Preparing for the Era of Printed Electronics – Part 3

The third installment of our series looks at further ways the next generation of packaging experts are creating new ideas and searching for different ways to engage consumers.

Tracking Health

Consumers can easily get confused about the information printed on food and drink packaging. With the FDA recently proposing updates to the ingredient and nutritional information displayed on product packaging, consumers have voiced concerns about the implications contents may have on their health.

By utilizing a new user interface design, Brunel students proposed a packaging concept that enables consumers to understand which food products match their needs – while still in the store.

NFC technology sends product information, such as ingredients and or recommended recipes, from a beverage or food can directly to smartphone health applications. Those applications can then track nutritional or calorific data, issue alerts if products are not recommended or raise warnings about possible allergic conflicts.

Convenient Infant Formula

Always having sufficient infant formula is a critical need for young families, but when parents are out and about with their children, it can be difficult to store, mix and heat up formula on the go.

Brunel students designed new, disposable aluminum packaging for formula that stores a single dose of milk powder and includes a hygienic teat. By including a thin-printed thermostat, heater and battery that warms the milk and adjusts it to a suitable temperature, parents now need only to add water and press the switch on the bottom of the bottle to give their baby a warm meal. With all components of the packaging being recyclable, families do not need to worry about the environmental impact either.

Watch out for Part 4 of this series, where we will showcase the remaining, eye-catching ideas developed by students. In the meantime, learn more about innovation at Crown.