Smart packaging solutions are redefining how brands approach packaging. With technological advancements and evolving consumer expectations, packaging must do more than contain and protect products. It must preserve product quality, enhance customer experience, and improve sustainability. Smart packaging solutions equip paperboard folding cartons with innovative features that offer both optimal product protection and engage consumers in ways traditional packaging simply can’t. Leveraging smart packaging technology allows brands to stay ahead of market trends and provide their customers with greater overall value.
What Is Smart Packaging?
Smart packaging integrates advanced technologies and materials into traditional packaging to improve functionality, performance, and user experience. These enhancements could be anything from real-time product monitoring to interactive engagement to added preservation. There are two types of smart packaging: active packaging focuses on extending shelf life and product quality while intelligent packaging adds communication features for better consumer interaction.
Active Smart Packaging Solutions for Paperboard Folding Cartons
Active packaging interacts directly with the product or packaging materials to combat environmental factors that otherwise could decrease shelf life and product quality. Examples include:
Moisture-Resistant Coatings
Moisture can cause significant damage to products, especially in the food and beverage space. Paperboard packaging equipped with moisture-resistant coatings helps block out humidity to ensure products inside remain in optimal condition, which also reduces food waste.
Antimicrobial Coatings
Contaminants like microorganisms are also a safety concern. Antimicrobial coatings inhibit harmful bacteria, mold, and fungi growth, actively preserving safety and quality for food, pharmaceuticals, and personal care items.
Oxygen-Absorbing Inserts
Oxygen exposure can cause spoilage, discoloration, and degradation in products. Placing oxygen-absorbing inserts in paperboard cartons helps limit oxygen levels to better prevent the negative effects of exposure without altering packaging materials.
Intelligent Smart Packaging Solutions for Paperboard Folding Cartons
Intelligent packaging communicates product details, nutritional facts, and other real-time information concerning a product’s condition, usage, or storage. Common options include sensors, digital tags, and other elements that allow shoppers to track the product’s journey or access additional content relevant to the brand or product. Some specific examples include:
QR Codes and NFC Tags
Scanning a QR code or tapping on an NFC tag allows customers to access information, instructions, or promotions related to the product. These elements are easily integrated into the design of paperboard folding cartons, transforming packaging into a direct brand communication channel.
Temperature Sensors
Temperature-sensitive products like food and pharmaceuticals need to be transported and stored under specific conditions. Sensors integrated into paperboard packaging can show if a product is outside of favorable temperatures. These sensors provide visual indicators, like color changes, to alert consumers and retailers when a product’s quality has been compromised.
Augmented Reality
Printed AR markers on paperboard packaging allow consumers to experience digital content when scanned with a smartphone. This is an immersive way for brands to tell their story, showcase product features, or provide interactive experiences like virtual try-ons or visual usage instructions.
Key Benefits of Smart Packaging for Paperboard Cartons
While smart packaging technologies can be used with all kinds of packaging materials, combining them with paperboard materials positions brands as forward-thinkers investing in greater customer experience and sustainability. Paperboard is an eco-friendly material safe to use in a wide range of industries, including food and food service, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and more.