1.) EVRYTHNG IoT
An Internet of Things (IoT) company connecting consumer products to the web and managing real-time data to drive applications and analytics throughout the product life cycle.

EVRYTHNG transforms packaging into intelligent digital identities creating consumer engagement opportunities. Brands can track their products at all stages of the logistics and distribution channel, gain personalized insights and post-purchase service experience for consumers.

Customers include: Mondelez, Coca-Cola, Unilever, LUMH and Diageo.

2.) Amcor MAXQ
Digital packaging system featuring barcodes, print and QR codes.

Others are:

3.) Scan Trust IoT

4..) Smartglyph

5.) Magic Add

6.) Blippar

7.) Pragmat IC

8.) Thin film

9.) Water.IO

10.) Timestrip

11.) Insignia Technologies

12.) Stora Enso

Hi guys. One day left for this topic. We have had a lot of energy recently with some interesting examples. Make sure to get your thoughts in before it closes.

Next topic will be the world of ecommerce packaging.

Patient adherence, also known as compliance, is the extent to which patients stick with medication they have been prescribed. For national healthcare systems, the problem of non-compliance costs lives and billions in unnecessary hospital treatment, while pharma companies lose revenue from lapsed prescriptions.

The extent of the problem is well-documented; several studies, backed up by the World Health Organisation, suggest that in developed countries, only around 50% of patients with chronic diseases take their medication as prescribed. These levels generally fall even lower in the developing world, with the poor disproportionately affected in both cases.

It has been estimated that 125,000 people die in the US each year as a result of failure to adhere to medication regimens, as well as costing the country’s health system nearly $300 billion. Meanwhile the pharmaceutical industry reportedly loses around $8 billion a year from unfilled prescriptions.

In February 2011, Finnish packaging company Stora Enso unveiled the newest iteration of its adherence control packaging, Pharma DDSi Wireless. This technology is based on conductive ink on a carton board-based blister inlay, which is connected to a cellular module embedded in the package. The removal of pills is tracked and the information can be sent to an electronic database automatically via GSM or GPRS cellular networks.

By using cellular technology, this packaging concept adds a new level to improving patient compliance. While a doctor can simply use the packaging data to track a patient’s medication intake, the system can also issue phone calls and text messages to the patient, healthcare professionals and even relatives.

Advanced mobile technology like this could have particular applications for patients suffering from Alzheimer’s and other neurological conditions, who might require care-givers and family members to take a more active role in their treatment.

https://www.pharmaceutical-technology.com/features/featurethe-smart-approach-to-pharma-packaging/

Here are a couple articles about how RFID is helping the process. It is great way to trace and track products. It is cost efficient too.

https://blog.pepperl-fuchs.us/5-reasons-to-use-industrial-rfid-in-your-meat-processing-plant
https://jet-marking.com/wheres-beef-optimizing-meat-tracking-rfid/
https://www.packagingdigest.com/rfid/are-packaged-foods-ripe-rfid-implementation

Who would ever think consumers would steal roasts and steaks from the store or through-out the supply chain? . They do and RFID this can help combat theft.

Chemical labeling has changed based on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) to include signal words, pictograms, and hazard and precautionary statements. ChemAssist Lite and Pro versions offer updated safety data sheet information that aligns with GHS for all Fisher Science Education chemicals.

ChemAssist has been upgraded to include a cloud-based version as well as other new features to better help you manage your inventory. If you already have Ch­emAssist, simply upgrade to the new, cloud-based ChemAssist Pro right from within the app. Or you can choose to stick with the tried and true ChemAssist Lite. Best of all, either option is free.

The new ChemAssist Pro version will send you notifications or push alerts about any chemical that has been recalled or discontinued. You will also have the ability to manage your inventory across multiple devices, multiple users and multiple locations for various stock rooms or labs. The administrator of the account has the power to allow other users access to inventories or grant administrator rights to others, making chemical inventory management more organized and secure. 

https://www.fishersci.com/us/en/education-products/resources-and-programs/chem-assist-app.html

QR codes can be used to send and receive data and it doesn’t just have to be for marketing purposes. Within the industry of supply and transport of dangerous goods, QR codes are printed on product labels providing the user with the relevant Safety Data Sheet (SDS). They can also be used on transport documents and even on drums to provide information on batch numbers or to track the status of orders.

