Intelligent packaging and value generating: Technological development opportunities based on Patent Analysis

This article aims to analyze the technological developments of packages for chilled or frozen products carrying thermochromic visual indicators to inform the cumulative thermal exposure along logistics chains. Thermochromic visual indicators inform the final consumer whether the product is in real and safe conditions for consumption. Through technological prospecting in the Espacenet and Institute of Industrial Property of Brazil patent databases, 75 documents were selected, and their bibliographic and technical data were analyzed through Iramuteq software to identify the technological fields related to these kinds of packages that contribute most to increasing value. Supported by a literature review, we identified “technological clusters” which promote developing products and processes. The value features related to packages were confronted to technologies found, offering a clear vision of those more advanced and those yet incipient from the value generating point of view. Contrary to intuitive conclusions, technologies employing information on means of measuring and/or indicating temperature are the most frequently present in the patent documents analyzed, comparing to ecological and economic functions.