The latest edition of Packaging News has an interesting discussion on the merits of RFID against the use of bar codes. For now, it concludes that, for primary packaging at least, bar codes remain the technology of choice, and it may be that way for some time to come. Organisations who are investing in technology for "primary pack coding" continue to choose bar code systems over RFID.

Savvy watchers have always concluded that it is simply not a case of bar codes v RFID, because the two will co-exist for some time yet. While the article doesn't tell us much more "about why RFID  is not completely there" (in the retail world) - it does have significant traction in other sectors - the piece does give a useful summary of the thought processes affecting the packaging industry.

Ultimately, I wonder whether the choice of bar codes or RFID will ultimately also be impacted by the green argument, with a desire for more environmentally-friendly packaging - or simply less "wrap-around" altogether. This is an area, I'm sure, that the packaging industry, together with retailers, is already addressing in its future planning, especially with the Courtauld Commitment in mind. The Courtauld Commitment has an ultimate target of decreasing the amount of packaging waste by 2010.