VarieT Technology has unveiled its Smart Heat Battery designed to heat cans on demand, said to use solar rechargeable fuel, have zero CO2 emissions and be suitable for applications in food delivery, camping, emergency situations, and military use.
VarieT says its Smart Heat Battery provides an ‘eco-friendly, non-electrical heating alternative’ to traditional self-heating technologies by using solar rechargeable fuel and having zero CO2 emissions. The company adds that the battery can be activated through a smartphone app or a twist mechanism, and can function effectively in temperatures as low as -50°C. Its design takes up 5% of the can’s volume, allowing integration into existing packaging processes without compromising product space or efficiency.
The Smart Heat Battery apparently offers quick activation for instant heated beverages, aiming to support the circular economy through recycling bins and cashback rewards via in-app QR codes. Its customizable technology is designed to suit various product shapes, heating times and packaging, and solve issues of bulkiness, complex activation, and poor cold-weather performance.
VarieT states that the demand for portable heating solutions is substantial, with a total addressable market estimated at $154 billion. The company claims its new product offers a ‘compelling’ cost structure with a 300% margin, aiming to remain competitive in the market while providing a strong return on investment for manufacturers and partners.
In June, Japanese companies Toppan and Toyo Seikan announced they would be signing a letter of intent to establish a joint venture to manufacture and sell packaging for automotive lithium-ion batteries in Sweden, aiming to launch operations in 2026 or later. Toppan says efforts to promote the switch to electric vehicles are underway in the European Union, with the introduction of a CO2 reduction target requiring all new cars to be zero-emission from 2035.
More recently, Fanta and Warner Bros. Pictures celebrated the release of Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice in cinemas with a lineup of limited-edition Fanta cans, including an exclusive Beetlejuice flavour, and the opportunity to win tickets by scanning a QR code. Consumers can scan it to access physical and digital experiences, such as entering a draw to win tickets to watch Beetlejuice Beetlejuice in cinemas.
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