ahead of the curve.

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CORRUGATED PACKAGING

Knocking down supply chain hurdles

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In a recently posted press release Mondi commented, “Have you ever dreamt of the ideal scenario for meeting all the specific requirements of the sophisticated automotive supply chain with just one packaging system?

Logistic experts at car producers or tier suppliers are facing a complex distribution chain often across the globe. Trade and tax regulations as well as further distribution with inconsistent piece orders at distribution centres and shipping costs, are only a few aspects that corrugated solutions can help you with, in order to overcome everyday hurdles.

A high construction flexibility and endless design possibilities also allow us to develop transport and distribution packaging according to your engineering or distribution specific needs. From metal body parts, engines, windshields or air bags, to light conductors and car headliners, we ensure the safe and secure arrival of your goods and the most efficient transport scenario, either as a complete knock down system or in single packs.

Furthermore, our logistic solutions for the automotive industry allow for improved utilisation of shipping space, which in turn are geared to support the second step distribution and are low weight one-way shipping alternatives. They are geared to optimally protect each packed piece no matter how heavy or large it is”.

“ corrugated board is proving

increasingly popular in packaging as sustainability becomes a more important issue “

Sustainability – the most important issue

When it comes to analytics, Smithers has reported that corrugated board is proving increasingly popular in packaging as sustainability becomes a more important issue across the entire value chain. Corrugated board is easy to recycle and the pulp and paper industry is already adept at converting it into new generations of containerboard.

These qualities mean there has been a rise in popularity of corrugated protective formats over polymer based alternatives, such as expanded polystyrene (EPS) foams.

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While light-weighting of board has long been affecting the corrugated industry, rightweighting, and right-sizing are playing an increasingly important role in this market. This is not only in response to consumer demand for efficient packaging, but also in response to the logistics chain’s adoption of dimensional weight (DIM) pricing.

In some instances substituting to a heavier board grade can have a beneficial impact overall as it allows for the elimination of additional protective elements.

The desire to minimise the volume of air being shipped within all delivery channels means that in some instances there have been significant cost increases. For example a 32-pack of toilet rolls costs an estimated 37% more to ship using charges based on dimensions, rather than simple weight.

Light-weighting has been particularly successful in Western Europe, where box weights are now typically about 80% of US weights.

The importance of light-weighting will continue to be felt over the coming years as retailers look to save costs as well as appealing to end users.

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CORRUGATED PACKAGING

Retail changes

In addition, Smithers confirmed that retail-ready packaging has established itself as a major cost saver for retailers, especially in Western Europe.

This ongoing profit pressure is providing an impetus to use more retail ready formats as a labour-saving solution, as it is estimated that these secondary packaging formats can reduce shelf restocking and handling costs by up to 50%. It is also particularly popular with sales into convenience stores or discount retailers such as Aldi and Walmart. For brands it gives the added bonus of affording them greater control over the presentation of their goods within the retail space.

The expansion of e-commerce trade into the grocery sector is likely to have a slight impact on retail-ready packaging use as online sales do not require these pack types.

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Corrugated cases will still be used to ship goods to an online retailer’s warehouse or ‘fulfilment centre’ but these do not need to be retail-ready formats. The emergence of subscription box and meal kit services offer direct-to-consumer delivery of specialist food, by using a weekly or monthly subscription. These are providing new opportunities for corrugated board suppliers with delivery-friendly formats containing goods within a die-cut interior.

Digital printing advances

With reference to advances in digital printing, Smithers said that as the digital print market matures, the corrugated sector, while still in its infancy, has developed a growing appetite for adoption of the process, and systems are now being developed to address the demands of the high-volume liner and post-print markets.

CORRUGATED PACKAGING

The flexibility of run-lengths, savings in set-up costs, and the ability to personalise packaging by utilising the latest technologies, all combine to create a ‘perfect storm’ of growth opportunities for converters and printers.

Brand owners are recognising the opportunities to grow dwindling brand loyalty through greater engagement with their customer base provided by these technological developments, and industry leaders see packaging as an important component in the creation of a memorable shopping experience that users will want to share via social media. This in turn can drive marketing success, encourage repeat business and attract new customers.

“We use organic by-products as biofuel, and reuse fibres separated by water-treatment in our paper-making process. Deliveries of recovered paper also contain other materials such as metal, plastic, textiles, wood and sand, that we cannot use in our processes.

