Environmental labelling goes digital

EAD, the Italian acronym for Digital Environmental Label, is the first solution specially designed to offer a digital version of the disposal and recycling information printed on packaging.

The system was launched onto the market a few months ago by Giunko, the company that introduced the popular Italian recycling application Junker app, and is already in strong demand.

The solution will help producers meet the requirements of Italian Legislative Decree no. 116/2020 due to come into effect on 1 January 2022, which makes it mandatory to label packaging with information relating to the collection, reuse, recovery and recycling of the packaging materials.

By using the barcode already present on traditional labels in conjunction with the Junker app, Giunko’s Digital Environmental Label exceeds legal requirements and provides specific geolocated disposal information for each Italian municipality. This function, which would be impossible for a traditional printed label, uses smartphone GSM technology to geolocate the device that generated the request.

All the manufacturer will need to do is print a message on the packaging inviting consumers to download the Junker app free of charge and use it to read the product barcode. At the touch of a button, consumers will be able to instantly view the digital environmental label for the packaging on their smartphones. On request, the information can be accessed by scanning a QR-code or can be embedded on the manufacturer’s website.

Why choose a digital label

“This solution is proving highly popular for more complex applications such as neutral, pre-wrapped, multilingual, small or information-dense packaging, as well as imported or exported products,” explains Noemi De Santis, communications manager at Giunko.

Digital label technology is now widely adopted and is backed by the EU, the Italian Ministry for the Ecological Transition MiTE and the Italian National Packaging Consortium CONAI. It is a smart solution that fully meets the challenge set by lawmakers and offers plenty of additional advantages over a paper label. In particular, it is easy to access, it takes up little space on the packaging, it provides geolocated disposal information, it can be updated instantly without reprinting costs and it is available in several languages.

It is also highly customisable and gives manufacturers the opportunity to include additional information content to highlight their company’s commitment to sustainability.

One of Giunko’s first digital environmental labels, created for the company Verolene, was recently recognised by CONAI as one of the “best ideas” for environmental labelling. By using the Junker app, an easy-to-use digital tool that is already familiar to consumers, it is able to provide accurate and constantly up-to-date information.

For further info, watch the video or visit the website etichettambientaledigitale.com