Some manufacturers are now providing QR codes on SDSs in order to request updated versions of an SDS. When the code is scanned, it takes the user to a website page. Some manufacturers offer the latest version of SDSs for the user to download while others direct the user to a website where contact details can be provided and the SDS is then sent.

QR codes in the supply chain don’t just need to provide links to SDSs; there are many other sources of information that can be provided. A QR code could be used to provide a link to a purchasing website to enable more of the product to be ordered, it could provide information on the batch numbers, quality or grade of the chemical, or perhaps supply instructions on how to use the product. The QR code doesn’t just have to take the user to a website; it can be used to initiate phone calls or emails, so perhaps a QR code could be used to ring or email customer services, or if first aid or spillage advice is needed once the QR code is scanned, it could enable your smartphone to automatically ring the emergency telephone number. The uses of QR codes within the supply chain are considerable.

QR codes are being used to provide information to emergency responders, drivers and members of the public on how to handle the chemicals and what to do in the event of exposure or a spillage. Information is also given on the chemical properties and classifications. These QR codes are being seen on transport documents and product packaging. While QR codes are at the moment being used more in the supply industry rather than transport, there is growing interest in QR codes being used in transport.

Recently, a German courier company implemented a tracking system based on QR codes. This monitors the transport of a package, while also helping with specialty shipments, eg dangerous good transportation, where large amounts of data are required to meet certain shipping conditions. Implementing QR codes has allowed the company to diversify its tracking services available.

https://app.croneri.co.uk/feature-articles/qr-codes-and-chemical-supply

Stora Enso is one of the world´s leading producers of packaging boards and papers. Their latest packaging concept is one of a number of pharma solutions that helps with patient adherence to regular and correct taking of medication.  It is claimed that this pack can track whether, when and how much of the product has been used via useful reminders delivered through text alerts. Presumably, messages could also be delivered to carers if the product is not used for a given period. This pack offers a clever solution to an important issue of ensuring vital medicine is taken correctly.

Legacy Pharmaceutical Co. have invested in automated blister lines for for their Ecoslide-RX product. Ecoslide-RX uses a child-resistant locking mechanism that is opened with a press of a thumb with a release button in the corner of the carton. The pack is difficult for children to open, yet friendly for older hands.

Amcor Flexibles has launched its Amcor Opening Feature (AOF) to child-resistant blister lidding. AOF allows consumers to open blister contents with a push-through motion rather than the more conventional and non child safe peel or peel-push methods. By not needing peel tabs, package sizes can be reduced by up to 40%.

Ecobliss have launched Locked4Kids as a child resistant solution for the pharma industry. Hooks in the pack are placed diagonally to one another, so that the tray is locked securely when it is pushed right in. Children's hands are too small to span the width of the carton and push both hooks in at once.

In today's saturated drinks market, savvy brands are seeking ways to stand out on the shelf and in hospitality settings. To that end, Dutch beer brand Heineken unveiled its first 'interactive' beer bottle concept, Heineken Ignite, at this year's Milan Design Week trade fair.

Using a combination of LED lights, micro sensors and wireless networking technology, the vessel lights up when clinked with another, or when the drinker takes a sip. It can also be programmed to light up in synchronisation with music, making it ideal for use in nightclubs and bars.

In another technologically advanced initiative, Heineken-owned cider brand Strongbow is trialling the world's first digital bottle cap for its limited edition Strongbow Gold bottles. When flipped open, an embedded tag within the Start Cap activates RFID (radio frequency identification) scanners in the surrounding environment. Sensors then trigger a range of surprises, including checking the user into Foursquare or even firing off a confetti cannon. This concept was conceived in tandem with London-based creative agency Work Club, which will further evolve the idea as it is introduced across multiple territories.

