According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, food waste has reached epidemic levels - about a third of all food produced for human consumption is lost, and this is no less, is 1.3 billion tons per year.
“Smart” packaging is a more effective method than traditional labeling with the words “suitable for ...”, a method of reducing food waste. The start-up company has launched consumer trials of Arla dairy products, which are an interesting example of packaging innovation in the fight against the food waste epidemic.
Mimica Touch Smart Label: If the food to which it is attached begins to deteriorate, the label loses its smoothness and becomes uneven. This form of tactile indication of the expiration of products is especially useful for consumers with visual impairments.
Similarly, Sainsbury's introduced the “Smart Fresh” label, which changes color when the product is already inedible. Consumers are becoming more aware of the impact their habits have on the planet, and are looking for ways to reduce it.
According to the global consumer survey GlobalData for the fourth quarter of 2018, almost half of global consumers (49%) indicated that they are always or often affected by how ethical / environmentally friendly / product / service is. In addition, 43% also said that they are always influenced by how “advanced” “smart” this product or service is in digital form.
Thus, intelligent labeling methods can significantly reduce food losses, while being acceptable to most consumers. However, such a big change in traditional methods will be difficult to implement and will require practical planning.
