Color-changing Packaging: A Way to Monitor In Real Time!

One new type of innovative packaging is color-changing packaging. No, it isn’t just to give a customized experience, but also gives people an idea of how safe their item is to consume, or if there is damage to it from UV exposure.   Thermochromic and photochromic materials can change colors. When customers look at it, they get a clear idea of the current state of their packaging. It’s good to help with determining the best course of action for the packaging, and if there is evidence of tampering.

This New technology 

These photochromatic packaging options are a form of smart packaging. Smart packaging is used to help craft seniors that will tell customers more information about the package than ever before. whether it’s about freshness, or how long it’s been out in the sun, we are seeing more of this type of smart packaging than ever before.

Color-changing packaging is good for telling customers about the current temperature of something. ideal for perishables, the indication of temperature tells a lot about the product.

The other thing this packaging does is mention UV exposure. UV rays can disintegrate packaging, and if a package has been too subjected to such, the product is affected.

Finally, there’s tampering.   If you have a color-changing packaging that shows something’s been tampered with, customers can have a better peace of mind when it comes to the overall state of their packaging.

Who Benefits 

These days, a lot of companies benefit from this kind of product.

Pharmaceuticals are one of the most common. With medications having a quick shelf life, you want to make sure that the packaging is properly in place to help with the problems.   By making the packaging color-changing, you can tell customers if their product is fresh, or if it’s been tampered with.

The second thing is perishable. Perishable items also need sensors, because if they’re consumed after the fact, it can cause sickness or worse.    With color-changing packaging, you get an idea of just how fresh the item is before you have it.

Then there are high-value items that are sensitive to UV rays. Again, great for items such as this, as it will tell you if it’s been exposed to anything harmful, or if someone’s messed with it, giving customers a better peace of mind for their high-ticket items. 

Advantages Logically 

This is a logistical breakthrough, because when you have this enhanced control, it reduces the overall product spoilage of the times.   Giving this packaging this type of initiative is great, because it can help you with better improving the packaging and quality control.

Higher quality control means better customer repute. It also reduces the product spoilage, providing better, fresher items that will really enhance the overall customer ideas and experience.

Future Innovations 

There are more innovations of this packaging than ever before. One main focus is the expansion of this type of packaging. 

Some are using AR applications for their items.  AR is great, because it can give customers an idea of what it will look like, and help to decipher the colors.

The other innovation is IoT enabled smart packaging. Great for those packaging experiences that connect to smartphones, it can give customers a solid idea of just what they’re getting from their packaging, improving the customer experience and enhancing the way packaging is handled overall. 

So yes, colors are great. Not necessarily in a custom packaging way, but to give one a smarter, safer packaging experience that can really improve all of the experiences for all of your customers in each field.

Your Guide to Eco Friendly Packaging

Packaging and its waste is still a huge issue, with a lot of plastic still ending up in landfills and other locations, and the problem is, they end up there for lifetimes. While we do still have a lot of shifts in the way we handle packaging, one of the biggest industries that’s had a shift, is of course, ecommerce. Whether you’re ordering groceries or furniture, it’s become easier than ever, and a lot of businesses are looking to offer sustainable packaging and other aspects of this. You need to choose packaging material that's more sustainable, and here’s what we have regarding this. 

Recyclable Packaging 

This is one of the most common, and it’s one that's tried and true for a reason. They have different paper=-based aspects and materials, including” 

• Corrugated paperboard 

• Molded pulps 

• Cartons made from kraft paper 

The paper-based kinds of materials are recycled, and then soaked in a solution, chopped up, strained, cooked, and then cleaned and bleached, which allows them to reform into new types of products that are made of paper, which creates a full-circle sort of process. 

While it is very true that the paper does slowly lose durability, the cool thing about this is that the packaging is fully biodegradable, so if you want to compose this, you’re allowed to do this, and your environment will thank you.

Compostable 

The next kind that we have is compostable packaging. Composting is basically taking paper the next step, offering large-scale waste composting, in order to ensure that everything’s all properly done away with.

Some of the most common composted materials include: 

• Cornstarch packaging 

• Mushroom packaging 

• Bioplastics 

Right now, the first two are still being worked on, but cornstarch and other bioplastics are being heralded for being reliable and compostable kinds of items, especially when it comes to restaurants and food. Foods and restaurants actually account for a chunk of the waste that they’re trying to fix, mostly because of the polystyrene types of materials that are used for this, which aren’t very good. The thing with compostable packaging, is that it’s hygienic, and offers a packaging that doesn't break down over a certain time period. They also are marine degradable too, so if it does get put in the ocean, it eventually does break down.

Reusable 

This is one that is simple, and you basically use this gain, extending life, and offering a more circular sort of economy. These are eco friendly, since single-use plastics get all but eliminated, which is a big thing that global packaging hopes to fix. Shipping these around the world basically does create some waste, since you may have to use something to protect it.

But the cool thing with reusable packaging, is that you can also get reusable filler too, including packaging pellets, which save so many costs and improve the ROI as well. In the end, this type of reusable sort of packaging is also totally recyclable too, so that you don't have to worry about the significant impact on the life cycle of products. 

These are some of the most commonly used types of packaging and shipping products that help to create a safe and more eco friendly sort of life. With that said, there is a lot that you can do, and a whole lot that you can benefit from. When you’re looking to improve your packaging, definitely consider these, as they are better options, and they can actually offer more use for products so that they don’t end up in different landfills as well.