US beer brand Budweiser is also employing tech-enhanced packaging with its Facebook-integrated beer glass, trialled at an event in São Paulo in April 2013. The Buddy Cup includes a QR code, which drinkers scan to activate a microchip that's linked to their Facebook profiles. The glass then sends a Facebook friend request when the cups touch. Budweiser plans to introduce the cups at brand-sponsored events.

https://www.stylus.com/lqksnj

The moment when the packaging gets empty and consumers need to buy a refill is often critical for companies as the consumer may be attracted by a special offer from competitors, take long time before going to the shop or even think twice if s/he still needs this product. On consumer side, it is annoying to become out of stock of a daily necessity and to have to check the level of all products before shopping.
In that context, auto-replenishment can be considered as a win-win solution that makes consumers’ life easier and keeps companies’ profits high and stable.

Amazon’s Dash allows connected devices to order physical goods from Amazon platform when supplies are running low: https://developer.amazon.com/dash-replenishment-service

Smart packaging helps boost Amazon’s auto-replenish service
https://www.packagingdigest.com/smart-packaging-helps-boost-amazon-s-auto-replenish-service
“The Amazon Dash Replenishment Service (DRS) is now able to support smart packaging and devices with embedded technology that senses when new supplies are needed, helping consumers automatically reorder product before it runs out.”

Jabil Packaging Solutions (JPS) that enable automatic re-ordering: https://www.jabil.com/solutions/by-industry/consumer/packaging-solutions/drs.html

A US technology firm was hoping to make a very old idea finally work by launching self-heating drinks cans. HeatGenie recently received US$6m to bring its can design to market in 2018, more than 15 years after Nestle abandoned a similar idea. Yet the principles behind the technology go back much further – to 1897, when Russian engineer Yevgeny Fedorov invented the first self-heating can. So how do these cans work, why has no one managed to make them a success, and what’s HeatGenie’s new approach? 

https://theconversation.com/self-heating-drinks-cans-return-heres-how-they-work-98476
 
The 42 Degrees Company launches the self-heating coffee cans:

The 42 Degrees Company, which acquired the patent for self-heating coffee cans last year, has redeveloped the ingredients and packaging of the product; launching it to suppliers and convenience store soon.

The company, based in Valladolid, Spain, was initially created to provide ready-made food and drinks to the emergency services, volunteers and victims caught up in natural disasters, war zones, or for those traveling on a train or mountain.

https://www.beveragedaily.com/Article/2018/08/27/The-42-Degrees-Company-launches-self-heating-coffee-cans

Case study of how Sainsburys used a smart film that visually changes colour the longer a product has been opened. Reducing the risk of food waste and helping customers get better value for money.

Ham is Sainsbury’s top-selling cooked meat product, but many buyers find it difficult to remember how long it has been open. Figures from Wrap, the government’s waste advisory body, reveal that British households throw away 1.9 million slices of ham a day – equivalent to 32,500kg – at a cost of more than £170m a year. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jul/03/hamming-it-up-sainsburys-supermarket-label-changes-colour-cure-food-waste

Another similar example of smart films is the implementation of a film that changes shape to a tactile bump, that tells shoppers when perishable food has gone off, This is currently undergoing a supermarket trial. Its creator, Solveiga Pakštaitė, an industrial design and technology graduate of Brunel University, won the UK round of the prestigious James Dyson award for the invention and has since attracted further funding to make her invention a commercial reality.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/sep/18/bioreactive-bump-gelatine-food-sell-by-date-wins-james-dyson-award

Relying on a revolutionary ink called Thermal Locking Ink (Patent Pending), Thermal Trac labels help determine if a product has been damaged due to exposure to heat.

Once ink reaches a predetermined temperature, it will change color in seconds and will remain that color permanently. Thermal Locking Ink can also be used to render any bar code unscannable if the product is no longer fit for purchase due to overheating. Thermal Locking Ink is rated as GRAS for human consumption.

