Smart data set to transform food packaging performance in new Solidus–BlakBear partnership

Solidus, a leading producer of sustainable fibre-based packaging, has joined forces with UK technology company BlakBear to explore how smart packaging can reshape food safety, shelf life and waste reduction.

The collaboration combines Solidus’ expertise in fully recyclable fibre-based solutions with BlakBear’s wireless freshness sensors, creating packaging that not only protects food but also delivers real-time insights into its condition.

BlakBear’s miniature sensors sit inside the packaging and track freshness by measuring spoilage gases such as ammonia, alongside temperature fluctuations. Data is transmitted wirelessly via Bluetooth and RFID, then displayed on a dashboard or API. By correlating gas release with bacterial growth and odour, BlakBear’s AI generates microbiology insights and shelf-life forecasts, giving producers and retailers a dynamic view of product quality.

For food manufacturers, this means packaging can move beyond static expiry dates and instead provide a live picture of freshness. “Traditional expiry dates are based on worst-case scenarios,” explains BlakBear CEO Max Grell. “Our sensors track actual biochemical changes, not time. Shelf life becomes dynamic and based on reality, not assumptions.”

The potential impact is significant. Between 5–10% of fresh food is wasted daily in grocery stores, often because conservative expiry dates lead to premature disposal. Even extending shelf life by a single day could reduce waste substantially. In the future, printed dates may be replaced or supplemented by digital freshness indicators, enabling safer, more efficient food distribution.

By embedding sensors into Solidus’ fibre-based packaging, the partnership also strengthens sustainability goals. Fibre packaging already achieves recycling rates of around 85% across Europe — double that of plastic — with recycled content often exceeding 90%. As packaging can account for up to 20% of a product’s Scope 3 emissions, integrating smart data offers producers a powerful tool to cut environmental impact while improving supply chain performance.

For Solidus, the project demonstrates how digitalisation and sustainable packaging can work hand in hand. Real-time data allows producers to reroute shipments, optimise cold chains, and reduce unnecessary lab testing, making supply chains more resilient and responsive. “Every pack of food reacts differently to temperature changes,” the company notes. “With BlakBear, producers can monitor freshness inside the packaging and act immediately.”

This early-stage collaboration is positioned as a step toward changing industry standards. By combining open innovation with trusted partnerships, Solidus and BlakBear aim to accelerate sustainable developments and deliver greater value to food producers, retailers and consumers alike.