Track & Trace

Packaging was and continues to be a functional aspect of your product that serves to protect items during shipping and transporting. Over the years, the need for aesthetics in packaging increased. The term “unboxing experience” gained popularity. The idea of combining a tangible product with the benefit of something experiential not only excited customers but also intrigued brands. Fast forward a couple of years, companies have started to add other elements into their packaging that not only make the lives of their customers better but also increases their brand value. One such aspect is the use of technology in packaging.

Smart packaging refers to the integration of sensors and other electronic components into traditional packaging materials to provide enhanced functionalities such as tracking and monitoring of products, real-time temperature and humidity control, and tamper-proof packaging. The new study suggests that smart packaging can significantly improve the safety and shelf life of products, reduce waste and improve sustainability.

The browser-based tool examines the components of a pack – for example, its materials, inks, adhesives, and labels – to evaluate its recyclability and identify areas in which it can improve compliance with legislation. Targeted questions are directed at users to guide them through the evaluation process, with intuitive user guidance and ‘easy-to-follow’ training documents designed for easy use and operation with no expert knowledge necessary.

Becton, Dickinson and Co. (BD) and Biocorp are working together to use connected technology to track patient adherence with self-administered drug therapies, including biologics. The two companies plan to couple Biocorp’s Injay technology with BD’s UltraSafe Plus Passive Needle Guard used with prefillable syringes. Biocorp’s Injay technology, which is designed to “capture and transmit injection events using Near Field Communication (NFC) technology.

Medication is a staple of modern medicine, with almost 50% of adults in the United States taking at least one prescription medication. Despite this, pharmaceutical companies have not won over public trust. A recent study found that only 48% of participants expressed trust in pharmaceutical companies. This lack of trust in such a crucial industry can lead to decreased compliance, poor treatment adherence, and negative health outcomes for patients.

Implementing a robust track and trace in pharma has emerged as a critical solution to address challenges such as counterfeit drugs, regulatory compliance, and product recalls. According to WHO, around 10 per cent of medicines in global circulation can be counterfeit. The statistics are even worse in some countries, with 50 per cent of counterfeit drugs circulating.

In June, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised concerns about seven cough syrups manufactured in India. This followed an investigation prompted by complaints from multiple countries regarding product contamination and associated health problems. The inquiry by the UN revealed high levels of diethylene and ethylene glycol in these cough syrups, which were linked to numerous fatalities worldwide.

In the first seven months of this year, Ireland alone has seen a fivefold increase in illegal imports of semaglutide — the active ingredient in diabetes drug Ozempic and weight-loss drug Wegovy — compared with the whole of 2022. In France patients are presenting fake prescriptions to try to get the drug, while rogue spas have been selling semaglutide seemingly without the need for a prescription, making it illegal and potentially fake.

Novartis , une société pharmaceutique leader, a lancé un rappel volontaire à l'échelle nationale d'un lot spécifique de sa solution orale Sandimmune® aux États-Unis.:Cette mesure a été prise en raison de l'identification de la formation de cristaux dans certains flacons, pouvant conduire à un dosage incorrect. Il est crucial de noter qu’un seul lot de Sandimmune® est concerné et que les autres formulations ne sont pas concernées par ce problème.

Summary of FDA’s recent Inspection for visible particles draft guidance “Inspection of Injectable Products for Visible Particulates” and how it applies to components

Packaging departments of medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturers need to keep up with regulatory updates, sustainability solutions, new technologies, and major issues impacting their packaging decisions. On a regular basis, Packaging Digest finds and reposts related healthcare packaging news, videos, and opinions found on social media, with the most recent “find” at the top.

The battle against counterfeit medicines is paramount in the pharmaceutical world for a simple yet critical reason: it saves lives. Counterfeit drugs, masquerading as genuine medications, pose a severe threat to public health. These fake products often lack essential ingredients or contain harmful substances, rendering them ineffective or dangerous. The repercussions can be devastating, leading to health complications and, in extreme cases, fatalities.

Paboco develops bio-based packaging solutions made from pulp. The Danish joint venture was founded in 2019 by ALPLA and pulp and paper manufacturer Billerud. ALPLA has now took over Billerud’s shares and, as majority shareholder, is investing in scaling manufacturing capacity.

Amazon has announced today that 100% of its delivery packaging in Europe—the boxes, bags and envelopes needed to get products to customers—is now recyclable. This includes items sold by Amazon, as well as third-party selling partners that use Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA).

Nestlé has invested £7 million into the opening of Impact Recycling’s new recycling plant, which is set to convert hard-to-recycle flexible plastics into pellets to produce new flexible packaging.

Pourquoi avoir misé sur l’appropriation de codes barres nous direz-vous ? Et bien tout simplement, pour leur ressemblance troublante avec une pile de biscuits Oreo ! Assurément fiable, le scan détectera ainsi automatiquement s’il s’agit de bouteilles ou non et offrira alors des coupons de réduction pour des Oreo et des bouteilles de lait de marques variées dans plus de 180 magasins de la chaîne américaine Jewel-Osco situés dans les états de l’Indiana, de l’Iowa et de Chicago exclusivement.

Following its assessment by the Dutch Government, Notpla’s seaweed-based packaging has been recognized as plastic-free as per the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive and now hopes to replace a minimum of 15 million single-use plastic packaging units in the Netherlands.

Following the Committee on Environment (ENVI)’s vote on Compromise Amendments to the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive, organizations from across the packaging value chain have made their voices heard – expressing a range of views on its targets, bans, and legislative adjustments regarding single-use plastics, reusable packaging, and more.

In this webinar, experts from Antares Vision Group will demonstrate the strategic utilization of intelligent packaging data and how service providers (e.g., packaging materials suppliers and labellers) and brand owners can leverage that data to create value across the ecosystem.

L’application identiDOTS développée par Inoocq permet aux utilisateurs de valider l’authenticité de leurs produits par la détection des marqueurs bioDOTS uniques, et invisibles à l’œil nu. Ces marqueurs bio-compatibles et dispersibles peuvent être intégrés directement dans vos produits ainsi que dans leurs emballages primaires et secondaires.