Clearly benefits from this innovation, in terms of reducing waste and protecting consumers from bad food, I like the fact this technology isnt absolutely obvious or changing the overall appearance or look of product packaging- it's just a small change to a bar code which is already familiar to consumers. Its also easy to interpret and understand.
https://www.thermaltrac.com/

I find that the additional cost of smart packaging is currently a barrier to take up unless it can be justified by additional benefits, eg improved safety and quality with 2D barcodes, as well as the customer benefit.
packaging is often the first target in value engineering drives, and anything that adds cost without improving sales is fair game. After an initial launch I’m not sure if we see a genuine sales uplift from using smart packaging, even in the luxury goods sector?

Imagine that you’re in a store and a product on the shelf catches your eye. You want to learn more. When you tap the product with your smartphone, you receive all kinds of personalized content on your phone: the brand story, product news, ingredient information, video tutorials. It’s as though the product has come alive and is anticipating all your questions, delivering relevant and dynamic content as you are making your purchase decision.

That reality is here, thanks to smart innovations, including NFC (near field communic­ation) tags, which transform conventional packaging into an ever-present digital communication channel with customers, wirelessly transmitting information at the point of sale, and continuing to deliver customized benefits (refill reminders, freshness alerts, usage tips) long after purchase—especially for beauty products that are used daily.

In addition, connected packaging collects consumer habits, behavior and other data, providing brands with new levels of intimacy that may be applied to future product development.

Not surprisingly, the global smart packaging market is poised to grow rapidly, reaching $52 billion by 2025 (including personal care, beauty, food, healthcare and pharmace­utical industries), according to a report published by Research and Markets.

The internet of things (IoT) is also growing fast. By 2020, more than 50 billion objects will be connected to the internet, according to Cisco, the high-tech multinational that specializes in networking hardware. Brands will be better able to personalize their communic­ations to customers and, in turn, people will increasingly expect brands to preempt their needs.

https://www.thinfilmnfc.com/2017/05/05/smart-packaging-bringing-brands-alive/

One company with innovative smart packaging solutions for the pharmaceutical industry is Rondo AG in Switzerland. Its built-in NFC technology improves communication between customers, doctors and pharmacies, as printed and organic electronic modules help to ensure better patient compliance and prevent the dissemination of counterfeit medicine packaging.

The folding box manufacturer Rondo AG is presenting not one, but two solution proposals for smart packaging applications in the pharmaceutical industry. Relevant details can be shared between patients, doctors and pharmacists via a wireless chip within the packaging and through an electrochromic display. The chips are based on near-field communication technology. Moreover, patient leaflets and instructions on the interactive packaging can be audibly read out by a smartphone, which can also be used for the automatic ordering of the medication. Customer details, the name of the drug and the recommended dose are displayed on the phone, and as soon as an order has been placed, the doctor or pharmacist receives confirmation. To reduce the chances of counterfeit products, all chips are marked with the manufacturer’s ID. User-friendliness is further insured by electrochromic displays integrated into the wallet packaging. They record the removal of pills from the blister package, thus preventing the patient from taking double doses or reminding them to take their medication if they forgot to do so.

Experts from the Organic and Printed Electronics Association are expecting to see a sales increase of around 19% in printed electronics and organic displays. The international industry association VDMA (German Machinery and Plant Manufacturers’ Association) believes that the focus is now clearly on the worldwide networking of the production process with its many different options, including design options. Today’s ageing population structures are setting new standards in packaging. Hybrid systems are contributing new opportunities to the world of packaging. The combination of organic and printed electronics and silicon elements is ideal for the production of flexible, lightweight, yet nevertheless robust packaging. Furthermore, it allows low-cost manufacturing, using standard processes with no extra effort. Electronic product labels pass on data to the relevant doctor, such as the time when a patient took their medication. Thanks to extremely thin sensors, the time, place and temperature can easily be called up on a smartphone app which also flashes up visual signals to indicate whether a specified limit has been exceeded. The storage media which contain the data are rewritable as and when required.

