Every day, Anicet Mbida makes us discover an innovation that could well change the way we consume.
This Wednesday, he presents us with a revolutionary idea in terms of consumption.
It is a label that changes color and price of a product as the expiration date arrives.
An innovation that could reduce food waste.
These are labels that change the price automatically, as we approach the use-by date.
Take a tray of meat, for example.
Initially, the label displays the classic price (the full price) because the meat is fresh.
But after 48 hours, it will show roughly -20%.
And when we get very close to the deadline, it will be a -60% that will appear.
Everything is automatic.
It is simply the ink on the label that changes color over time.
You just need to program it according to the expiration date of the product.
This will greatly simplify the work of the storekeepers.
Today, they have to change the labels, one by one, by hand, or stick promo stickers on top of it… It takes a long time.
Suddenly, many brands simply prefer to get rid of the products.
But how does it go at the cash desk?
Will you have to enter the promotion manually?
No, because the ink will also add or remove lines on the barcode.
So we can scan the product with the promo automatically deducted.
The system is called Barcodiscount.
It is a technology developed by engineers from Taipei Tech University in Taiwan.
Not only could it encourage choosing more products that are close to the deadlines.
But it could also reduce food waste, especially these tons of expired products, not even unpacked, which go in the trash.
Besides, there is no reason to limit yourself to food.
We could also use this kind of labels to automatically sell off all the products that collect dust on the shelves.