Held simultaneously with Tokyo Pack within the East Hall 6 of the Tokyo Big Sight exhibition arena was the Intelligent Packaging Congress, sponsored by the newly formed Active & Intelligent Packaging Industry Association (IAPIA). Sharing knowhow, promulgating standards, and building a more coordinated group effort behind the commercialization of active and intelligent packaging technologies—these are the goals of the AIPIA, said E.E. de Ferrante, the group’s managing director. “You can’t just make a smart tag and expect your work is done,” said Ferrante in his opening remarks. “The whole supply chain is needed. Also, there must be software support, and legislative issues must be dealt with. But think about it. With a proper implementation of active and intelligent packaging, you can know in real time which consumer bought which product where and when. This technology can not only increase efficiency, it can also increase sales, reduce waste, and advance security.”
Among the speakers at the event was Jason Tham, CEO of Nulogy Corp. He thinks active and intelligent packaging technologies of various kinds are poised to bring about a major shift in the consumer packaged goods arena. “It takes three things,” said Tham, “to bring about a shift of this magnitude: people, technology, and economics. All three are in place where active and intelligent packaging are concerned. People and their needs are driving this development, the technologies are there to make it happen, and the economics are either right or are getting there fast.”
