The terms active packaging, intelligent packaging, and smart packaging refer to amplified

packaging Packaging is the science, art and technology of enclosing or protecting products for distribution, storage, sale, and use. Packaging also refers to the process of designing, evaluating, and producing packages. Packaging can be described as a coo ...

systems used with

food Food is any substance consumed by an organism for Nutrient, nutritional support. Food is usually of plant, animal, or Fungus, fungal origin and contains essential nutrients such as carbohydrates, fats, protein (nutrient), proteins, vitamins, ...

pharmaceutical Medication (also called medicament, medicine, pharmaceutical drug, medicinal product, medicinal drug or simply drug) is a drug used to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent disease. Drug therapy ( pharmacotherapy) is an important part of the ...

s, and several other types of products. They help extend shelf life, monitor freshness, display information on quality, improve safety, and improve convenience. The terms are often related and can overlap. ''Active packaging'' usually means having active functions beyond the inert ''passive'' containment and protection of the product. ''Intelligent'' and ''smart'' packaging usually involve the ability to sense or measure an attribute of the product, the inner atmosphere of the package, or the shipping environment. This information can be communicated to users or can trigger active packaging functions. Programmable matter, smart materials, etc. can be employed in packages. Yam, Tashitov, and Miltz have defined intelligent or smart packaging as: Depending on the working definitions, some traditional types of packaging might be considered as "active" or "intelligent". More often, the terms are used with new technologically advanced systems:

microelectronics Microelectronics is a subfield of electronics. As the name suggests, microelectronics relates to the study and manufacture (or microfabrication) of very small electronic designs and components. Usually, but not always, this means micrometre ...

, computer applications,

nanotechnology Nanotechnology is the manipulation of matter with at least one dimension sized from 1 to 100 nanometers (nm). At this scale, commonly known as the nanoscale, surface area and quantum mechanical effects become important in describing propertie ...

, etc.

Moisture control

For many years, desiccants have been used to control the water vapor in a closed package. A desiccant is a hygroscopic substance usually in a porous pouch or sachet which is placed inside a sealed package. They have been used to reduce corrosion of machinery and electronics and to extend the

shelf life Shelf life is the length of time that a commodity may be stored without becoming unfit for use, consumption, or sale. In other words, it might refer to whether a commodity should no longer be on a pantry shelf (unfit for use), or no longer on a s ...

of moisture-sensitive foods. With pharmaceutical packages, a common method is to include a small packet of desiccant in a bottle. Other methods of including desiccants attached to the inner surface or in the material have recently been developed.

Corrosion

Corrosion inhibitor A corrosion inhibitor or anti-corrosive is a chemical compound added to a liquid or gas to decrease the corrosion rate of a metal that comes into contact with the fluid. The effectiveness of a corrosion inhibitor depends on fluid composition and ...

s can be applied to items to help prevent

rust Rust is an iron oxide, a usually reddish-brown oxide formed by the reaction of iron and oxygen in the catalytic presence of water or air moisture. Rust consists of hydrous iron(III) oxides (Fe2O3·nH2O) and iron(III) oxide-hydroxide (FeO(OH) ...

and

corrosion Corrosion is a natural process that converts a refined metal into a more chemically stable oxide. It is the gradual deterioration of materials (usually a metal) by chemical or electrochemical reaction with their environment. Corrosion engine ...

. Volatile corrosion inhibitors (VCI) or vapor phase corrosion inhibitors can be provided inside a package in a pouch or can be incorporated in a saturated overwrap of special paper or plastic film. Many of these are organic salts that condense on the metal to resist corrosion. Some films also have VCI emitting capability. Films are available with copper ions in the polymer structure, These neutralize the corrosive gas in a package and deter rust. VCIs create a neutral environment in the packaging. It works on the principle of difference in

vapour pressure Vapor pressure or equilibrium vapor pressure is the pressure exerted by a vapor in thermodynamic equilibrium with its condensed phases (solid or liquid) at a given temperature in a closed system. The equilibrium vapor pressure is an indicat ...

and causes reaction with metals and non-metals, and with moisture to prevent corrosion. There are different forms of VCIs available, such as papers,

plastic Plastics are a wide range of synthetic polymers, synthetic or Semisynthesis, semisynthetic materials composed primarily of Polymer, polymers. Their defining characteristic, Plasticity (physics), plasticity, allows them to be Injection moulding ...

s, HDPE papers, oils,

foam Foams are two-phase materials science, material systems where a gas is dispersed in a second, non-gaseous material, specifically, in which gas cells are enclosed by a distinct liquid or solid material. Note, this source focuses only on liquid ...

s, chips, aluminum barrier foils,

bubble Bubble, Bubbles or The Bubble may refer to: Common uses * Bubble (physics), a globule of one substance in another, usually gas in a liquid ** Soap bubble * Economic bubble, a situation where asset prices are much higher than underlying fundame ...

