Use of Chipless Radio Frequency Identification Technology for Smart Food Packaging: An Economic Analysis for an Australian Seafood Industry

Abstract

Effective monitoring of perishable food products has become increasingly important for ensuring quality, enabling smart packaging to be a key consideration for food companies. Among the promising technologies available for transforming packaging into intelligent packaging, chipless radio frequency identification (RFID) sensors stand out. Despite the high initial implementation costs associated with chipless RFID technology, the potential benefits could outweigh the costs if electrical challenges can be overcome. We examine various economic methods to analyze the economic benefits of chipless RFID technology, evaluating the benefits of using this technology for the quality monitoring of seafood products of an Australian seafood producer, Tassal. The analysis considers three primary business drivers, viz. quality monitoring, operational efficiency, and tracking and tracing, using net present value and return on investment as the key indicators to assess the feasibility of implementing the technology. Based on sensitivity analysis, we suggest chipless RFID technology is currently best suited for large firms facing significant quality monitoring and operational efficiency challenges. However, as the cost of chipless RFID sensors decreases with further development, this technology may become a more viable option for small businesses in the future.