Patent Publication Number: US-2022230033-A1

Title: Smart labels

Description:
The present techniques relate to the use of smart labels associated with packaging. 
     Packaging for consumer goods may be provided with a “smart label” which comprises relatively simple data electronics powered by an energy harvester. The smart label may for example be equipped with a data processor, one or more sensors, some memory capacity, a means of communication such as an RF-ID tag, and so on. This enables the smart label to perform useful roles both for the user and for the manufacturer, such as when involved in stock monitoring (for the manufacturer), and monitoring the state of the packaging and/or its contents (e.g. temperature monitoring). Energy harvesters may gather ambient energy in a variety of ways, such as from ambient sunlight, ambient thermal energy, ambient kinetic energy, and so on. Once activated by the manufacturer, such smart label electronics remains active as long as the required source of ambient energy is present and the natural degradation of the physical structure of the electronics does not render it unusable. 
     At least some examples provide an apparatus for use in conjunction with consumer product packaging comprising: an energy harvester to capture ambient energy to provide a source of electrical energy; electronic circuitry powered by the electrical energy; and a fuse providing an electrical connection between the energy harvester and the electronic circuitry, wherein destruction of the fuse permanently disconnects the energy harvester from the electronic circuitry. 
     At least some examples provide a method of operating an apparatus for attachment to consumer product packaging comprising: capturing ambient energy using an energy harvester to provide a source of electrical energy; operating electronic circuitry powered by the electrical energy, wherein an electrical connection between the energy harvester and the electronic circuitry is provided by a fuse; and destroying the fuse to permanently disconnect the energy harvester from the electronic circuitry. 
    
    
     
       The present techniques will be described further, by way of example only, with reference to embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, to be read in conjunction with the following description, in which: 
         FIG. 1A  schematically illustrates packaging with a smart label attached in some example embodiments; 
         FIG. 1B  schematically illustrates a smart label in more detail in some example embodiments; 
         FIG. 2A  schematically illustrates a smart label in more detail in some example embodiments; 
         FIG. 2B  schematically illustrates a user peeling off a small tab in order to destroy the fuse of a smart label in some example embodiments; 
         FIG. 3A  schematically illustrates the operation of a smart label which monitors the fullness of packaging and initiates electronic destruction of its own fuse when the packaging is determined to be substantially empty in some example embodiments; 
         FIG. 3B  schematically operates the operation of a smart label which monitors the state of the content of packaging using chemical sensors and triggers the destruction of its own fuse in response to a determination that the content has deteriorated in some example embodiments; 
         FIG. 4A  schematically illustrates a smart label which is responsive to a signal received from an external device in order to electronically destroy its own fuse in some example embodiments; 
         FIG. 4B  schematically illustrates a mobile phone being used to send an “end of life” signal to a smart label in some example embodiments; 
         FIG. 4C  schematically illustrates packaging being disposed of in a recycling bin which signals to the smart label on the packaging that it should electronically destroy its own fuse in some example embodiments; 
         FIG. 5  is a flow diagram showing a sequence of steps which are taken according to the method of some embodiments when operating a smart label; 
         FIG. 6  schematically illustrates a system for encouraging consumers to recycle packaging provided with smart labels in some example embodiments; and 
         FIG. 7  is a sequence of steps which are taken according to the method of some example embodiments when encouraging consumers to recycle packaging provided with smart labels. 
     
    
    
     In one example herein there is an apparatus for use in conjunction with consumer product packaging comprising: an energy harvester to capture ambient energy to provide a source of electrical energy; electronic circuitry powered by the electrical energy; and a fuse providing an electrical connection between the energy harvester and the electronic circuitry, wherein destruction of the fuse permanently disconnects the energy harvester from the electronic circuitry. 
