As counterfeiting rises across sectors from pharmaceuticals to luxury goods, packaging authentication has become essential. At the PRIME Awards 2025: Innovators Success Stories Summit, two innovators (e7 Group & Vinsak) showcased smart, scalable, and sustainable solutions redefining packaging as a key tool for brand protection. Reports Ben Daniel.
Designing packaging to prevent counterfeiting In a landscape where trust is an invaluable asset and the threat of counterfeiting is intensifying, authentication has become a critical pillar of brand protection. At the PRIME Awards 2025 – Innovators Success Stories Summit, two industry leaders- e7 Group and VINSAK- highlighted their groundbreaking efforts in transforming packaging into an intelligent, technology-driven safeguard against forgery. While VINSAK stands at the forefront of providing advanced authentication technologies and solution platforms, e7 Group excels as a specialist converter and printer, driving the large-scale deployment of these innovative security features.
Both companies are setting new benchmarks in packaging security across the GCC and the broader MEA region, with a particular focus on safeguarding high-value sectors like pharmaceuticals, luxury goods, cosmetics, perfumes, jewellery, tobacco, and premium electronics. These for ward-thinking innovations underscore a vital shift in how brand protection is approached today. By combining cutting-edge authentication technologies with real-world application expertise, these solutions offer brand owners a robust, scalable defence against counterfeiting.
In an era where consumer trust is fragile and market dynamics are increasingly complex, this strategic fusion of technology and execution is not just a safeguard- it’s a competitive advantage that empowers brands to protect their most valuable asset: their integrity.
Counterfeiting: Global Crisis with Local Impact
At the PRIME Awards 2025 -Innovators Success Stories Summit, Ranesh Bajaj, Managing Director of VINSAK, delivered a stark message on the growing global counterfeit crisis -calling attention to an illicit industry now valued at over USD 500 billion annually.
The impact is being felt acutely across the Middle East and Africa (MEA), particularly in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. As this region rapidly establishes itself as a global logistics and trade hub, its vulnerability to counterfeit infiltration is intensifying The implications span far beyond financial losses: counterfeit pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food products pose direct risks to public health and consumer safety, while also damaging brand credibility and economic integrity.
Bajaj emphasized that this is no longer a peripheral issue. Counterfeiting has evolved into a strategic threat, with widespread repercussions for both global supply chains and local economies. And consumers are paying attention. Global studies indicate that more than 60% of consumers would stop buying from a brand after unknowingly purchasing a counterfeit product. In an era where consumer trust is hard-won and easily lost, particularly in premium markets, brands cannot afford to ignore this reality. Authentication is no longer a value-add–it’s an existential requirement.
Vinsak Authentication Print to Pixel-Seamless
In response to this rising threat, VINSAK has pioneered a comprehensive, multi-layered strategy that merges physical security with digital intelligence creating what Bajaj calls a “360-degree defense system” for packaging,
VINSAKs portfolio includes: .
High-Security Substrates:
Tamper-proof materials such as synthetic laminates, security papers, and multi-coated films that form the first line of defense against replication.
• Advanced Print Security:
Overt and covert features like microtext, tamper-cvident threads, and UV. reactive inks that add visiblc and forensic protection to packaging.
.Smart Digital Solutions:
Encrypted serialization, blockchain-enabled traceability, and mobile-based authentication tools that empower consumers. inspectors, and supply chain stakcholders to verify authenticity in real-time.
More than Just a technology provider, VINSAK enables converters and packaging producers to integratc these tools seamlessly into existing work flows. This makes adoptlon both cost-effective and scalable- an essential consideration for brands operating across diversc markets and complex distribution channels. AS. counterfeit operatlons become more sophisticated, 50 must the solutions. VINSAK’s forward- looking approach-combining material science, print innovation, and digital validation-aims to keep brands one step ahead, ensuring cvery package is more than a product carrier. It becomes guardian of trust.
e7 Group: Transforming Packaging into Trust
Speaking at the PRIME Awards 2025, Dharmesh Zavery of c7 Group underscored a powerful Insight: smart packaging is no longer just a reactive delense against counterfciting -it’s a proactive, strategic asset. Brands that invest in secure packaging technologies not only protect their products but unlock long- term gains in consumer trust, loyalty, and measurable return on investment.
“Smart packaging is no longer just a shield against counterfeiting- it’s a strategic platform that builds trust, drives engagement, and delivers measurable RO1 for forward-thinking brands” – Dharmesh Zavery, Head of Sales – Packaging of E7 added.
As a leading printer- converter, c7 Group is pioneering a new era in packaging security. Their advanced suite of solutions integrates both overt and covert authentication features, elevating packaging into a powerful tool for brand protection and engagement. Their innovations include: • Overt Security Features: Secure holograms, fluorescent coatings, and glow-in-the-dark inks offer immediate, visual indicators of authenticity–making it easier for consumers to trust what they’re buying
- Covert & Digital Authentication: Serialized QR codes, blockchain- backed traceability, RFID and NFC-enabled smart labels, as well as consumer-facing mobile apps, allow for seamless verification and deeper post-sale engagement. This fully integrated approach not only secures the supply chain but turns e every product into a verifiable, data-rich touchpoint- offering brand owners insights while deterring counterfeiters at every step.
Backed by ISO-certifiled operations and BRCGS AA+ rated facilities, c7 Group brings unmatched technical credibility to the table. Their packaging solutions span critical sectors from pharmaceuticals and luxury goods to FMCG and and institutional identity programs all while maintaining a strong sustainabillty ethos through biodegradable materials and energy-efficient processes. In an industry where trust is a brand’s most valuable currency, e7 is redefining packaging as a dynamic, trust-driven interface between brands and consumers.
Making secure packaging a brand standard as global commerce accelerates and counterfeit operations grow increasingly sophisticated, the packaging landscape is undergoing fundamental shift. No longer a secondary consideration, product authentication has become mission-critical-not just for compliance, but for survival in high-stakes markets.
Packaging is now a frontline defense and a brand’s most visible promise of trust. For brand owners, secure packaging is more than a physical barrier; it is a powerful strategic asset that: ‣Shields products from grey market infiltration and counterfeit threats •Preserves brand integrity and reputation across global supply chains •Instills consumer confidence and drives long-term brand loyalty For packaging converters and manufacturers, the message is equally clear: the future belongs to those who innovate. Embracing authentication technologies–both physical and digital- can position suppliers as essential value-chain partners, offering smart, secure and sustainable solutions at scale. The Call to Action: In an era where consumer trust is hard- eared and easily lost, premium brands can no longer afford to treat authentication as an afterthought.
“Counterfeiting is a big menace all across the globe. Almost every economy is vulnerable to its effects, losing billions in taxes and affecting millions of people with duped products.” – Ranesh Bajaj, Managing Director of Vinsak added.