Finnish renewable materials manufacturer Stora Enso has launched a new sustainable radio frequency identification (RFID) tag technology for intelligent packaging.
Image: Stora Enso has introduced sustainable RFID tag technology ECO for intelligent packaging. Photo: courtesy of Stora Enso.
Stora Enso provides renewable solutions in packaging, biomaterials, wooden constructions and paper globally.
The intelligent packaging technology, called ECO, is designed for functionalities in supply chain, retail and e-commerce applications.
The RFID is a wireless technology used to transfer information that is stored electronically on tags attached to a package.
Stora Enso’s Eco technology enables the packaged product to be automatically tracked, traced and tamper-proofed across the supply chain.
The technology, which offers a plastic free and recyclable solution for packaging authentication, allows to manufacture the RFID tags on a 100% fibre-based paper label, unlike traditional plastic tags.
The move is expected to lead to a reduced carbon footprint for B2B and B2C companies that focus on sustainability.
Stora Enso Intelligent Packaging head Martin Ros said: “The launch of ECO creates a truly sustainable option for our customers and consumers, accelerating the use of smart technology in Stora Enso’s renewable solutions.”
Ros added: “Our ECO technology is unique in the sense that it offers a recyclable and plastic layer free option for RFID end-users, thus enabling a digital and sustainable packaging infrastructure.”
The ECO technology is capable of identifying various items within fraction of a second speed and without line-of-sight interaction. The technology also facilitates the communication between the brand-owner and the customer by use of an near field communication enabled smartphone. The solution uses a cloud based track-and-trace solution that runs on the Microsoft Azure platform and offers complete reader systems.
Stora Enso said the integration of a paper label and RFID tag is not only cost effective, but also more scalable for manufacture without compromise in performance and reliablity.
The company said the RFID tag in the ECO can be recycled in an environmentally friendly process with paper and board materials. Compared with graphite and silver printed antennas, ECO offers high conductivity at lower costs. This technology is available for use in various projects across multiple sectors.