     The inventors of the present techniques have recognised that in a smart label which has an energy harvester arranged to capture ambient energy in order to power electronics provided as part of the smart label, the work done by the electronics once the packaging to which the label is attached has been disposed of is unlikely to be useful and therefore the energy from the energy harvester is merely dissipated as heat. Although of course the amounts of energy under consideration for an individual smart label are very small, it is expected that such smart labels will become evermore widespread and therefore a great number of such “smart products”, i.e. packaging with an attached smart label will be disposed of. Accordingly, such disposed-of smart labels would continue to harvest energy and generate heat. Even if the packaging is recycled, there may still be a substantial period when an item of packaging may be waiting for processing and generating heat. Indeed, if such packaging is not recycled and is destined for landfill, then this period of generating useless heat may continue for a considerable period of time, even extending into years. Not only is this a waste of energy, but moreover it is conceivable that it could represent a fire risk, for example where many such smart labels are collected together in a recycling centre or in a landfill site. In this context, the inventors of the present techniques propose that such smart labels comprise a fuse which connect the energy harvester to the remaining electronics of the smart label and where destruction of the fuse permanently disconnects the energy harvester from that electronics. It should be noted therefore that the smart label is provided with a fuse which is expected and intended to be destroyed, but at an appropriate future time point after manufacture, which may be determined by the device (i.e. the smart label) itself, by the user, or by a third party device, as will be discussed in more detail below. Accordingly, the effect is that once the fuse is destroyed the electronics cannot operate since no electrical energy is generated by the energy harvester, and the smart label therefore is no longer a heat source. 
     As mentioned above, there are a variety of ways in which the fuse may be arranged to be destroyed, and indeed particular embodiments may comprise one or more of such mechanisms. For example in some embodiments the electrical connection between the energy harvester and the electronic circuitry is arranged to be manually breakable to cause said destruction of the fuse at a termination point in time chosen by a user. For example, where such a smart label may be provided as a thin, possibly printed, label on the surface of packaging, part or all of the fuse may be formed to incorporate a then, peelable label (e.g. where part of that peelable portion crosses an electrical connection). Thus, when the user chooses to destroy the fuse, i.e. the intention is that this should take place at the point at which the user disposes of the packaging to which the smart label is attached, the user peels off this portion, breaking the electrical connection and thus destroying the fuse. 
     The electronic circuitry can comprise a great variety of components, and there may be any number (small or large) of such components. In some embodiments the electronic circuitry comprises data processing circuitry. This supports the “smart” characteristic of the smart label, enabling a great range of functionality and behaviour. Thus, this data processing circuitry may be very simple (to the extent of essentially being a simple finite state machine) through to being a highly configurable and capable microprocessor. 
     The smart label may alternatively, or in addition, be provided with the capability to electronically destroy its own fuse. This then enables the smart label to destroy the fuse in response to one or more predetermined conditions, which may for example have been predetermined to be indicative of disposal or other equivalent “end of life” of the packaging. Accordingly, in some embodiments the electrical connection between the energy harvester and the electronic circuitry is arranged to automatically break to cause said destruction of the fuse in response to a trigger signal generated by the data processing circuitry. 
     The electronic circuitry may comprise data storage circuitry. 
     The data processing circuitry may be arranged to generate the trigger signal to cause destruction of the fuse in response to a variety of different inputs, but in some embodiments the apparatus comprises at least one sensor to provide at least one sensor input to the data processing circuitry, wherein the data processing circuitry is arranged to generate the trigger signal in dependence on the at least one sensor input. The smart label can be provided with one or more sensors in order for it to provide the user, the retailer, or the manufacturer with useful information and an input to the data processing circuitry from one of these sensors may provide suitable information on which to base the trigger for the destruction of the fuse. Alternatively, or in addition, the apparatus may be provided with at least one sensor which is provided solely for the purpose of identifying the “disposal” or “end of life” moment for the packaging to which the smart label is attached in order to generate the trigger signal. 
     Some embodiments further comprise at least one analogue-to-digital convertor to convert an analogue output of the at least one sensor into at least one digital sensor input to the data processing circuitry. 
     Accordingly, the at least one sensor may be arranged to provide a range of different information, however, in some embodiments the at least one sensor is arranged to provide information relating to content of the packaging. There are a range of ways in which information about the content of the packaging may be appropriate to determine the moment at which it is appropriate to destroy the fuse. 
     For example, in some embodiments the at least one sensor comprises at least one chemical sensor. Such a chemical sensor may be provided in order that the smart label can provide, say, the user with useful information about the state of the content of the packaging. 
     Moreover, in some embodiments the content of the packaging comprises perishable goods and the information relating to the content of the packaging comprises a state of deterioration of the perishable goods. Accordingly, the output of the chemical sensor can be arranged to provide information to the data processing circuitry indicative of the state of deterioration of the perishable goods. This can for example comprise a state of deterioration of edible goods and in particular to then allow identification of a time point at which the edible goods are determined to be no longer edible and therefore the time point at which firstly the packaging (including its inedible contents) should be thrown away and also therefore that the point has come for the energy harvester to be permanently disconnected from the rest of the electronics. 
