Ma Balise, a Belgian start-up specializing in connected traceability solutions, won the Luxe Pack in Green Award 2025 in the Eco-designed Packaging category in Monaco on October 1. Meanwhile, Swiss company Amcor won the CSR initiative award.
The highlight of the Luxe Pack Monaco trade show—a must-attend event for all professionals in the luxury packaging and retail industries—the Luxe Pack In Green ceremony crowned two winners this year: Ma Balise and Amcor.
Winner of the Luxe Pack in Green award in the Eco-designed Packaging category, Ma Balise, an innovative company founded in 2020 in Liège, was recognized for its Ephém™ labels, the world’s first fully biodegradable NFC and RFID labels, a revolutionary innovation combining connected technology and sustainability.
A technological breakthrough
Whereas a traditional connected label requires seven layers including PVC, PET, and chemical etching, the Ephém™ NFC and RFID label revolutionizes connected packaging with only four fully biodegradable layers, eliminating 43% of the ordinary layers.
In fact, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and chemical etching all have one thing in common: when subjected to high temperatures, they produce or release volatile compounds and even toxic particles that are harmful to health and potentially carcinogenic.
The solution developed by Ma Balise thus allows for the complete elimination of this undesirable trio (PVC, PET, and chemical etching). The antenna is printed with conductive ink on FSC paper.
Certified for 30 days, the biodegradability promised by the Ephém™ label does not compromise the effectiveness of the NFC and RFID device. As a reminder, this technology allows luxury brands to link their packaging to product information (provenance, origin, materials, etc.), communication campaigns, brand stories, and even personalized services.
For the company that describes its latest innovation as “technology that knows how to fade away,” the aim is to transform the European regulatory requirement for a Digital Product Passport, which will be mandatory for companies from 2027, into a sustainable competitive advantage for luxury brands. They will thus be able to guarantee their customers connectivity without compromising their environmental commitment.
Ma Balise has identified at least three compelling use cases for Ephém™ tags that address the main challenges facing the luxury sector, namely: complete traceability of ingredients and product origin, anti-counterfeiting authentication, and a personalized connected customer experience.
Present in around 15 countries, the Belgian company Ma Balise distributes eco-responsible connected traceability solutions through its Ephém™ range (EphémRFID™ and EphémNFC™). On its LinkedIn page, the Liège-based start-up claims to have designed 500 campaigns with optimized mobile content tailored to the exact width of smartphones. As a result, Ma Balise promises maximum user engagement (estimated at +30%) for environments as diverse as restaurants, museums, shops, and events.
For its part, Amcor won the Luxe Pack in Green Award 2025 in the CSR category. This Swiss company, based in Zurich, is the world leader in packaging solutions for consumer and healthcare products.
Read also > LUXE PACK Monaco invites packaging professionals to meet at the end of September
Featured photo: © Luxe Pack Monaco