Wherever possible, we collaborate with local organisations to find alternative uses for these, creating new business opportunities locally. We also close the loop by partnering with other sectors. For example, during the virgin paper-production process we extract turpentine and tall oil, which are raw materials for the chemical, medical and pharmaceutical industries.

A holistic, circular approach

In our product development we work towards synergies within the whole value chain. For example, using single-material solutions we create efficiencies in our customers’ packaging lines, and in addition improve the recyclability of the packaging after use”.

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Smurfit Kappa is one of the world’s oldest and most experienced corrugated packaging companies and as such is fully committed to sustainability. The company replaces the natural resources it needs, uses virgin resources in the best possible way, and reuses whatever it can. This circular approach increases resource productivity, adding to its overall competitiveness. The company’s closed loop model starts with 100% renewable, sustainable primary raw materials, and its well-established and integrated approach to producer responsibility and paper recycling means that 75% of its raw material is recycled fibre – more than any other packaging material.

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2020 PACKAGING INNOVATIONS

5 top

sustainable packaging innovations for 2020 Achieving sustainable packaging is not a passing fad: demand from increasingly aware consumers has led companies to rethink all their processes to generate sustainable products.

Thus, eco-friendly packaging is at the heart of this paradigm shift.

Transformations have emerged at many levels, from the materials chosen to the facilities for reusing packaging.

Creativity in this field is continuously providing new solutions to the problem of packaging waste. Thus, companies must know how to adapt to this change, while ensuring the integrity of the goods transported and optimizing costs.

Trends in sustainable packaging Reuse

One of the main trends in sustainable packaging is to eliminate single-use packaging and give the final consumer the possibility to use the packaging more than once.

The circular economy, promoted by many bodies including the European Union, comes into play here, in which it is a question of reusing materials that would generally be discarded as waste. This paradigm requires a change in mentality with respect to what has happened up to now with packaging, which was immediately discarded by the end consumers.

In addition, it is necessary to study the final design of reusable eco-packaging, so that its manufacture does not pose major ecological problems. Some examples of this case include reusable cleaning product packaging, which is refilled multiple times through capsules.

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2020 PACKAGING INNOVATIONS

Reducing The trend towards minimalist packaging also stands out among the possibilities for sustainable packaging. This consists in the use of smaller quantities of materials for packaging, which in turn achieves a reduction in CO2 emissions, among other advantages.

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Two examples: IKEA has joined this trend by generating 100% biodegradable packaging made from mushrooms; or the generation of packaging from recycled materials as NIKE has done. In the latter case, it also becomes part of the circular economy, as they have managed to make use of materials that would otherwise be discarded.

However, in view of this trend, it is worth considering ways of optimising tertiary packaging.

In other words, it is necessary to eliminate the possibility of under-packaging, generating packaging that is sufficiently resistant to protect the transported product. For this purpose, testing equipment is used, capable of simulating scenarios that will take place during transport and storage, testing the product + packaging systems.

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The appearance of the Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging program works in the same direction: the new directives of the e-commerce giant urge distributors to reduce packaging waste as much as possible, achieving lower economic and ecological costs. Testing and simulation systems are thus also appearing as a trend, including the Amazon Lab required to comply with the ISTA 6 Amazon. com testing protocols.

Recycle

Surprise

On the one hand, alternatives to plastic packaging are sought, whose decomposition cycle presents serious ecological damage and whose use also means an increasingly poorer image for the end consumer. Compostable and biodegradable materials appear as material options for eco-friendly packaging.

Examples include the generation of edible packaging, particularly for food products, or plantable packaging. These ideas, even in a minority, manage to give a new life or make the packaging disappear completely.

Trends in sustainable packaging also point to a change in the materials used, one of the major demands of increasingly aware consumers. Thus, both materials that can be more easily recycled and materials that have already been recycled are being applied.

The generation of sustainable packaging is giving rise to the emergence of surprising and innovative ideas. While in the past the aim was to differentiate the company from its competitors by means of large and striking packaging, today companies are working to generate eco-friendly packaging that will delight and create customer loyalty.

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2020 PACKAGING INNOVATIONS

The end customer

The trend that is marking all these changes is the transformation in the demand for eco-friendly products and packaging. Faced with increasingly aware and knowledgeable consumers, companies are responding, guided also by initiatives such as the Frustration-Free Packaging program mentioned above.

All of this involves not only the need to carry out tests and generate changes in the materials used, but also to apply correct information campaigns that highlight the company’s commitment to the environment.