     In some embodiments the at least one sensor comprises at least one physical presence sensor. This physical presence, in relation to the content of the packaging, may for example indicate how full a container is. This fullness may be graded, ranging from completely full down to completely empty, or may be binary in the sense of it only indicating “full/not full” or “empty/not empty”. This therefore enables the data processing circuitry to base its determination of the time point when the fuse should be electrically destroyed on the basis of physical presence of content. 
     For example, the content of the packaging may comprise consumable goods and the information relating to the content of the packaging comprises an extent of consumption of the consumable goods. Hence, regardless of whether the packaging has yet been thrown away or recycled, the data processing circuitry may be arranged to recognise when the packaging is empty (its contents have been substantially consumed) and at this point to disconnect the energy harvester from the remainder of the electronics of the smart label. 
     The data processing circuitry may alternatively, or in addition, base its determination of when to generate the trigger signal on other information and in some embodiments the data processing circuitry is arranged to generate the trigger signal in dependence on an internal state of the data processing circuitry. 
     This internal state may take a variety of forms, but in some embodiments the data processing circuitry comprises a clock and the internal state of the data processing circuitry comprises a timing indication generated by the clock. Accordingly, therefore the data processing circuitry can be arranged to generate the trigger signal when a particular moment in time has arrived, for example, a maximum allowed shelf-life or “best-before” date of a consumable product. It should be noted that the “clock” does not need to generate a true clock signal and this could for example be provided as a counter which might, say, be incremented each time the data processor performs a particular action, and once this counter reaches a particular value this might be determined to be the required “timing indication” and the data processing circuitry can then generate the trigger signal in response. 
     Alternatively, or in addition, the data processing circuitry may also respond to other signals in order to generate the trigger signal. In some embodiments the data processing circuitry is arranged to generate the trigger signal in dependence on an externally generated signal received by the data processing circuitry. This therefore usefully provides the possibility for the smart label to trigger its fuse destruction in response to other signals relating to various factors relating to the use of the packaging. 
     In some embodiments the electronic circuitry comprises radio-frequency communications circuitry and the externally generated signal is received by the data processing circuitry via the radio-frequency communications circuitry. Accordingly, this provides the smart label with the ability to be “triggered” in order to destroy its own fuse on the basis of a non-contact signal received. For example, where this signal is received via radio-frequency communications, a variety of external devices may then be configured in order to allow a user, or indeed another participant in the wider system of recycling packaging, to trigger the fuse destruction. For example, a user might trigger this by means of an app running on her mobile phone, whilst a recycling facility might generate this signal from a dedicated antenna close to which the packaging must pass when it is received to be recycled. 
     Various technologies may be envisaged for this communication with the apparatus and the present techniques are not limited to any particular variety of radio communication or communication protocol. However, in some embodiments the radio-frequency communications circuitry is radio-frequency identification circuitry. Where radio frequency identification circuitry (RFID) technologies are commonly implemented in connection with such smart labels, the extension of this to incorporate the present techniques allows for an efficient manufacturing process. 
     In some embodiments the radio-frequency identification circuitry is arranged to operate at ultra-high radio frequencies. This in particular allows the communication to take place across a relatively large distance, such that, for example, when packaging comprising a smart label is disclosed of, the source of the signal which should cause it to trigger the fuse destruction does not need to be very close. 
     In some embodiments the radio-frequency communications circuitry is near-field communication circuitry. 
     As mentioned above the externally generated signal may be generated on the basis of a variety of circumstances, including where the packaging is and accordingly in some embodiments the externally generated signal is indicative of a location of the apparatus. 
     In some embodiments the location of the apparatus is indicative that the packaging has been disposed of. For example, this may be provided in circumstances where the external signal is generated near the periphery of a recycling bin, such that when the packaging enters the bin the smart label is triggered to destroy its own fuse. This could also be the situation where the packaging enters a recycling facility. The present techniques may be manufactured in a variety of ways, but where such electronics, provided as part of smart labelling, is intentionally expected to eventually be disposed of, and where the packaging itself may be plastic based, “plastic electronics” may be used as the basis for the label. Accordingly, in some embodiments the apparatus is formed as a plastic-based electronic device. The apparatus may be formed as an organic electronic device. The apparatus may be formed as a biodegradable electronic device. Alternatively, more traditional electronics manufacturing techniques may be employed and accordingly in some embodiments the apparatus is formed as a silicon-based electronic device. 
     In one example herein there is a method of operating an apparatus for attachment to consumer product packaging comprising: capturing ambient energy using an energy harvester to provide a source of electrical energy; operating electronic circuitry powered by the electrical energy, wherein an electrical connection between the energy harvester and the electronic circuitry is provided by a fuse; and destroying the fuse to permanently disconnect the energy harvester from the electronic circuitry. 
