1.01 FuturE-Pack
    Digital Advanced Design for the Enhancement of Packaging as a Broadcaster in the Made in Italy Supply Chain

    Research project developed within MICS – Spoke 1 (Digital Advanced Design), rethinking packaging as a “broadcaster”: an intelligent, systemic and responsible infrastructure supporting the circular and digital transition of Made in Italy.

    The project

    The research project “FuturE-Pack - Digital Advanced Design for the Enhancement of Packaging as a Broadcaster in the Made in Italy Supply Chain” is developed within the MICS - Made in Italy Circolare e Sostenibile Extended Partnership, specifically in Spoke 1, dedicated to the theme “Digital Advanced Design: technologies, processes and tools”. Within this framework, FuturE-Pack develops digital tools that support knowledge gathering and information exchange, fostering innovative methods of design, communication and interconnection among different actors to generate virtuous cycles within the industrial system.

    The project investigates how packaging can be reimagined as a broadcaster, conceived as an augmented artefact capable of circulating information, data and values across the Made in Italy supply chain. The fashion sector serves as a pilot context, with potential scalability to other strategic sectors. FuturE-Pack is conceived as a collaborative initiative among three Italian universities and involves the Advanced Design Unit of the Department of Architecture at Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, the Systemic Design Lab of the Department of Architecture and Design at Politecnico di Torino, and the Eco Design Innovation Team of the Department of Industrial Engineering at Università degli Studi di Firenze.

    The project has produced a portfolio of digitally enhanced packaging solutions that expand traditional functions and support circular supply chains. Central to these outcomes are an interactive digital platform and a project-oriented toolkit, conceived to assist companies and designers in addressing the complexity of smart and sustainable packaging. The platform operates as a knowledge-sharing and decision-support infrastructure, enabling the structured collection, organisation and dissemination of data aligned with circular objectives. The toolkit provides operational resources for integrating digital technologies, sustainability metrics and value-based communication within packaging design processes.

    Together, these tools enable the recording and communication of product-related information, including environmental impacts, social values and brand narratives, translating complex datasets into accessible and meaningful formats. The objective is to foster transparent and interoperable systems that enhance traceability, efficiency and safety across logistics processes, while improving user experience through inclusive and reliable access to information.

    This study was carried out within the MICS (Made in Italy – Circular and Sustainable) Extended Partnership and received funding from the European Union Next-GenerationEU (PIANO NAZIONALE DI RIPRESA E RESILIENZA (PNRR) – MISSIONE 4 COMPONENTE 2, INVESTIMENTO 1.3 – D.D. 1551.11-10-2022, PE00000004). This outcome reflects only the authors' views and opinions, neither the European Union nor the European Commission can be considered responsible for them. 

    Academic Partners

    Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna
    Dipartimento di Architettura, Advanced Design Unit (ADU)

    Spoke Leader and Scientific Director MICS’ Spoke 1 
    Flaviano Celaschi
    Spoke Manager and Operational Coordinator MICS’ Spoke 1
    Michele Zannoni

    FuturE-Pack Project Leader
    Erik Ciravegna
    Research Team and Digital Platform Development
    Sara Battistini
    Lisa Filippini
    Roberto Polloni
    Camilla Sartor
    Research Collaborators
    Veronica Pasini
    Davide Pletto
    Elisa Vacondio
    Project Experimentation Coordinator
    Ludovica Rosato
    Digital Platform Development Support
    Michele Zannoni
    Marion Josserand
    Nicolò Ciaccia




    Politecnico di Torino
    Dipartimento di Architettura e Design, Systemic Design Lab (SYS)

    Institutional and Scientific Representative
    Silvia Barbero
    Research Team Members
    Mariapaola Puglielli
    Martina Spinelli





    Università degli Studi di Firenze
    Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale, Eco Design Innovation Team (EDIT)

    Institutional and Scientific Representative
    Massimo Delogu
    Research Team Member
    Caterina Antonia Dattilo


    


    Corporate partners

    The experimental phase was conducted in collaboration with industrial partners representing key sectors of the Made in Italy ecosystem: Zerobarracento for circular design in fashion, AstraKode for information technology and digital solutions, and Movopack for sustainable packaging systems. Their involvement ensured alignment with real production contexts and contributed to the validation and refinement of the proposed solutions through the development of prototypes and discussions with companies. Through this iterative and collaborative process, the project consolidated strategies that are technically sound and culturally consistent with the Made in Italy ecosystem.