As soon as someone with an NFC-compatible phone approaches the innovative packaging from the French company Arjowiggins Creative Papers, the relevant app automatically displays the product information. Integrated printed electronics is also used by the Belgian company Quad Industries. Working together with the Changzhou Institute of Printed Electronics in China, Quad Industries has developed a credit-card-sized label which can be attached to drugs packaging. It then records all temperature developments during transportation, thus indicating any disruptions to the refrigeration of the pharmaceutical product. The label obtains its electric power from a printed battery.

https://www.interpack.com/cgi-bin/md_interpack/lib/pub/tt.cgi/Talking_pill_boxes.html?oid=52340&lang=2&ticket=g_u_e_s_t

Inductive Intelligence’s tech offers induction-heated-anywhere containers by marrying food and beverage packaging with wireless charging, software, RFID/NFC tags and sensors.
The technology converts a wireless charger and smartphone app into a precision induction heating system applicable for a range of packaging types including metal, plastic, paper and glass.
 
'Single-serve packaging continues to drive growth in center store, and since Apple adopted the Qi wireless charging standard, wireless device charging is booming as well. This is about sitting at the intersection of those two trends and delivering a consumer experience that’s more convenient, consistent, safe and sustainable'

Inductive Intellegence LLC is really on to something big- creating this technology into packaging directly compliments the way in which increasingly consumers are purchasing food products through the internet. https://www.packagingdigest.com/smart-packaging/consumers-can-heat-products-onthego-smart-pkg-1809

More on the trends can be found here: https://www.packagingdigest.com/food-packaging/foodservice-packaging-trends-point-to-future-developments-2018-09-18

Ultimately 'consumers are expecting more from packaging and at an increased convinience. 'Consumers want their hot foods hot and their cold foods cold. Meals must arrive looking consistently fresh, without condensation saturating the packaging'. '

The changing market provides a platform for this kind of technology incorporated into food packaging. 'Prepared foods and beverages are no longer just passed over a counter, from kitchen to consumer. They may be prepared at a central commissary then transported to the store for purchase, or perhaps prepared in a restaurant and then delivered via driver, drone or robot'

Not strictly smart in terms of electronics or connectivity but worth a share non the less!

The Danish firm said the move, which has been heralded as a world-first, to attach its multi-packs with adhesive will reduce the use of plastic to package products by 75 per cent.
The adhesive is string enough to protect the cans in transit but weak enough to pull cans apart. Head of sustainability at Carlsberg, Simon Boas Hoffmeyer, said once the Snap Packs are rolled out worldwide the company will reduce its plastic use by 1,200 tonnes a year - the equivalent of 60 million plastic bags. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/09/07/carlsberg-glues-beer-cans-together-becoming-first-brewery-abandon/

Again a very simple change that looks like it could completely distrupt and revolutionise this aspect of beverage packaging.

Those are some amazing applications of QR Codes (especially in China) where even the beggars and churchs are using them for cashless donations. So useful in medical fields where it would access contraindications or even set dosage reminders into your phoone by a simple one time scan.

The other benefit is that they arte free of language issues (provided the site they access is multilingual) such that a wine produced in one country can have details supplied in many languages via QR.

It uptake in China, a very diverse cultural country and a huge market, certainly points to that type of technology being a success. Of course, who knows what evolutions will yet come that may extend QR code concept or make it obsolete?

I was particularly interested in the large QR use on billboards and road signage. Next we'll have auto scanners in our cars that recognise a QR code then speak its details in selected language for driver.

Then shopping carts with built in QR scanner that not only records what you place into cart, but reads QRs as you move through a store to vocalise 'specials' in each aisle.

The new Pro-Tech range of Tesco toothbrushes, with Timestrip patented technology built into the grip indicating when it's time to replace your toothbrush, are changing the face of the UK oral care market.

Dental professionals advise changing your toothbrush every 2-3 months as old toothbrushes do not remove plaque as effectively and bacteria can build up leading to dental problems such as gum disease. In fact a new toothbrush is 95% more effective at removing plaque than a 3 month old brush, according to the British Dental Health Foundation.

The problem with brushes that have colour changing bristles to indicate replacement is that the results vary from region to region based on water qualities, brushing regime and the type of toothpaste used.

