A new outlook for paper products

The APPLE (Autonomous printed paper products for functional labels and electronics) project adopted a multidisciplinary approach, bringing together 12 research and industry partners with different backgrounds, including materials science and engineering, chemistry, physics, electronics, and micro- and nanotechnologies. They envisioned paper products such as labels with specific autonomous properties that interact with users and/or report changes in their environment.

Work centred on developing new types of paper, fibres and inks on an industrial scale, as well as on new printable functional components such as sensors, displays, memory modules and batteries. It is also developing a novel manufacturing process and printing technology, eventually resulting in large-area hybrid organic/inorganic papers with enhanced performance and cost effectiveness.

After developing safety labels, the team tested three reference papers for printability in relation to functional and peripheral components. Hybrid circuits were developed by the team, with testing proving both printing and electrical integration efficiency. Industrial printing test runs were realised at a factory to transfer results of the work on the demonstrators, and a visual inspection system was installed and tested at the same facility.

Project efforts pave the way for a renewal of the paper industry's products with more added value functional products. As such, APPLE outcomes open up new opportunities for EU paper and printing industries in the growing market of low-cost and high value added printed electronics. The technology also has potential for application in sectors related to public safety (monitoring air toxicity and pollution), packaging (food quality during storage and transportation), and chemicals production and use.