A significant portion of products are wasted in the food production chain for various reasons. In addition to capital destruction and the morally reprehensible destruction of food, this results in significant avoidable CO2 emissions. Packaging materials are also responsible for a significant share of waste flows, including the well-known 'plastic soup' in the oceans. Finally, various governmental regulations on food production are being introduced to achieve greater transparency of the origin of food products and how they are processed in the chain.
With these challenges in mind, the network organization AIPIA (Active & Intelligent Packaging Industry Association, www.aipia.info) has started a project to tackle the above-mentioned problems using modern electronic techniques. Within the project, new techniques are developed, or existing techniques are linked together, for the automated recording of information about food products in the food chain. This may include information about the origin of the raw materials, the location where products are located, the condition in which they have been stored (e.g. sufficiently cooled), the degree of degradation of the food (spoilage) and the composition of the packaging material (recycling). The project focuses on developing new sensors and sensor techniques or improving existing sensors, both for individual food packaging (labels) and larger packaging units (such as containers), wireless interconnection technologies and an overarching structure of data collection and data processing that is in principle available to every player in the food production chain, including the consumer and re-use and recycling companies.
The project currently includes approximately 30 players active in various fields of operation and technologies. AIPIA is submitting an application for support towards the costs of the project within the EU CHIPS JU program, recently launched by the European Commission.
John Eisses of Berenschot will explain more on minimising waste in food supply using smart packaging technology during the FINAT European Label Forum 2024 in Athens. Make sure to be part of this must-attend annual business event!
