I think this is a fantastic idea – the barcode needs to be there anyway, so why not make a feature of it.  Obviously it’s more suited to certain areas of the market than others – I’m not sure a patient would appreciate finding one of these on a medicine, but then again on a more everyday or fun item I think it could be a great area to add some individuality and extra branding. (Jane)

While most Western manufacturers focus their marketing on the front of a product, a growing number of Japanese firms are branding the barcodes on the reverse as well. The black and white etchings contain sufficient detail to be recognised by scanners, while also incorporating the firms logo or an image associated with the product.

via Branded barcodes cheer Japanese shoppers – Telegraph.

Via www.cosmeticsdesign.com 29th Sept 2009

Focusing on the increasingly popular trend for faded special effects in plastic packaging, Clariant has launched a new more economical reflective technology.

The company introduced the fade special effect at the HBA show in 2008, and says that it has expanded its capabilities in the area because it has proved to be so popular with personal care and cosmetics providers.

The technology now includes increasingly sophisticated colors and layer combinations, which serve to provide a variety of finishes, from the very subtle, to bolder and more provocative designs, the company says.

Read the full article at: Clariant launches new technology for color fade plastics.

Just had to share this with you, when do you think he will managed to crack a CRC?

packagingnews.co.uk, 11 September 2009

In this weeks Packaging on YouTube, a clip from New Zealand of an octopus that has learned to open glass bottles to retrieve food and, even more bizarrely, has a penchant for playing with screwdrivers.

via Packaging on YouTube: Hungry octopus opens bottle with tentacle to get lunch | packagingnews.co.uk.