, and emitters that can prevent corrosion at many stages.

Metal chelation

Conceptual illustration of metal-chelating active packaging technology

Trace

transition metal In chemistry, a transition metal (or transition element) is a chemical element in the d-block of the periodic table (groups 3 to 12), though the elements of group 12 (and less often group 3) are sometimes excluded. The lanthanide and actinid ...

s in foods, especially

iron Iron is a chemical element; it has symbol Fe () and atomic number 26. It is a metal that belongs to the first transition series and group 8 of the periodic table. It is, by mass, the most common element on Earth, forming much of Earth's o ...

, can induce oxidative degradation of many food components, especially lipids, and cause quality changes of the products. Metal- chelating active packaging materials are made by immobilizing metal-chelating active compounds onto traditional active packaging material. The surface immobilized metal-chelating compounds can scavenge the transition metals from the product and enhance the oxidative stability of the product. The metal-chelating active packaging technology is also

antioxidant Antioxidants are Chemical compound, compounds that inhibit Redox, oxidation, a chemical reaction that can produce Radical (chemistry), free radicals. Autoxidation leads to degradation of organic compounds, including living matter. Antioxidants ...

active packaging that will extend the shelf-life of consumer products by controlling the oxidation. The metal-chelating active packaging technology is known to be able to remove synthetic food preservatives (e.g.

EDTA Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), also called EDTA acid, is an aminopolycarboxylic acid with the formula . This white, slightly water-soluble solid is widely used to bind to iron (Fe2+/Fe3+) and calcium ions (Ca2+), forming water-solubl ...

) from the food product. This technology can be used to address the increasing consumer demand for additive free and 'clean' label food products.

Oxygen control

Oxygen scavengers or oxygen absorbers help remove oxygen from a closed package. Oxygen causes acceleration of product degradation and oxidation of e.g.

vitamins Vitamins are organic molecules (or a set of closely related molecules called vitamers) that are essential to an organism in small quantities for proper metabolic function. Essential nutrients cannot be synthesized in the organism in suff ...

and fats by stimulating microbial activity. As a result, poor taste, bad odor, discoloration and nutrient degradation may be the consequences. Examples of an oxygen scavengers are small packets or sachets containing powdered

: as the iron rusts, oxygen is removed from the surrounding atmosphere. Other metals, such as platinum or palladium can also be used. Organic oxygen scavengers can also be applied, such as

tocopherols Tocopherols (; TCP) are a class of organic compounds comprising various Methyl group, methylated phenols, many of which have vitamin E activity. Because the vitamin activity was first identified in 1936 from a dietary fertility factor in rats, it ...

, unsaturated hydrocarbons,

ascorbic acid Ascorbic acid is an organic compound with formula , originally called hexuronic acid. It is a white solid, but impure samples can appear yellowish. It dissolves freely in water to give mildly acidic solutions. It is a mild reducing agent. Asco ...

, and oxygen scavengers based on

enzymes An enzyme () is a protein that acts as a biological catalyst by accelerating chemical reactions. The molecules upon which enzymes may act are called substrates, and the enzyme converts the substrates into different molecules known as pro ...

microorganisms A microorganism, or microbe, is an organism of microscopic size, which may exist in its single-celled form or as a colony of cells. The possible existence of unseen microbial life was suspected from antiquity, with an early attestation in ...

. Newer systems are on cards or can be built into package films or molded structures. In addition, the physical characteristics of the packaging itself ( oxygen transmission rate - OTR) can dictate how effective an oxygen absorber can be, and how long it will stay effective. Packaging with a low OTR will let less oxygen in the closed package through the polymer barrier itself.

Atmosphere

With some products, such as

cheese Cheese is a type of dairy product produced in a range of flavors, textures, and forms by coagulation of the milk protein casein. It comprises proteins and fat from milk (usually the milk of cows, buffalo, goats or sheep). During prod ...

, it has long been common to flush the package with

nitrogen Nitrogen is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol N and atomic number 7. Nitrogen is a Nonmetal (chemistry), nonmetal and the lightest member of pnictogen, group 15 of the periodic table, often called the Pnictogen, pnictogens. ...

prior to sealing: the inert nitrogen is absorbed into the cheese, allowing a tight shrink film package. The nitrogen removes oxygen and interacts with the cheese to make the package functional. More recently, other mixtures of gas have been used inside the package to extend the shelf life. The gas mixture depends on the specific product and its degradation mechanisms. Some package components have been developed that incorporate active chemistry to help maintain certain atmospheres in packages. Oxygen scavengers, carbon dioxide generators, ethanol generators, etc. are available to help keep the atmosphere in a package at specified conditions.

