What are anti-counterfeiting security seals ?

As supply chains become increasingly globalized in modern commerce, issues around counterfeiting have become a bigger problem for brands looking to protect their intellectual property.

More than ever, companies are looking into various security measures to protect their customers and products and security seals are a common sight across a range of consumer goods.

But how effective are they in 2024? And are there other solutions on the market that can enhance their effectiveness? In this article, we’ll answer both of these questions while looking closely at what they’re great for, and where they stumble.

What are security seals and how do they work?

Security seals are a form of anti-tamper device that falls into the category of tamper-evident solutions. That means if the seal is broken, it’s instantly evident that tampering has occurred and consumers or retailers can take the appropriate steps.

Because of this, security seals are what’s called overt solutions, meaning both the party tampering with the product and the end users can see what has happened visually.

Security seals can be physical, mechanical, or adhesive-based, and once applied, leave a visible and irreparable sign once disturbed.

This is designed to discourage unauthorized access and make it easy for consumers to verify that their purchases are genuine and unaltered.

From the perspective of the anti-counterfeiting market, these seals maintain the integrity of a product as it moves throughout the supply chain, ensuring it isn’t altered, damaged, or swapped within its packaging with counterfeit goods.

Types of security seals 

Security seals come in various types, with each designed around the product or packaging they’re used for. Common variants include:

• Adhesive labels. These change appearance when tampered with showing a clear sign of interference; they also contain anti-replication features like UV markings or holograms. You’ll mainly find them on packing. 
• Mechanical seals. These high-security seals are sturdier physical barriers like locks, cables, or solid plastic seals. You’ll see these in sectors like shipping and logistics, often put on crates, containers, or bags of smaller individual products.
• Void seals. These leave permanent messages with phrases like ‘OPENED’ or ‘VOID’ when broken or removed. These messages are then impossible to reverse and even when resealed will still be present. You’ll see these in pharmaceuticals, electronics, and other high-value industries.
• Breakable seals. These simple seals are designed to break when opened or tampered with, and can’t be reapplied. You’ll see these in food or drink products.

H3 Tamper-proof and tamper-evident security seals

The terms tamper-evident and tamper-proof are often used interchangeably. However, each refers to a distinct purpose when it comes to product security.

Tamper-evident seals are designed to show visual signs when a product has been accessed by unauthorized persons. These might be seals, stickers, or shrink-wraps that break when the packaging is opened. 

While they make it clear tampering has occurred, they aren’t designed to physically deter tampering by being difficult to break or open.

Tamper-proof seals, on the other hand, are designed to prevent unauthorized access entirely. They are usually made from sturdy materials and are difficult to alter without destroying the seal completely. Tamper-proof seals can include things like cable locks or security cases on high-value retail electronics.

This means that while almost all tamper-proof seals are tamper-evident, not every tamper-evident seal is tamper-proof since security stickers or labels don’t make it more difficult to access the product.

Advantages of security seals

High-security seals offer multiple benefits for companies looking to combat counterfeiting. These include:

1. Tamper-evidence. The core function of security seals is that they’re tamper-evident. This ability to show clear signs of tampering makes it easy to detect unauthorized access.
2. Cost-effective. Security seals are relatively cheap. They’re also easy to apply to products and packaging, making them an affordable solution for low-medium value goods where more comprehensive solutions wouldn’t make sense.
3. Versatility. Security seals come in a massive variety of types and can be tailored to fit most products and packaging. It’s also easy to have custom seals made with branding or unique features like holograms.

Challenges associated with security seals

While security seals are a popular form of protection they do come with both vulnerabilities and limitations. These include:

• Vulnerability to replication. Skilled counterfeiters can still replicate security seals fairly easily, making them less effective at combating more sophisticated operations.
• Limited lifecycle tracking. Security seals only offer usefulness up until the point of sale. This limited functionality does nothing to track the product across the full supply chain and can’t combat other issues like grey market sales.
• Single-use. Security seals are inherently designed to be single-use. This is fine for the initial buyer but means that verification can’t be done by further owners on the resale market. This is in contrast to the EU’s strategic plans to promote reusability in the economy.
• Impact on customer experience. Some clunkier physical seals can make the unboxing experience frustrating for customers.

Strengthen your protection against anti-counterfeiting 

While security seals are a great tool for anti-counterfeiting and anti-tampering, their limitations mean it’s best to combine them with newer solutions for more comprehensive protection.

One emerging method is to pair high-security seals with modern technology like affordable NFC authentication chips embedded into products or packaging. This technology allows consumers to verify their purchases with any smartphone, while manufacturers can track their products throughout the entire supply chain. 

Manufacturers can also communicate with end-users in a completely new innovative way, building engagement and fostering brand loyalty.

Authentify It is an all-in-one solution, leveraging advanced technology like blockchain to create a security and verification process that is impossible for counterfeiters to reproduce.

Authentify It also allows you to track your products throughout the supply chain to fight unauthorized distribution and identify security concerns in the chain. Book a discovery call to learn more.