Identiv has signed an exclusive multi-year agreement with reusable packaging provider IFCO Systems to develop and supply Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) smart labels designed for large-scale deployment across IFCO’s global network of reusable containers.
The partnership will focus on next-generation BLE-enabled labels that deliver enhanced tracking and data capabilities for reusable packaging assets across the fresh food supply chain.
Under the agreement, Identiv will serve as the exclusive manufacturer for committed production volumes of the customized BLE labels. Once the development phase is complete, the labels are expected to be deployed across IFCO’s pool of more than 400 million reusable packaging containers used worldwide.
IFCO operates one of the largest reusable transport packaging systems globally. Its reusable plastic containers (RPCs) support more than 2.5 billion shipments of fresh produce, meat, seafood, bakery items, and other perishable products each year across more than 50 countries.
The addition of BLE-enabled labels is expected to enhance visibility and digital connectivity across IFCO’s logistics network. Bluetooth Low Energy technology enables containers to transmit location, movement, and status data to compatible readers or gateways throughout the supply chain.
Identiv, headquartered in Santa Ana, California, develops radio-frequency identification (RFID) and BLE-enabled solutions that create digital identities for physical assets. The company’s technology has been integrated into billions of devices and applications across industries, including healthcare, logistics, consumer electronics, and smart packaging.
Identiv’s BLE technology has also been deployed in other supply chain visibility applications. Earlier this year, the company and Tag-N-Trac received the 2025 IoT Platforms Leadership Award from IoT Evolution World for a cold-chain tracking solution that monitors temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical shipments using BLE smart labels and cloud analytics.
Company executives said the IFCO agreement represents an important step in expanding Identiv’s BLE smart label manufacturing capabilities.
“This agreement marks a significant milestone in our BLE smart label strategy,” said Identiv CEO Kirsten Newquist. “The contract establishes Identiv as a high-volume supplier of BLE-enabled smart labels designed to support complex global supply chains.”
The collaboration also reflects a growing interest in digital technologies that enable reusable packaging systems to provide more detailed operational data. Asset visibility, cycle tracking, and loss prevention are among the potential benefits of integrating IoT technologies into reusable transport packaging fleets.
IFCO’s reusable plastic container pool plays a central role in fresh food distribution, helping retailers and suppliers reduce packaging waste while protecting product quality during transport.
Source: Identiv.
Rick LeBlanc, EMBA, is the founder and editor of Reusable Packaging News (subscribe to the free newsletter) and editor of Western Pallet Magazine. A supply chain journalist with more than 30 years of experience, he specializes in pallets, reusable packaging, material handling and related operations. Rick is co-author of Pallets: A North American Perspective and Pallets & Progress: A Collected History of Pallets and Palletized Handling 1922–1945. He is also an advisory board member of the Virginia Tech Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design. Read Rick’s full bio.
