According to the research of Mordor Intelligence, the global smart packaging market valued at US$33.19 billion in 2017, and is expected to reach US$42.75 billion by 2023, registering a CAGR of 4.15% over the forecast period of 2018-2023.

The driving forces include the ever-increasing demand for longer product shelf lives and safety, customers’ fast-paced lifestyle, as well as the technological developments, such as high-tech sensors, mobile apps, etc. 

In the medical sector, smart packaging is bringing more creative and value-added functions to pharmaceutical and health related products. These 

functions mainly include tracking, monitoring and notifications that ensure effective medication and nutrition.

New digital system ensures effective dispensing tracking

Schreiner MediPharm, a Germany-based global provider of specialty pharmaceutical labeling presented its new “Smart Vial Kit” digital therapy monitoring system during Pharmapack 2019 held in Paris, France.

The Smart Vial Kit enables electronic tracking and monitoring of medication dispensing and intake. It is a multi-vial box covered with a cardboard layer of numbered, perforated areas corresponding to individual compartments.

The innovative product is well-suited for use in clinical trials. When the user opens a perforation at the starter tab, the removal of the vial is tracked by means of integrated, printed electronics. Thanks to its medication adherence monitoring capability, enhanced and more reliable data quality is achieved.

Compared with conventional, manual monitoring, the digital tool reduces documentation requirements, provides greater flexibility in adapting trial designs and reduces the trial period before the new medicine is approved.

Besides, the smart packaging technology is also adaptable to other primary containers such as syringes. Instead of cardboard boxes, blister packs containing several containers can be equipped with the technology as well.

Customized subscription service helps maintaining healthier habits

Smart pill device and app developer Pillsy has launched its new user-oriented nutritional supplement subscription service “Stride Nutrition”.

Stride Nutrition combines the adherence technology with various mail-order nutritional products to enhance users' control of, and adherence to, nutritional supplement regimens.

The service is unique in that it combines the convenience of high-quality dietary supplements, delivered to customers' doorsteps, with Pillsy's Bluetooth-enabled smart cap and mobile app to help individuals form and maintain healthier habits.

Each subscriber's first shipment includes a free Pillsy smart cap which, when paired with the Pillsy mobile app, automatically tracks doses, send intelligent reminders if users forget to take their scheduled dose, and automatically orders refills when it detects that there are fewer than 10 days' worth of supply remaining.

In addition, subscribers are also able to update dosage settings, view their dosage history and share information with family caregivers, as required. The same underlying platform is also being applied to pharmaceuticals and it could be applied to other consumable products too.

Smart water bottle and cap for hydration coaching

The European Food Safety Authority recommends a daily intake of 2.5 liters of water for men and 2 liters of water for women, including around 70-80% sought from beverages.

The Hidrate Spark 2.0 by Hidrate Inc. provides a funny way to keep people stay hydrated with its glimmering “lights” and smart sensor devices. The water bottle holds 24 fl oz (710 ml) and comes in several eye-catching colors.

The bottle comes included with a sensor stick, powered by two coin cell batteries. When people drink out of the bottle, the sensor measures how much they drank and transfers this information to the hydration app, which tracks progress throughout the day, week and month.

Besides, the bottle integrates with fitness trackers, and customized goals can be created specifically. Notifications give new and funny reminders when people are away from their bottles.

Having a similar idea, Danone incorporates the smart Coach2O cap into its Spanish mineral water brand Font Vella, enabling consumers to track their levels of hydration.

Danone developed the devices with Water.io, an innovative smart packaging company which turned the package into an active product that helps the consumer when using the product.

It works by clipping onto the existing bottle cap and recording the volume of water taken in by the consumer. It can also remind people to drink using a discreet series of “blinks”, and comes complete with an accompanying app that allows consumers to set daily hydration goals and adjust the fitting to their individual requirements.

In this way, the Coach2O cap provides a considerable solution in helping consumers keep track of their hydration levels and set goals using an accompanying app, based on their unique preferences and health requirements.

All in all, thanks to technology developments, more companies are leveraging smart packaging to bring their expertise in healthcare to consumers through personalized solutions.