Juhi Ranjan & Manabraj Manna
PhD Research Scholar, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi


Introduction
Packaging serves a dual role as an industrial and marketing strategy, encompassing the containment, safeguarding, identification, and facilitation of the sale and distribution of diverse products, including agricultural, industrial, and consumer goods. As defined by the International Packaging Institute, packaging involves enclosing products in various forms such as pouches, bags, boxes, cups, trays, cans, tubes, bottles, or other containers. Its primary functions include containment, protection and/or preservation, communication, and utility or performance. Any device or container fulfilling one or more of these functions is considered a package. The primary objective of packaging is to shield a product from deteriorative effects resulting from exposure to and use in the external environment. Additionally, product packaging serves as an effective marketing tool to communicate with consumers. It comes in various shapes and sizes, functioning as a user interface to provide consumers with ease of use and convenience. The key functions of product packaging are categorized into protection, communication, convenience, and containment.

In the context of food products, packaging serves several purposes, including preventing leakage or breakage, protecting against contaminations, communicating essential information about the product and its nutritional content, and providing cooking instructions. It also offers convenience, such as enabling consumers to reheat the food in a microwave, and containment for ease of transportation and handling.

Moreover, Active packaging emerges as an alternative to traditional methods, responding to changes in consumer demands and market trends. This innovative concept embeds components into the packaging that release or absorb substances to sustain quality and extend shelf life. Advantages include reducing the amounts of active substances, minimizing localization activity and particle migration, and eliminating unnecessary industrial processes that could introduce bacteria. Components frequently used in active packaging systems include oxygen scavengers, ethylene scavengers, flavor and odor absorber/releaser, antimicrobial, and antioxidants.

Intelligent packaging primarily monitors the condition of packaged foods, capturing and providing information on quality during transport and storage. Utilizing communication functions, intelligent packaging facilitates decision-making to preserve food quality, extend shelf life, and improve overall food safety. Components of intelligent packaging systems include time-temperature indicators, gas detectors, freshness and ripening indicators, and radio frequency identification (RFID) systems. Smart packaging represents a comprehensive solution that both monitors changes in a product or its environment (intelligent) and acts upon these changes (active). It employs chemical sensors or biosensors to monitor food quality and safety from producers to consumers. Smart packaging technology has various potential applications, such as monitoring food safety and drug use, tracking postal delivery via embedded security tags, and identifying supply chain inefficiencies. In the era of constant internet connectivity, tracking and monitoring goods through associated apps have become a significant business opportunity for companies to enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty. Additionally, smart packaging can be utilized to identify supply chain inefficiencies, reduce costs and errors, improve product performance, and ultimately increase profit margin The anticipated value of the worldwide smart packaging market is projected to reach $26.7 billion by 2024. Smart packaging entails the incorporation of sensor technology into packaging systems applied across various sectors, including food, pharmaceuticals, and other product types. Its purpose is to enhance shelf life, oversee freshness, present quality information, and enhance both product and customer safety.

Table1. Examples of Active and Smart packaging:

Active packaging

*Anti-microbial Time

* Ethylene scavenging sensors

* Heating/cooling

* Moisture absorbing

* Odour and flavour absorbing/releasing

*Oxygen scavenging

*Spoilage retarder

Smart packaging

*Temperature indicators

* Microbial spoilage indicators

* Physical shock indicators

* Leakage sensors

*Allergen sensor

* Microbial growth sensors

*Pathogens and contaminants


Advantages of smart food packaging:

Real-Time Monitoring: Smart packaging incorporates sensors that enable real-time monitoring of the conditions inside the package. This includes factors such as temperature, humidity, and gas levels. This capability is particularly valuable for perishable goods, as it helps ensure that products remain within optimal conditions throughout the supply chain.

Traceability and Transparency: Smart packaging technologies, such as RFID tags and QR codes, facilitate traceability. This means that the entire journey of a product from the farm or production facility to the consumer can be tracked. This transparency enhances food safety by allowing for quick identification and response in the event of a recall.

Extended Shelf Life: By actively monitoring and controlling environmental factors, smart packaging can contribute to extending the shelf life of perishable goods. This not only reduces food waste but also enhances the availability of fresh and high-quality products for consumers.

Quality Assurance: Sensors embedded in smart packaging can detect changes in product quality, such as spoilage or contamination. This ensures that only products meeting predetermined quality standards reach consumers, enhancing overall product quality and safety.

Improved Inventory Management: Smart packaging facilitates efficient inventory management for retailers and manufacturers. The ability to track products in real-time reduces the risk of overstocking or stockouts, optimizing supply chain operations.

Consumer Engagement: QR codes and augmented reality features on smart packaging enable direct interaction with consumers. This engagement can provide detailed information about the product, including its origin, nutritional content, and recommended usage. Such transparency builds trust and loyalty among consumers.

Enhanced Safety Measures: Smart packaging can incorporate features like tamper-evident seals and indicators, ensuring that consumers receive products in their original, unaltered condition. This is especially important for safeguarding against tampering or contamination during transportation and distribution.

Environmental Sustainability: Some smart packaging solutions contribute to environmental sustainability by reducing food waste and optimizing logistics. For example, sensors that monitor product freshness can help prevent premature disposal of still-edible items, reducing overall waste in the food supply chain.

Convenience for Consumers: Smart packaging often includes features that enhance convenience for consumers, such as resealable closures, portion control, and easy-to-read labels. These elements contribute to a positive consumer experience and satisfaction.

Data-Driven Insights: The data collected through smart packaging can provide valuable insights for manufacturers, retailers, and other stakeholders in the supply chain. This information can be used to optimize processes, improve efficiency, and respond proactively to emerging trends or issues.

Conclusion
the integration of smart packaging technologies in the food industry represents a pivotal stride towards enhancing food safety and security throughout the entire supply chain. As we traverse the journey from farm to fork, these innovative packaging solutions act as vigilant guardians, continuously monitoring and safeguarding the quality and integrity of our food products.Smart packaging, equipped with sensors, RFID tags, and other advanced technologies, empowers stakeholders with real-time data and insights. From tracking temperature and humidity conditions during transportation to detecting potential contaminants, these intelligent systems provide an unprecedented level of transparency and traceability. This not only allows for swift identification and mitigation of potential hazards but also fosters a culture of accountability among producers, distributors, and retailers.

Refrences:

Kuswandi, B., Wicaksono, Y., Jayus, Abdullah, A., Heng, L. Y., & Ahmad, M. (2011). Smart packaging: sensors for monitoring of food quality and safety. Sensing and Instrumentation for Food Quality and Safety, 5, 137-146.

Schaefer, D., & Cheung, W. M. (2018). Smart packaging: opportunities and challenges. Procedia Cirp, 72, 1022-1027.

Siddiqui, J., Taheri, M., Alam, A. U., & Deen, M. J. (2022). Nanomaterials in smart packaging applications: a review. Small, 18(1), 2101171.

Yam, K. L., Takhistov, P. T., & Miltz, J. (2005). Intelligent packaging: concepts and applications. Journal of food science, 70(1), R1-R10.