Ethylene scavenging

Fruits and vegetables naturally discharge ethylene, which has a critical role in the growth, ripening and germination processes. In order to preserve long-term food quality, it may be desired to inhibit ethylene synthesis. As such, synthesis inhibitors or scavengers can be used. One of the most common ethylene scavengers is

potassium permanganate Potassium permanganate is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula KMnO4. It is a purplish-black crystalline salt, which dissolves in water as K+ and ions to give an intensely pink to purple solution. Potassium permanganate is widely us ...

(KMnO₄), which is typically immobilized on siliga gel or alumina. Other ethylene scavengers include

activated carbon Activated carbon, also called activated charcoal, is a form of carbon commonly used to filter contaminants from water and air, among many other uses. It is processed (activated) to have small, low-volume pores that greatly increase the surface ar ...

zeolites Zeolites are a group of several Microporous material, microporous, crystalline aluminosilicate minerals commonly used as commercial adsorption, adsorbents and Catalysis, catalysts. They mainly consist of silicon, aluminium, oxygen, and have the ge ...

. Alternatively, 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) can be used to inhibit the hormonal action of ethylene.

Temperature monitor

Some temperature indicators give a visual signal that a specified temperature has been exceeded. Others, time temperature indicators, signal when a critical accumulation of temperature deviation over time has been exceeded. When the mechanism of the indicator is tuned to the mechanism of product degradation, these can provide valuable signals for consumers. Digital temperature data loggers record the temperatures encountered throughout the shipment. This data can be used to predict product degradation and help determine if the product is suited for normal sale or if expedited sale is required. They also determine the time of the temperature excess: this can be used to direct corrective action. Thermochromic inks are sometimes used to signal temperature excess or change. Some are reversible while others have a permanent change of color. These can be used alone or with other packaging functions such as

barcode A barcode or bar code is a method of representing data in a visual, Machine-readable data, machine-readable form. Initially, barcodes represented data by varying the widths, spacings and sizes of parallel lines. These barcodes, now commonly ref ...

s. The inks can also signal a desired temperature for consumers. For example, one type of beer can has ink that graphically shows when an ideal drinking temperature is achieved.

Controlling package temperatures

For critical vaccines, insulated shipping containers are passive packaging to help control the temperatures fluctuations seen even with a controlled

cold chain A cold chain is a supply chain that uses refrigeration to maintain perishable goods, such as pharmaceuticals, produce or other goods that are temperature-sensitive. Common goods, sometimes called cool cargo, distributed in cold chains include fr ...

. In addition, gel packs are often used to keep the temperature of the contents within specified acceptable temperature ranges. Some newer packages have the ability to heat or cool the product for the consumer. These have segregated compartments where exothermic or endothermic reactions provide the desired effect. Self-heating food packaging is available for several products.

Dispensing

Some packages have closures or other dispensing systems that change the contents from a liquid to an

aerosol An aerosol is a suspension (chemistry), suspension of fine solid particles or liquid Drop (liquid), droplets in air or another gas. Aerosols can be generated from natural or Human impact on the environment, human causes. The term ''aerosol'' co ...

. These are used for products ranging from precision inhalers for medications to spray bottles of household cleaners. Some dispensing packages for two-part

epoxy Epoxy is the family of basic components or Curing (chemistry), cured end products of epoxy Resin, resins. Epoxy resins, also known as polyepoxides, are a class of reactive prepolymers and polymers which contain epoxide groups. The epoxide fun ...

adhesives do more than passively contain the two components. When dispensed, some packages meter and mix the two components so the adhesive is fully functioning at the point of application. The ability of a package to fully empty or dispense a viscous liquid is somewhat dependent on the surface energy of the inner walls of the container. The use of superhydrophobic surfaces is useful but can be further improved by using new lubricant-impregnated surfaces.

Radio-frequency identification

Faltschachteln mit integriertem RFID-Tag

Radio-frequency identification Radio-frequency identification (RFID) uses electromagnetic fields to automatically Automatic identification system, identify and Tracking system, track tags attached to objects. An RFID system consists of a tiny radio transponder called a tag, ...

(RFID) chips are becoming more common with the introduction of smart labels that are used to

track and trace In the distribution and logistics of many types of products, track and trace or tracking and tracing concerns a process of determining the current and past locations (and other information) of a unique item or property. Mass serialization is t ...

packages and unit loads throughout distribution. Newer developments include recording the temperature history of shipments and other intelligent packaging functions. RFID can be integrated into labels: smart labels.