Timestrip technology engineered into the new Pro-Tech toothbrush grip displays the word REPLACE after 90 days has elapsed, leaving no doubt it's time for a change!

The Pro-Tech range is available exclusively in selected Tesco stores and has been launched with three head variants: Massage, Deep Clean or Whitening.

The Timestrip team are confident that the Pro-tech toothbrush range will increase repeat purchase levels for Tesco whilst delivering dental health benefits for their customers, within an improved oral care hygiene regime. 

https://industrytoday.co.uk/packaging/timestrip-delivers-the-biggest-innovation-in-oral-care-with-tesco-pro-tech-range-of-toothbrushes

Not sure it really belongs to the category “technology” but I found the concept worth mentioning. “Natural branding” is a technique that puts a mark on the peel of fruits and vegetables in order to replace stickers and other packaging. It looks like a tattoo but doesn’t use ink and has no impact on taste, etc. Originally used for marketing purposes, it matches the current trend of reducing packaging, and from logistic/retail perspective it has the merit that label doesn’t fall off.

The Guardian “Swedish supermarkets replace sticky labels with laser marking”:
https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2017/jan/16/ms-and-swedish-supermarkets-ditch-sticky-labels-for-natural-branding

Nature & More:
https://www.natureandmore.com/en/natural-branding

A good recent example how "Smart packaging" can drive improved consumer experience is the Budweiser "Light up the FIFA world Cup".
Disclaimer: My review is biased because this solution was developed in the packaging team that I work at :)

This pack was specifically developed and launched for the football World Cup in Russia.
In the bottom there is a battery and a smart LED system that responds to sound. Whenever a goal was scored the stadium roared and all the cups lighted up.

People really enjoyed the cup (several people ended up collecting really large towers of cups at the end of matches).
Internally I have heard this cup was responsible for a really nice share of the volume uplift.

From our perspective, combining this innovative packaging solution helped the brand's launch a big success.
1) The pack went viral, making a lot of social media noise both in Russia and with Bud's core audience worldwide
2) And because it was innovative, it helped to drive volume through trial.

Here's some nice details about how this pack was developed:
https://www.budweiser.co.uk/
https://the18.com/soccer-news/inside-story-gitec-budweiser-world-cup-biggest-marketing-campaign-history-2018

The French recycling system Eco-Emballages developed a mobile app to provide recycling info: http://www.ecoemballages.fr/grand-public/trier-cest-facile/le-guide-du-tri (with a video). Sorry it’s all in French again, but basically consumers just have to type the name of the product/brand and where they live, and the app will give them precise info for each packaging element (for ex. in which container they should throw each element, incl. the color of the container in their city, as it may change from one municipality to another). Collection sites in the city are also listed. The app also provides some additional info regarding recycling (latest news, etc.) and how to adopt a better behavior. I think a QR code could make the process even smoother.

Some other advantages of QR codes I could think of:

• info can be updated more easily than by printing them on a packaging,
• can provide useful information in various languages (I’d love to understand the warning messages and what to do in case of accidents on the detergent products I buy here in Japan),
• same QR code can be used on different communication supports,
• link can send to the webpage of the brand thus supporting its global communication, create interaction with “did you know?” (or alike) questions with the questions on the packaging and answers accessible via QR code.

Another example of the use QR codes to track origin and avoid counterfeit products is cans of infant milk from Camperdown Dairy International for the Chinese market:
“the system prints each tin of infant milk formula with a unique QR code and human readable information both managed by iDSnet. The printed QR code allows consumers to scan and identify the individual product, report- its history, and also displays key information about Camperdown Dairy International, Australian dairy products, and how best to consume the product.”
https://www.matthews.com.au/resource-library/updates/recent-news/news-archive/chinese-parents-get-instant-confidence-on-australian-dairy

Consumers are becoming increasingly tech-savvy these days, which is fuelling new packaging technologies in exciting and sometimes surprising different directions.

