In mid-July, the Council of Ministers of the European Union adopted the new EU Battery Regulation. Among other things, the Battery Regulation specifies stricter rules on recycling efficiency. The Battery Regulation will apply to all products, including packaging and labels. It means that in the future, all smart labels equipped with batteries will have to meet stricter criteria regarding disposal.
Faubel's Smart Labels are not affected by this because they have no batteries. They are, therefore, generally more environmentally friendly than comparable products with batteries and easier to dispose of. Other advantages include the fact that
- no battery that needs replacing,
- no need for regular maintenance and
- the risk of sudden failure is low in such labels.
Our Smart Labels do not require batteries because their built-in RFID tags are passive, and their e-paper displays feature a bi-stable active-matrix structure. Our Smart Labels receive the energy they need for operation from the RFID field.
How come passive RFID tags do not require an extra power supply?
Passive RFID tags are supplied with energy via the electromagnetic field of RFID readers. In other words, the RFID readers deliver the necessary power for the contactless, two-way data transfer with the RFID tags.
In Faubel's Smart Labels, the contactless, two-way data transfer between RFID tags and readers occurs in the high-frequency range of 13.56 MHz and complies with ISO standard 15693. Therefore, the choice of stationary and mobile readers is wide: even smartphones can be used for this purpose.
How come bi-stable active matrix displays do not require an extra power supply?
Bi-stable active matrix displays are based on electrophoresis. Electrophoresis refers to the migration of electrically charged particles through a substance used as a carrier material in an electric field. By applying voltage, the pigments in the display are made to align and can, therefore, display letters, digits, pictograms and codes such as QR and data matrix codes. The pigments will remain permanently in that position without needing further voltage.
Dynamic labeling for all applications
Smart Labels are suitable for all applications that require dynamic labeling.We develop individual solutions to suit each industry and the respective application area. Our full-service offering includes hardware and software integration into the IT infrastructure, training and support. To learn more about our Smart Labels, please visit or make an appointment with for free consulting.