Page 17 - Packaging New magazine Jan-Feb 2023

that food waste costs around US$218 billion per year according to Waste360. San Francisco start-up Therma is helping businesses to reduce food waste by using sensor technology to moni- tor temperature and humidity in real time. The system collates information, uploading to the cloud, and interpret- ing the information to produce reports and, if out of normal ranges, produces alerts for staff to follow up. It is estimated that 85 per cent of product loss in res- taurants is due to sub-optimal storage conditions. Its successes so far have been at a full-service restaurant where it has saved US$495 per month in food spoil- age and another US$228 per month at a quick service restaurant. The system uses LoRaWan (long-range, low-power radio signal). Alerts prevent food spoil- age by sending emails, texts and phone calls when out of specified parameters or identifying potential equipment issues. The lack of freshness of shrimp can have health implications for
Above: 1Less has launched a range of food service packaging incorporating RFID technology
consumers. Engineering students from Vishnu Institute of Technology in India recently took part in a Hackathon to create a smart device that identifies spoilt shrimp. The solution sees the development of an advanced food packaging technol- ogy that can detect the freshness of shrimp. Consumers do not need to touch the shrimp to check for freshness. The technology sees the attachment of two different sensors to detect ammonia content as well as the temperature inside the pack. A prototype will be ready for mar- ket introduction within the next 12 months according to the research team. They hope to launch it for less than Rs250 per unit (£2.83). Work is also ongoing to make the item lighter.
DIGITISATION
Digitisation of packaging refers to the use of digital technologies in the design, pro- duction, and management of packaging materials. This includes digital printing, RFID (radio-frequency identification) and NFC (near field communication) tags, and other technologies to improve the efficiency, traceability, and sustain- ability of packaging.
German start-up 1Less has launched a range of food service packaging incor- porating RFID technology. Each item contains an RFID tag, which means the company can harvest data, and items can be tracked through the entire col- lection, cleaning and reuse process. According to 1Less, every item can be used 800-1000 times and then fully recycled at the end of its life, with the tag removed and reused again. The point of difference of the 1Less System is the offer of a deposit-free, intelligent and automated smart re-use system for closed environments, making it very straightforward and user-friendly. For every kilogram of 1Less dishware items, it is possible to save 25 kilograms of sin- gle-use plastic packaging, resulting in almost 50 times less CO2 emissions. The company says that the system could create an entirely new way to deal with containers and cutlery at sporting events or music festivals. ■
ThePackHub is a packaging innova- tion consultancy specialising in the delivery of technical and innovative packaging solutions for brand own- ers, retailers and packaging suppliers. Find out more at thepackhub.com
There is strong demand for packaging materials and designs that are more sustainable, both in terms of their overall environmental impact and their ability to be reduced, recycled or reused.
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PACKAGING TRENDS 2023