     Some particular embodiments are now described with reference to the figures. 
       FIG. 1A  schematically illustrates packaging  10  which is provided with a smart label  20  attached to one of its surfaces. This smart label comprises various electronics  30 , which may for example be printed electronics. Further detail of the configuration of the electronics  30  of smart label  20  in various respective embodiments will be described with reference to the figures which follow. 
       FIG. 1B  schematically illustrates the smart label  20  in more detail. The smart label  20  comprises an energy harvester  22  which gathers ambient energy and converts it into electrical energy to provide an electrical power source for electronic circuitry  24 . The electronic circuitry  24  may be variously configured in dependence on the particular type of smart label, but can comprise a data processor and a sensor or sensors to provide information about the environment in which the smart label is currently situated and/or the content of the packaging to which the smart label is attached.  FIG. 1B  particularly illustrates that the energy harvester  22  is connected to the electronic circuitry  24  by means of fuse  26 . Moreover, this fuse  26  is arranged in such a manner that it can, at a suitable point in time, intentionally be destroyed in order to permanently disconnect the energy harvester from the electronic circuitry  24 . As illustrated by the dashed line in  FIG. 1B , this destruction of the fuse  26  may be caused by user action and/or by a trigger signal generated by the electronic circuitry  24 . 
       FIG. 2A  schematically illustrates a smart label  40  in some example embodiments. The energy harvester  41  gathers ambient energy and converts this into electrical energy. This may for example therefore be a photovoltaic cell, a piezo-electric device, a thermal energy gatherer, and RF energy gatherer, and so on. Electrical energy generated by the energy harvester  41  is conditioned by the energy conditioning circuitry  42 , which in some embodiments is a rectifier. It may instead be a more complex maximum power point tracking circuit, etc. The electrical power from the energy conditioning circuit  42  is connected to the electrical and the peelable fuse  43 . It is therefore to be understood that the electrical connection which the fuse  43  provides between the energy harvester and the electronic circuitry (i.e. here the data processing circuitry and other components) can be destroyed either electrically (by a trigger signal generated by the processor  44 ) or by removal of a physically peelable portion which the user can choose to peel off and thus destroy the fuse. The electronic circuitry of the smart label  40  illustrated in  FIG. 2A  not only comprises the processor  44 , but also communication circuitry  45 , a memory  46  to which the processor  44  has access, and sensors  47 , the output of which is converted by the analogue-to-digital converters (ADC)  48 . The user can choose to peel off the portion of the fuse  43  and cause its destruction, but also the processor  44 , in dependence on information it receives from the sensors  47 , the memory  46 , and/or the communication circuitry  45  can determine when to generate a trigger signal to destroy the electrically destroyable fuse  43 . 
       FIG. 2B  schematically illustrates (not necessarily to scale) a user  50  peeling off a portion  51  of a peelable fuse which forms part of a smart label  52  attached to packaging  53 . For example, the user may do this immediately before putting the packaging  53  into a recycling bin. Labelling on the smart label or packaging may instruct the user to do this. 
       FIG. 3A  schematically illustrates a smart label  60  according to some embodiments attached to packaging  62 . The smart label  60  is provided with at least one sensor  67  which enables it to determine the extent to which the content of the packaging  62  has been consumed. For example, in the case of the illustration of  FIG. 3A , the packaging  62  is provided for the purpose of holding liquid and at the time point illustrated on the left of  FIG. 3A  it can be seen that the packaging is essentially full, where the scale indicates a fluid level of “1.0”. After a period of consumer use the time point on the right of  FIG. 3A  is reached, where it can be seen that the packaging  62  is now essentially empty, where the scale indicates a fluid level of “0.0”. The sensor or sensors  67  of the smart label  60  provide the data processing circuitry  64  with a corresponding input or inputs, which enable the data processing circuitry to determine with sufficient confidence that the packaging  62  is now empty. In response to this the data processing circuitry  64  of the smart label  60  generates the trigger signal to the fuse  65 , which is destroyed as a result, meaning that the energy harvester  66  is permanently disconnected from the electronics of the smart label  60 . The final act of the data processing circuitry  64  before generating the trigger signal may for example be to cause a visual aspect of the label to permanently (i.e. not needing further electrical power to be maintained) indicate “EMPTY”. 
