Packaging industry shifts toward data-driven material management

The packaging industry is facing a shift where packaging is increasingly treated as a data object. To meet requirements regarding recyclability, recycled content, and volume minimization, companies must manage complex data sets including material weights, volumes, and compliance declarations.

Effective data management requires a structured approach to overcome the challenges of fragmented information across the supply chain. Experts suggest that scalable solutions depend on unique identification of packaging components, standardized data models, and structured exchange protocols, such as GS1 standards. The goal is to provide “as much data as necessary, but as little as possible” to satisfy the varying needs of authorities, retailers, and consumers while protecting trade secrets.

In a related development toward material transparency, the Monitored Materials system by plastship GmbH has been introduced to provide comparable data for recycled plastics. Schütz GmbH & Co. KGaA has become the first manufacturer to receive a quality certificate under this system for its recycled plastic regranulate. This system aims to replace inconsistent individual data sheets with a standardized language, allowing industries to objectively compare and utilize recycled materials with greater security.