What’s the One Innovation That Could Change Packaging Forever?

I love that idea, Samantha. A universal digital ID would solve so many headaches — from machine set-up to end-of-life sorting. We’ve seen pieces of it (RFID, QR codes, GS1 barcodes), but nothing that’s open, standardized, and rich enough to bridge design, automation, logistics, and recycling.

The challenge I’ve seen is getting industry-wide adoption and keeping costs down. It’s tough to convince every brand, converter, and recycler to use the same data model. But if standards bodies or major retailers push for it — or if the ROI is clear in automation and supply chain efficiency — it could finally tip.

Keep pushing for this kind of thinking. The next generation of engineers who understand both technology and packaging operations will be the ones who make it happen.