In other words, if a company has achieved eco-friendly packaging, it is essential to let the purchaser know that biodegradable, recyclable or reusable packaging is being used.

The role of simulation machines

In this new paradigm of sustainable packaging, transport simulation and material testing equipment take the lead.

Simulation systems come into play on many levels when designing eco-friendly packaging: both in testing new sustainable materials to determine their suitability and in generating packaging that reduces the amount of materials to a minimum.

In short, it is a simulation that allows us to know in depth and in a laboratory environment how the packaging will behave during the distribution process. In this way, it is possible to anticipate the potential risks that will affect the goods and design packaging that will protect them.

In Safe Load Testing Technologies we have already helped many companies to test their packaging + product systems according to international standards, new legislation and the generation of eco-friendly packaging. This is the case of Duo Plast, which with our help created its own testing laboratory completely adapted to

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2020 PACKAGING INNOVATIONS

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MIX INGREDIENTS

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New Eco&Food Packaging for easy cooking and eating directly dishes by the mix of several ingredients. K-Eat made in HT BOARD®, a revolutionary material 100% paper (Paper based monomaterial in pure cellulose), Printable and customizable with food safe inks, Recyclable into paper collection chain, Biodegradable and compostable.

A revolutionary material, as nature intended

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SECURITY AND PRESERVATION

Security and preservation

Top protection performer

Toppan is a global leader provider in the security, packaging materials, and electronics sectors.

The Japanese company has announced a new food packaging system called Green Flat, which addresses the need to reduce plastic packaging and can be used as an alternative to conventional skin packs.

Skin packs are becoming widely used in Europe, North America, and Asia because their complete sealing helps to maintain the freshness of food and extend shelf lives due to the reduction of drip from food during storage.

Green Flat replaces the polystyrene or plastic tray often used in skin packs with a paper-based material incorporating Toppan’s proprietary GL FILM. This provides freshness retention and lowers environmental impact by reducing the use of plastic without sacrificing functionality. The tray can be made using paper from certified forests and, because it is flat, can also be used as a chopping board for preparing food.

In combination with the barrier film applied over the product, lamination of the tray with GL FILM, (Toppan’s original transparent barrier film), means that food is protected from oxygen, moisture, and other external impacts, Thus further enhancing content preservation.

Green Flat is also available in a non-barrier type ideal for such items as cosmetics and toiletries.

Green Flat also offers advantages in terms of attractive package design and eye-catching displays in stores.

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SECURITY AND PRESERVATION

High-quality printing is possible on both surfaces of the tray and the prevention of drip made possible by the tight seal means that even packages for fresh foods can be stood up or suspended from hooks for display. QR code can also be printed onto the tray to enhance customer engagement by providing information or running online or online/offline hybrid promotions.

The Green Flat system offered by Toppan will consist of the Green Flat tray, a skin pack filling system, skin pack film, and a consulting service for system implementation.

Full-scale sales are scheduled to begin in December. Comprehensive consulting services will be offered to enable customers to create appealing designs, implement effective promotions, and make the most of shop space.

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“Toppan strives to meet this demand by leveraging extensive experience in paperbased packaging and developing a range of products incorporating its advanced GL Barrier technology”.

“As a new addition to our line-up, Green Flat provides outstanding freshness preservation, better environmental performance, and exciting possibilities for package designs and displays that create an impact in stores.”

For more information, visit https://www.toppan.com/en/ or follow Toppan on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/toppanprinting/

A Toppan spokesperson told SPN, “Today there is strong demand for packaging that maintains freshness but also reduces environmental impact by addressing such issues as marine plastic pollution and food waste,” said Shingo Wada, general manager of business strategy in Toppan’s western Japan division.

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SECURITY AND PRESERVATION

Security and preservation

Countering the counterfeiters

SPN is committed to bringing you access to the very latest reports on important topical issues such as the world’s current anti-counterfeiting challenges and solutions.