Champagne producer GH Mumm recently developed a new bottle embedded with an RFID chip that tells clubs and bars when the consumer has opened it. The digitally intelligent bottle uses a sensor embedded in the cork to send a signal to the bar and the venue’s audio and visual system when it has been released. This triggers a personalised, interactive sound and visual experience that puts the drinker’s table in the spotlight and according to GH Mumm, “enhances the celebration experience”.

There’s no doubt alcoholic beverage brands are at the forefront of smart packaging. GH Mumm’s innovation follows on from Diageo’s smart bottle for Johnnie Walker Blue Label, which uses printed sensor tags to detect the sealed and opened state of each bottle, and target customers with timely marketing messages. And in the United States, Anheuser Busch recently launched its Oculto beer brand with thermochromics ink on the reverse of the label, which changes colour depending on the beer’s temperature, as well as interactive elements for the consumer to scan. And not to be outdone, Malibu has just launched NFC-enabled bottles that deliver content to consumers’ smart phones.

But the potential of smart packaging goes beyond clever marketing; there’s also huge potential to use smart packaging to educate people on how to recycle the packaging.

https://blog.matthews.com.au/new-packaging-technologies-change-world/

Because of different advantages (mentioned in other posts by colleagues), the future of smart packaging will go to those labelling technologies which contains higher amount of information. So it is reported in the following articles.

As 2D scanners become more affordable and newer technology becomes more accessible we will see the 1D scanner disappear completely.

http://www.logisticsbusiness.com/it-in-logistics/mobile-computing-rfid/industry-view-rfid-barcode
http://www.waspbarcode.com/buzz/future-barcodes/

If they are not already implemented can be, mainly, because of two factors:

• Few technology providers for new technologies
• High cost

It is also commented that, since barcodes are in widespread use, if new technologies are not implemented relatively fast in the market, they are on risk to disappear.

This is a great area and has a number of different applications. Top of mind I can think of the following:

1. Managing the movement and distribution of goods
2. Verification that products and goods are authentic and not counterfeit
3. Medical applications such as dosing, reminders, and linking information to your patient record history
4. Better understanding of consumer and business trends and how your products are being utilized
5. Marketing and sales initiatives such as direct to costumer incentives
6. logistics, inventory management, and distribution
7. Expiration of goods potential field actions

If a system of RFID Chip was incorporated into packaging or attached by the store, it could enable non scanning automated checkouts.
Already a number of Australian supermarket chains have incoporated scan yourself checkouts, usually using the barcodes and some QR Codes, but there has been a lot of resistance in that jobs are lost and theft will increase.

Some are trialing apps on phones that not only scan the products chosen but automate payment upon leabving the store.

If these concepts become the "norm" all packaging will need to be updated to include RFID or QR codes - but then what happens when you enter another store with those products and no physical proof of purchase???

Expensive for packaging too.

One way I didn't see the tech being implemented (though one of the articles 404'ed on me) is in eliminating physical product documentation and instead providing a QR code or RFID tag or similar that will let the used download any apps or software required directly, and allow download of any relevant documentation for the product. Depending in what the product is, this can eliminate a lot of paper and slim packaging down to the minimum required. This can also serve as a product registration for warranty purposes and activate a technical support account for the end user.
If industry wide agreement could be arranged, and data blocks reserved, any RFID or NFC enabled package could have its recyclable content codified for automated sorting to enable a less costly approach to package recycling. Based on codes produced and codes verified to have it recycling, a good estimate of the amount of material being recycled could also be generated to inform people as to the effectiveness of the program. These devices could also, through verification of scans in different locations, record the length of the supply chain for the product and enable more efficient and effective routing of product for cost, fuel, and time savings. Perhaps one of the best uses of this technology is verification/validation of genuine product in areas where counterfeit products have been a problem (bearings, fasteners, etc). A secured, verified supply chain for materials and components in high-integrity applications (pharmaceutical, nuclear plants, government weapons projects, etc) is a HUGE value-add.
The applications of a smart package are really only limited by the uses we can imagine for the data it can create. In a world where Industrie 4.0 and IIoT are huge buzzwords, utilizing packaging to generate usable data is a huge win.