       FIG. 3B  schematically illustrates packaging  71  with an attached smart label  70 , where the packaging  71  comprises a perishable food item  72 . The smart label  70  comprises data processing circuitry  73 , an electronically destroyable fuse  74 , and an energy harvester  75 . A pair of chemical sensors  76  provide the data processing circuitry  73  with information about the current state of deterioration of the food item  72 . Hence, after a period of time has elapsed the illustration on the right of  FIG. 3B  shows that the food item  72  has now deteriorated to the point at which it should not be consumed. Chemicals associated with this deterioration of the food item  72  are detected by the sensors  76  and corresponding sensor inputs are received by the data processing circuitry  73 . The data processing circuitry  73  thus identifies that the food item  72  has perished and that the entire package (i.e. including the packaging  71 , the food item  72  and the attached smart label  70 ) should now be promptly disposed of and triggers the electronic destruction of the fuse  74 , such that the energy harvester  75  is permanently disconnected from the remainder of the electronics of the smart label  70 . The final act of the data processing circuitry  73  before generating the trigger signal may for example be to cause a visual aspect of the label to permanently (i.e. not needing further electrical power to be maintained) and prominently indicate “DO NOT CONSUME”. 
       FIG. 4A  schematically illustrates a smart label  80  in some example embodiments. Smart label  80  comprises an energy harvester  81 , an electronically destroyable fuse  82 , a battery  83 , and a processor  84 . The ambient energy gathered by the energy harvester  81  is stored in the printed battery  83 . The printed battery  83  is not essential, since electrical power may be taken directly from the energy harvester  81 , but an intermediate battery can help to smooth out fluctuations in the energy available (e.g. overnight from a solar cell). The printed battery  83  thus provides an energy source, via the fuse  82  for the processor  84  and the other electronic components. Sensors  85  are coupled to the processor  84  via the ADC  86 . The processor  84  has a small memory  87  attached and is also connected to communication circuitry  88 . A timer circuitry  89  also provides a further input to the processor  84 . The processor  84  is arranged to be responsive to a number of different signals on the basis of which it may generate the trigger signal which causes the permanent destruction of the fuse  82 . One signal on the basis of which the processor  84  may generate the trigger signal comprises inputs from the sensors  85 , for example as described above with reference to the example embodiments of  FIGS. 3A and 3B . Additionally, where in this embodiment the processor  84  also receives an input from the timer  89  which is configured such that the timing indication periodically and monotonically increases, the processor  84  will generate the trigger signal when the timer signal reaches a predetermined value. This value is associated with a given shelf life of the product contained in the packaging to which the smart label  80  is attached. Additionally (in this embodiment but alternatively in others) the communication circuitry  88  is arranged to receive a radio frequency signal from external source  90 . The radio-frequency communication capability of the smart label  80  provided by the communication circuitry  88  may provide the smart label  80  with various functionalities, for example in stock management for the manufacturer of the corresponding product, or for a retailer selling the product to a customer, but of particular interest here is the ability of the communication circuitry  88  to receive an “end of life” signal from an external source. On receipt of this signal, communicated further to the processor  84 , the processor  84  generates the trigger signal and destroys the fuse  82 . This “end of life” signal source may take various forms. 
       FIG. 4B  schematically illustrates one example embodiment, in which the smart label  80  of  FIG. 4A , attached to packaging  100  is caused to trigger the fuse destruction in response to a signal received wirelessly from a mobile telephone  90  operated by a user. For example, the user of the mobile phone  90  may have access to an app which causes the appropriate signal to be generated for reception by the communication circuitry  88  in order to cause the processor  84  to generate the fuse destruction trigger signal. Thus, the user is provided with the ability to selectively “turn off” the smart packaging immediately before recycling the packaging  100 . 
       FIG. 4C  schematically illustrates another use example of the smart label  80  attached to the packaging  100 , where in this example the packaging is being put into a recycling bin  110 . On the rim of the recycling bin is a source of the predetermined “end of life” signal  120 , such that when the packaging  100  is placed into the recycling bin  110 , the communication circuitry  88  of the smart label  80  detects the “end of life” signal from the wireless communications circuitry  120  of the recycling bin  110 , and the last action of the smart label  80  is to destroy its own fuse as it enters the recycling bin  110 . 
