The End of Tech Waste? EPHÉM™ Proves Connected Labels Can Be Truly Biodegradable

When it comes to beauty for luxury brands committed to sustainability, a major contradiction has persisted: how do you integrate connected technologies like RFID or NFC for traceability and consumer engagement without creating permanent plastic waste that undermines your environmental promises?

The technical demands of connected packaging often force compromises, adding layers of complex plastic and metal to protect products. An innovation called EPHÉM, from Belgian company Ma Balise, is demonstrating how we can finally have technology that doesn't contradict core environmental commitments. The technology was awarded a LuxePack in Green awards at the last LuxePack Monaco show.

This is more than just a slight improvement; it's a legitimate technological advancement.

Rethinking the Connected Label, from 7 Layers to 4

Traditional NFC or RFID tags are complex little structures, typically comprising seven layers of non-recyclable materials, including PVC, PET, and a chemically etched antenna. The result is a persistent, mixed-material waste that pollutes the end-of-life stream.

EPHÉM has simplified this structure to just four entirely biodegradable layers:

1. FSC Paper Substrate
2. Antenna Printed in Conductive Ink (eliminating chemical etching)
3. Biodegradable Adhesive Layer
4. Protective Liner

This simplification achieves a 43% reduction in the number of layers while maintaining performance strictly equivalent to conventional, plastic-heavy solutions. It's a textbook case of leveraging smart design to reduce material complexity and the environmental footprint dramatically.

The Crucial Certifications: No Interference with Recycling

The real game-changer for brands focused on circularity is EPHÉM's triple environmental certification:

• DIN CERTCO: Certified industrial compostability.
• TÜV Rheinland: Confirmed biodegradation in a maximum of 30 days.
• PTS Paper: Certified recyclability with existing paper/cardboard streams, without requiring separate sorting.

This last point is critical. When we look at the messy reality of recycling, the greatest enemy is contamination (see our report here for more details). By gaining the PTS Paper certification, this label removes the biggest headache associated with smart labels: it does not contaminate or interfere with the recycling of the primary packaging. A paperboard box with an EPHÉM tag can go straight into the paper recycling bin.

Recycling - how does it work - part2

How does a sorting plant work RECYCLABILITY - a definition Plastics must meet four conditions for a product to be considered recyclable: * The product must be made with a plastic that is collected for recycling, has market value and/or is supported by a legislatively mandated program. * The

re-sourcesEva Lagarde

Every Small Step Counts

We understand that for some, focusing on an RFID label, which is a relatively small component of the overall packaging, may seem like a minor achievement. It’s easy to dismiss this as a "small step" compared to the challenges of decarbonising supply chains or inventing next-generation materials.

However, in the world of actionable sustainability, this innovation represents a turning point. It proves that the push for full environmental consistency is winning, even in areas historically dominated by non-sustainable tech. It demonstrates that the answer to making technology sustainable isn't just about offsetting impact, but about designing less impactful solutions from the ground up.

When a brand can implement cutting-edge traceability, anti-counterfeiting, and a Digital Product Passport (DPP 2027) while simultaneously delivering an reduced environmental impact at the point of disposal, it achieves brand coherence.

And genuine sustainability is about "alignment" and "consistency".

Every single step counts. Even small.

Key Applications for the Sustainable Professional

For R&D and NPD managers, EPHÉM is an immediate-win solution that addresses multiple upcoming needs: