Abstract
Smart packaging containing sensors could be considered the natural progression in packaging innovation for many consumer products. The goal of implementing sensors into the packaging is to improve product traceability and sustainability and to increase product shelf-life. Radio-frequency identification (RFID) systems have already been adopted for traceability purposes in many supply chains including apparel, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and food. The Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) range is widely used for those purposes. However, to improve the adoption of this technology several challenges need to be overcome. The goal of this research was to determine the best configuration for attaching a passive UHF RFID tag to different beverage bottles. To do this, three different packaging materials (polyethylene terephthalate (PET), clear glass, and Tetrapak®) which are commonly used in the beverage industries, and three commercially available passive UHF RFID tags with different designs were used. The influence of the RFID positioning (bottom or top) on the performance of tags using empty and water-filled bottles was assessed. Power on tag Forward and Theoretical Read Range were used as the indicators of the tag performance.
The results of this study confirmed that tag positioning affects the performance of the RFID system. In order to have the best passive UHF RFID tag performance, packaging and labeling industries should consider the effect of tag design, packaging material, and food composition.
