The global market of active and intelligent packaging

Active and intelligent (A&I) food packaging is based on a deliberate interaction of the packaging with the food and/or its direct environment to improve food quality and safety. Such technology includes advances in delayed oxidation and controlled respiration rate, microbial growth, moisture migration, etc.. Other examples are carbon dioxide absorbers/emitters, odour absorbers, ethylene removers and aroma emitters, while intelligent packaging include time-temperature indicators, ripeness indicators, biosensors and radio frequency identification. Firstly introduced in the market of Japan in the mid 1970s, active and intelligent packaging materials and articles, only in the mid 1990s raised the attention of the industry in Europe and in the USA. Over the past decade, active and intelligent packaging have experienced significant growth and change as new products and technologies have challenged the status quo of the traditional forms of food and beverage packaging. In the USA, Japan and Australia, active packaging concepts are already being successfully applied. In Europe, the development and application of active packaging is limited because of legislative restrictions, fear of consumer resistance, lack of knowledge about effectiveness and economic and environmental impact of concepts. In this sense the Framework Regulation 1935/2004/EC in which the use of active and intelligent packaging systems are included and more specifically, the Regulation 450/2009/EC laying down rules ad hoc for A&I materials and articles to can represent a driving force for a stronger penetration of such products in the EU market.