Following research into the latest developments in this vital growth sector, we wanted to bring you the highlights of a ground-breaking report from Research & Marketing.com The acclaimed report covers in-depth, the global market situation, its latest challenges and solutions

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SECURITY AND PRESERVATION

This new report analyses the product demands of the anti-counterfeit packaging market by technology print that includes inks, dyes & markers, holograms, bar & QR codes, tags & labels that include RFID, NFC, biological/DNA, watermarks, and taggants. Moreover, the market is segmented on the basis of features such as tamper evidence, forensic techniques, track & trace, overt and covert. The anti-counterfeit packaging market report also analyses the major geographic regions as well as in these regions

Anti-Counterfeit Packaging Market Growth Drivers:

• Rising Health Risks Due to Low-Quality Products in the F&B Industry • The Pharmaceutical Sector Supporting the Anti-counterfeit Packaging Market • The Shady Business of Counterfeit Beauty Products

Anti-Counterfeit Packaging Market Challenges

Counterfeiting products and packaging are predominantly rampant in developing economies. While it is creating growth prospects for the vendors in the anti-counterfeit packaging market, some brands are yet to inculcate the practice. However, the future foresees more awareness about the counterfeit products, and the global market will observe more brands giving importance to brand protection, thereby aiding to anti-counterfeit packaging market revenue.

It also provides information on unit shipments.

These provide the key market participants with the necessary business intelligence and help them understand the future of the anticounterfeit packaging market. The assessment includes forecasts, an overview of the competitive structure, the market shares of the competitors, as well as market trends, market demands, market drivers, market challenges, and product analysis.

The market drivers and restraints have been assessed to fathom their impact over the forecast period. This report further identifies the key opportunities for growth while also detailing the key challenges and possible threats. The key areas of focus include the specific applications of anti-counterfeit packaging in food & beverages, medical device & pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, industrial and automotive. In addition it examines the following sectors: clothing & accessories, sports & beauty products, banks, insurance and financial institutions, government & educational institutions, and cosmetics & personal care.

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For further details of this broadly-based and searching report visit: www.researchandmarkets.com or contact: Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com

Anti-counterfeit Packaging Research Scope

The base year of the study is 2020, with forecasts up to 2025. The study presents a thorough analysis of the competitive landscape, taking into account the market shares of the leading companies.

Liquid crystals that can create colour

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OPTIMISING PRODUCTION DATA

Optimising Production Data “In terms of speed, quality and consistency, our research at Esko shows that at the very start of a project, during the job onboarding process, is where the most time and energy is wasted,” said Jan De Roeck, Marketing Director, Industry Relations & Strategy at Esko, a global supplier of integrated hardware and software solutions for leading print and packaging professionals.

“Workflow automation in this area, and especially with the integration of automated data exchange between Management Information Systems, Enterprise Resource Planning systems and the prepress workflow, are the areas with the biggest potential for improvement.

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Jan De Roeck

OPTIMISING PRODUCTION DATA

“From accepting an order, all the way through to shipping finished products to the customer, when looking at the entire workflow, our Value Stream Mapping projects at many converters show us that most automation opportunities lie upstream, not downstream in the production process where many companies focus.”

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Automation Engine from Esko is a workflow solution that not only automates print production tasks, but also has a toolkit to enable seamless integration with existing business infrastructures. While this significantly speeds up the workflow process, it also reduces error rates and the need for operator intervention.

“Efficiency is the biggest benefit of a standardized workflow; standardization being a necessary element of any successful automation,” said Jan. “Nowadays, influenced by evolving consumer trends and brand and retailing competitive intensity, the number of product variations required has expanded significantly escalating print production complexity and reducing run lengths.

have been further highlighted by the current global crisis, and to attract the associated benefits of reaching higher stages of digital maturity.

The model supports packaging and print suppliers (www.esko.com/en/lp/digitaltransformation/packaging-maturity-model) to identify the current stage of digital maturity their business inhabits, and more importantly guides and inspires them to move to higher stages.

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As the industry transitions into whatever economic environment our ‘new normal’ will reveal itself to be, making strategically astute, step wise decisions on the journey towards digital maturity is going to be vital for every business. Digital transformation leads to excellence in business performance by improving operational processes, lowering costs and delivering client loyalty – all of which are more vital than ever right now.

“Digital printing has developed to support this trend, enabling the production of short run unique SKUs, and when coupled with a ‘just in time’ manufacturing mentality, the scope of the challenge becomes clear. Today’s printer must come up with the most efficient way to reproduce many designs, but often in low quantities, while maintaining overall efficiency.”

Jan said digitization, automation and improved connectivity all enable converters to do more with less. “That’s why we developed the Esko Digital Maturity Model for Packaging Suppliers,” he said. “It provides inspiration and vision and most importantly a formal strategy - for businesses to solve some of their issues, which

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