As a consumer, one relies on labels to portray what the package holds. However, once the label has done its purpose, or the container has run out of substance, the package is discarded.

So here’s the deal- As a consumer, one relies on labels to portray what the package holds. However, once the label has done its purpose, or the container has run out of substance, the package is discarded. Along with the package, the label goes to waste. For example, water bottles can be found everywhere at arm reach, whether it be a new bottle or a discarded one.The problem arises when one asks the questions, “Where do they go?” or, “What happens to them?” Most plastic bottles take an average of 450 years to decompose, except bottles made from Polyethylene Terephthalate, which are considered non-biodegradable. Each of these bottles comes with a label that will do nothing more than add to the problem. Recently, the question has surfaced- how can this be fixed?

So how exactly is this being fixed?

In an attempt to help solve the problem with labels, VTT Research has created an OLED Flexible Display. Normally, OLED displays are used in touchscreen displays, or high pixel televisions.

Picture this- there is a label on a water bottle. When someone finishes drinking that water bottle, that label can change and become another label. This is exactly what OLED display does. “VTT is developing fully roll-to-roll printable polymer light-emitting diode (OLED) technology. This enables novel form factor, multicolor display and signage applications for cost-sensitive high-volume products” (Lingle, Rick). These OLED displays can be fabricated at a low cost and can help lower the large scale of wasted labels. These labels may be a little more costly at first, but after a month they become more economically efficient and more environmentally friendly than any regular label. Unfortunately, these labels do not last long and need an energy source to work correctly. “The tiny amount of energy OLED devices need to operate, could mean that they be powered by a small watch battery, solar cells or even radio waves. It might be possible for a store to use its shelves as an RFID antenna that would power the OLEDs in the product packaging” (Vegas Led Screens). This means that the location these are stored at can reap some sort of reward, or, in this case, communicational perk, from these labels because of their connectivity.

The OLED displays can last for approximately one year. While this may not seem like long now, the development of this product has just begun. It is predicted that as research continues, the lifespan of these labels will continue to grow. 

References

"OLED Flexible Display Technology Could Be Used in Smart Product Packaging." OLED Flexible Display Technology Could Be Used in Smart Product Packaging. Web. 26 Nov. 2015.

"Developments in Packaging Material." Best In Packaging. 30 Mar. 2015. Web. 26 Nov. 2015.

"Packaging Applications Are Ahead for Printable OLED Technology." Packaging Applications Are Ahead for Printable OLED Technology. Web. 26 Nov. 2015.

"Cynora and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology Launch CyFLEX Project to Develop OLED Luminescent Packaging."