A Smarter Future For Labels

The potential of such labels has enormous implications for the whole food chain. In the case of soft fruits, such as raspberries or blackberries, these will start to go watery in clamshell packs after one or two days. They are still edible but look less appetizing. Placing a moisture absorbing label inside the pack before closure can stop the fruit from deteriorating. Similar issues arise with some drugs in tablet form. They will begin to deteriorate in the bottle if they are exposed to oxygen or moisture—which starts occurring each time the bottle is opened. Oxygen and moisture absorbing tags inside the bottle can therefore extend the product usage life.

Perhaps the biggest potential for the food and medical sectors are new developments in labels that can detect—or kill—most bacteria and viruses. Such labels, of which the first are already now entering the market, will be able to detect e-coli contamination in food products and MRSA, c-dificile bugs and even bird flu and mad cow disease.

A whole new world is developing for label converters. Forget just competing on price to produce multicolor labels. Think about the opportunities to produce added-value labels that eliminate or minimize diseases; labels that can preserve and protect foodstuffs; labels that protect against bacteria and microbes; labels that provide proof of process control or reduce counterfeiting.

The future of labels and packaging is definitely getting smaller. Indeed over the next five years ‘nano’ technology, will offer solutions previously undreamed of by brand owners and retail groups - solutions that will revolutionize the way we pack, identify, brand, enhance, store and sell all kinds of products.

But like many other types of label production, there is a downside to providing these new types of smart/intelligent label solutions. Firstly, converters need clever and creative personnel that come up with the ideas and applications. Secondly, they need clever converting materials, technology and presses to be able to make the products and, thirdly, they need skilled sales and marketing staff to present the benefits to potential customers.