– Chinook is an innovative response which, thanks to its design and functionality, contributes significantly to boosting the circular economy, integrating advanced technology and food safety.
– This inlay is a rugged and reliable solution for reusable and microwaveable food packaging, a unique feature that allows for repeated use without affecting food safety and RFID functionality.

May, 2025: Checkpoint Systems, global leader company in RFID/RF-driven solutions, presents Chinook, an innovative RFID inlay designed specifically for reusable food packaging, providing microwave safety and resistance whilst improving traceability in the supply chain. This solution is an important bridge between sustainability and innovation, especially to address the environmental challenges facing the industry.

Global challenge of sustainable packaging

Waste packaging is a major global environmental challenge, which has led to the implementation of strict regulations in countries around the world. European Union (EU) is leading the way with its Packaging Directive, which aims to require all packaging on the market to be reusable or recyclable by 2030, setting milestones to be achieved by 2025. In addition, from January 2030, single-use plastic packaging will be banned for certain types of packaging.
Against this background, companies are facing increasing pressure to adopt sustainable solutions. Chinook inlay comes as an innovative response which, through its design and functionality, makes a decisive contribution to the circular economy, integrating advanced technology and food safety.

Chinook: A pioneering solution for reusable food packaging

Checkpoint Systems’ Chinook inlay, for which patent protection is being sought, stands out as a rugged and reliable solution for reusable and microwaveable food packaging. The innovative design has a unique feature that allows for repeated use without compromising food safety or RFID functionality. Certified by EECC official tests, Chinook inlay’s performance remained stable, maintaining more than 50% of its maximum read range, after 45 microwave cycles under the tests’ predetermined conditions. EECC concludes that: “Overall, the Chinook tag from Checkpoint has proven to be a robust and reliable transponder, making it well-suited for applications requiring frequent microwave exposure while ensuring consistent RFID performance.” In addition, Chinook is standards-compliant and suitable for microwave use and indirect food contact, offering confidence and peace of mind to consumers and businesses, even under demanding conditions.
In terms of sustainability, this inlay promotes the circular economy, reducing waste by being reusable in multiple cycles. Its traceability and visibility in the supply chain enables efficient tracking of products from their origin to the final consumer. Finally, its flexibility makes it suitable for different types of reusable packaging, including plastic and glass, providing ideal solutions for fresh, frozen and prepared foods.

Chinook inlay: a perfect solution for restaurants, supermarkets and food service sectors that are betting on reusable containers

Chinook is ideally suited to a wide range of use cases, offering key benefits in sectors such as processed food production, where it enables full traceability throughout the product life cycle. In supermarkets and retail chains, its innovative design is ideal for improving the management of fresh, pre-cooked and bulk products, optimizing operational efficiency. Likewise, in restaurants and catering services, Chinook inlay is positioned as an indispensable solution for fast food chains, delivery services and mass events, providing more efficient inventory control and reusable packaging.
Wherever reusable packaging needs to be tracked, Chinook could be the perfect partner to ensure seamless operations and sustainability.

About Checkpoint Systems, Inc.
Checkpoint Systems, a division of CCL Industries, is a global leader in RFID/RF-driven loss prevention, inventory control & traceability, branding, supply chain management and business data intelligence solutions. Its +50 years’ expertise are behind its unique combination of cloud-based SaaS, connected hardware, labels and tags offering intelligent solutions that bring clarity and efficiency to companies, from source to shop.
Checkpoint’s range of technological solutions offers retailers and brands – from several markets such as food & beverage, apparel & footwear, general merchandise, health & beauty, supply chain & logistics -among others- a connected approach to profitability and more seamless and engaging shopper experiences.
To find out more go to www.checkpointsystems.com

Pittsburgh, PA, May 15th, 2025 – AIM Global, the leading industry association and global authority in barcode, biometrics, IoT, NFC, RFID, RTLS, and RAIN, is delighted to announce Debbie Hughes as the winner of the 2024 Bert Moore Excellence in Journalism Award. This award was established to recognize a journalist or media representative in the automatic identification industry whose work exemplifies the qualities of honest, educational, and unbiased reporting of the automatic identification and mobility industry. The award was renamed in 2012 to honor Bert Moore, a long-time AIM contributor and industry expert.

Debbie Hughes has been awarded for her work as Senior Editorial Director of Events at RFID Journal LIVE! and her unwavering support for education within the RFID industry. Her tireless efforts and commitment have been instrumental in shaping the future of RFID technology and fostering industry growth.

“Debbie has been the glue that holds RFID Journal LIVE! together. Without her expertise in the background, there may still have been 20 years of RFID Journal LIVE!, but they wouldn’t have been as successful as they have been,” said nominator Kevin Berisso (AutoID Lab, University of Memphis). “Her value to the industry is invaluable and I can’t thank her enough for the support she has shown me over the years.”

For more information about AIM Industry Awards, please visit https://www.aimglobal.org/awards.html

About AIM

AIM is the trusted worldwide industry association for the automatic identification industry. For more than a half a century, AIM has provided unbiased information, educational resources, and standards to providers and users of these technologies. ​AIM membership provides access to an insider’s perspective on trends and opportunities along with a voice in shaping the growth and future of the industry.  Member benefits include education, advocacy, and community, as well as a role in creating industry standards through collaboration. Visit www.aimglobal.org for more information.