Stora Enso has launched a new sustainable RFID tag technology called ECO by Stora Enso, designed for intelligent packaging functionalities in supply chain, retail and eCommerce applications. The technology enables paper-based RFID tags, providing a plastic-free and recyclable solution for packaging authentication.
Intelligent Packaging by Stora Enso develops and delivers RFID technology, which allows the packaged product to be automatically tracked, traced and tamper-proofed throughout the entire supply chain. Stora Enso’s ECO technology enables the RFID tags to be produced on a 100% fiber-based paper label, unlike traditional plastic tags, resulting in a lower carbon footprint for sustainability conscious B2B and B2C companies.
RFID is a wireless technology for the transfer of data that are electronically stored on tags attached to a package. The technology can identify several hundred items in sub-second speed and without line-of-sight interaction. Moreover, it allows communication between the brand-owner and the end-user by use of an NFC-enabled smartphone. The solution provides complete reader systems and uses a cloud-based track-and-trace solution that runs on the Microsoft Azure platform.
Martin Ros, head of Stora Enso Intelligent Packaging 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. 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.”
By integrating the RFID tag with a paper label, the manufacturing process becomes more scalable and, as result, also more cost-effective – all without compromising on performance and reliability. The ECO tag can be recycled in an environmentally friendly way together with paper and board materials. Moreover, it offers high conductivity at a lower cost compared with graphene or silver printed antennas. The ECO technology is available for use in multiple ongoing projects across multiple sectors.