       FIG. 5  is a flow diagram showing a sequence of steps which are taken according to the method of some embodiment when operating a smart label according to the present techniques. The flow can be considered to begin at step  150  where the energy harvester of the smart label gathers ambient energy and converts this into electrical power. Then at step  151  the electronic circuitry of the smart label performs data processing powered by the electrical energy gathered by the energy harvester. It is determined at step  152  if an “end of life” condition is present in the electronic circuitry, i.e. if the electronic circuitry has determined either on the basis of some kind of internal state, or on the basis of information received from another part (e.g. a sensor) of the smart label, or in response to a signal received from an external source, that the packaging has reached the end of its life and the smart label should be turned off. If this is the case, then the flow proceeds to step  153  where the electronic circuitry triggers the electronic destruction of the fuse of the smart label and the flow ends at step  154 . Alternatively, returning to a consideration at step  152  if this end of life condition is not present, then it may be determined at step  155  if the user manually breaks the fuse. If the user does manually break the fuse, then the process also ends at step  154 , however, otherwise the flow returns to step  150  and the energy harvester continues gathering energy and the electronic circuitry continues performing its data processing. 
       FIG. 6  shows an associated recycling system. The use of smart labels on consumer product packaging encourages consumers to recycle the smart-labelled packaging. Although environmentally-conscious consumers may recycle whether there is an incentive for recycling there or not, this technique can cause those consumers that normally do not recycle, for whatever reason, to do so. This may be achieved by rewarding consumers who recycle, and this can be done automatically by retail stores when consumers recycle plastic packages by putting them into a smart recycle bin equipped to detect that the plastic package has been recycled by the consumer. A smart bin (whether public or private) equipped with a smart label reading capability can detect if a single package is disposed by reading an identifier (ID/tag) e.g. through RFID/NFC. It may also be arranged to read multiple smart labels in a fast manner (i.e. in a few seconds), if multiple smart packages are disposed of at one time. The smart bin can record the IDs of the recycled product packages, contact the retail store through its internet/cloud interface, and indicate which product packages have been recycled by the consumer(s), so that the retail store can match the identifiers of the recycled packages to the e.g. tag IDs of the product at the sale point, and then reward the recycling action in some way, e.g. with store credit or direct payment to the customer who paid by card. Similarly, a smart bin (whether public or private) can detect that an individual recyclable plastic package is being disposed of by a consumer by reading its smart label tag, and warn the consumer visually on a display on the bin and/or with audio on the bin if the consumer is about to put the packaging into the wrong compartment (e.g. a general waste section), in order to divert the disposal direction to the recycling section. In any of these configurations, once the smart bin has gathered the necessary identifier from a given smart label, it may trigger the smart label to destroy its own fuse as it enters the recycling bin, as described in more detail above with reference to the preceding figures. 
       FIG. 7  is a flow diagram showing a sequence of steps which are taken association with the recycling system of  FIG. 6 . At step  200  a product labelled with a smart label is bought from a store. Then at step  201  the store logs, in association with an identifier of the purchasing customer, an identifier derived from the smart label for the individual product. Later, at step  202  the customer deposits the packaging in a smart recycling bin, which at step  203  reads the product identifier derived from the smart label and sends this information to the store. On receipt of this information at step  204  the store verifies that this individual product was bought from the store and looks up the associated identifier of the purchasing customer. Finally at step  205  the customer is then rewarded in some manner, for example by allocation of a corresponding store credit, for having recycled the packaging. 
     In brief overall summary, smart labels, methods of operating smart labels, and associated contexts in which such smart labels may be used are disclosed. The smart label, for use in conjunction with consumer product packaging, comprises an energy harvester to capture ambient energy to provide a source of electrical energy and electronic circuitry powered by the electrical energy. A fuse provides an electrical connection between the energy harvester and the electronic circuitry and destruction of the fuse permanently disconnects the energy harvester from the electronic circuitry. Unnecessary continued operation of the electronic circuitry powered by the energy harvester can therefore be prevented, for example when the consumer product packaging is disposed of or recycled, which may be an undesirable heat source. Smart labelling, and a connected network of smart bins which can read the smart labelling, may also be used to promote consumer recycling of consumer product packaging. 
     In the present application, the words “configured to . . . ” are used to mean that an element of an apparatus has a configuration able to carry out the defined operation. In this context, a “configuration” means an arrangement or manner of interconnection of hardware or software. For example, the apparatus may have dedicated hardware which provides the defined operation, or a processor or other processing device may be programmed to perform the function. “Configured to” does not imply that the apparatus element needs to be changed in any way in order to provide the defined operation. 
     Although illustrative embodiments have been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various changes, additions and modifications can be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. For example, various combinations of the features of the dependent claims could be made with the features of the independent claims without departing from the scope of the present invention.