Smart Tags

What is the project
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Smart Tags is a project by AlmaScience CoLab and INCM to develop recyclable, cellulose-based chipless radio-frequency identification (RFID) smart tags made with printed technology (no silicon chips). It is intended for logistics and retail use cases that need product identification, expiry date tracking, and real-time inventory management, while reducing electronic waste from conventional RFID tags.

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Project at a glance

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Focus: Sustainable, recyclable chipless RFID smart tags for retail and logistics
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Key demonstrators: Chipless RFID smart tags on recyclable paper substrates; Robust design; Barrier-layer printed tags

Operation: Retail and logistics inventory and traceability workflows, including expiry date tracking for waste reduction

Primary pilot locations: Perishable goods shelves, namely on bakery and butcher sections

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Objectives

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• Develop chipless RFID smart tags using printed conductive patterns that eliminate silicon chips entirely.
  
  
• Enable expiry date tracking for retail and logistics applications.
  
  
• Support real-time inventory management through wireless tag communication.
  
  
• Reduce environmental impact by replacing plastic-based tags with recyclable paper substrates.
  
  
• Validate designs suitable for pilot-scale production with low variability and stable signal quality.
  
  
• Increase coding capacity by testing higher-bit designs and approaches that balance size and readability.

What we delivered

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Pilot production prototypes of recyclable, printed chipless RFID smart tags were developed and tested on multiple substrates (paper, white polycarbonate, and transparent polycarbonate). Seven predefined designs were printed and the design showing responses close to simulation predictions and low variability between identical tags was selected. A functional barrier layer was applied to improve printed material stability and durability, resulting in improved signal quality. Coding capacity expansion strategies were explored through experimental 6-bit and 14-bit variants following two design approaches, with the better-performing approach producing more separated frequency responses despite requiring larger tags.

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Metrics / KPIs

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Variability between identical design tags

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Value: Low

Notes: Observed low variability, indicating sustainability for pilot-scale production

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Match between measured response and simulations

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‍Value: Very close

Notes: Measured responses were very close to simulated predictions

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Substrate impact on response quality

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‍Value: No significant difference

Notes: No significant response-quality differences across tested substrates

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Signal quality after adding functional barrier layer

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‍Value: Improved

Notes: Barrier layer intended to improve stability/durability; signal quality improved

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Pilot production of tags in INCM

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‍Value: Achieved

Notes: All tags printed in INCM showed low variability

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Summary

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Smart Tags is a joint initiative by AlmaScience CoLab and INCM to create recyclable, printed chipless RFID (radio-frequency identification) smart tags that can be recycled with standard paper packaging. The work targets retail and logistics needs such as product identification, expiry date tracking, and real-time inventory visibility, without relying on silicon chips. Pilot prototypes were produced and tested across multiple substrates, with the optimized design showing stable performance close to simulations and low variability, supporting scale-up readiness.