Smart and sustainable food packaging: recent advances in active/intelligent technologies and future directions

Abstract

This narrative review synthesizes current knowledge and technological advances in smart and sustainable food packaging and focuses on active, intelligent, and bio-based systems. No experimental units, treatments, or controlled interventions were applied because this study is based solely on structural assessments of published scientific literature, regulatory documents, and technical reports. The goal is to clarify how new packaging technologies contribute to food quality, food safety assurance, and environmental performance. Active packaging technology incorporating antimicrobial agents, antioxidant emitters, gas removers, and natural bioactive compounds has demonstrated strong potential to extend shelf life and reduce microbial and oxidative degradation across various food categories. Intelligent packaging systems, including time-temperature indicators, freshness sensors, and biosensing materials, monitor product status in real time, improving transparency across the supply chain. At the same time, bio-based and biodegradable materials such as plant-derived polymers, starch composites, and cellulose films provide environmentally responsible alternatives to existing plastics and support circular economic strategies. Sustainability assessments, environmental burdens, and regulatory reviews indicate ongoing challenges related to safety assessments, movement controls, and global harmonization. Consumer Acceptance Studies further emphasize that perceived safety, environmental benefits, and usability strongly influence the willingness to adopt new packaging systems. This comment suggests that integrating active, intelligent, and bio-based components is essential to developing safe and sustainable next-generation packaging solutions. To accelerate the commercial adoption of innovative and sustainable packaging technologies in the future, the focus should be on regulatory alignment, scalable industrial manufacturing, and digital integration.