Security

A variety of

security printing Security printing is the field of the printing industry that deals with the printing of items such as banknotes, cheques, passports, tamper-evident labels, security tapes, product authentication, stock certificates, postage stamps, and identity c ...

methods, security holograms, and specialized

label A label (as distinct from signage) is a piece of paper, plastic film, cloth, metal, or other material affixed to a container or product. Labels are most often affixed to packaging and containers using an adhesive, or sewing when affix ...

s are available to help confirm that the product in the package is not

counterfeit A counterfeit is a fake or unauthorized replica of a genuine product, such as money, documents, designer items, or other valuable goods. Counterfeiting generally involves creating an imitation of a genuine item that closely resembles the original ...

. RFID chips are being used in this application also. Electronic article surveillance (on the product or on the package) is used to help counter shoplifting.

Microwave packaging

Metallised films are used as a susceptor for cooking in

microwave oven A microwave oven, or simply microwave, is an electric oven that heats and cooks food by exposing it to electromagnetic radiation in the microwave frequency range. This induces Dipole#Molecular dipoles, polar molecules in the food to rotate and ...

s. These increase the heating capacity and help make foods crisp and brown. Plastic microwavable containers are also used for microwave cooking.

Shock and vibration

Shock detectors have been available for many years. These are attached to the package or to the product in the package to determine if an excessive shock has been encountered. The mechanisms of these ''shock overload'' devices have been spring-mass systems, magnets, drops of red dye, and several others. Recently, digital shock and vibration data loggers have been available to more accurately record the shocks and vibrations of shipment. These are used to monitor critical shipments to determine if extra inspection and calibration is required. They are also used to monitor the types of shocks and vibrations encountered in transit for use in package testing in a laboratory.

Antimicrobial control

Some engineered packaging films contain

enzyme An enzyme () is a protein that acts as a biological catalyst by accelerating chemical reactions. The molecules upon which enzymes may act are called substrate (chemistry), substrates, and the enzyme converts the substrates into different mol ...

s, antimicrobial agents, scavengers, natural pigments and other active components to help control food degradation and extend shelf life and safety. The mechanism focuses on preventing the growth of pathogenic or spoilage microorganisms. Meat absorbent pads meat diapers can contain antibacterials and have materials to signal contamination.

Bar Codes

Bar code A barcode or bar code is a method of representing data in a visual, Machine-readable data, machine-readable form. Initially, barcodes represented data by varying the widths, spacings and sizes of parallel lines. These barcodes, now commonly ref ...

s have long been used with packaging to identify an item, facilitate routing, communicate locations, etc. there are many varieties of linear bar codes. Some are stacked to provide more information. Two dimensional Matrix codes can have a higher information density. QR Codes can be used on packaging to provide additional information on the product via a smartphone scan. With digital printers, unit-level QR Codes can become the equivalent of a unique identifier or URL for each packaging, and enable other interactions with consumers such as providing specific information on product

traceability Traceability is the capability to trace something. In some cases, it is interpreted as the ability to verify the history, location, or application of an item by means of documented recorded identification. Other common definitions include the capa ...

, or deploying loyalty programs. Unit-level QR Codes are easy to counterfeit if additional security features are not used, but the scan data generated can be used for active brand protection. A

digital watermark A digital watermark is a kind of marker covertly embedded in a noise-tolerant signal such as audio, video or image data.H.T. Sencar, M. Ramkumar and A.N. Akansu: ''Data Hiding Fundamentals and Applications: Content Security in Digital Multimedia'' ...

or secure graphic can be inserted into the QR Code to make it copy-sensitive and let consumers authenticate products with a higher security level. The GS1 digital link is a standard for embedding GS1 standardised product identifiers into the unique identifier, which allows the same QR Code (or other data carrier) to provide information to consumers, retailers and supply chain. Printed codes can be combined with

for expanded uses. For example, thermochromic ink can be used to activate, change, or deactivate a code based on the item's temperature history.

Other developments

Edible films have been developed to allow consumers to eat the package along with the product. Packaging materials including silver nanoparticles have been shown to extend the shelf life of some foods. Special packaging has been developed for shipping organs which keeps them alive during extended shipments. The organs are alive and fresh for transplanting. Several packages used by Canadian cannabis corporations use active packaging to monitor THC levels throughout the production process. This is being implemented in order to ensure consistency between products to improve supply chain management as well as offer consumers improved value of purchase.

Regulations

Active packaging is often designed to interact with the contents of the package. Thus extra care is often needed for active or smart packagings that are

food contact materials Food contact materials or food contacting substances (FCS) are materials that are intended to be in contact with food. These can be things that are quite obvious like a glass or a can for soft drinks as well as machinery in a food factory or a ...

. Food packagers take extra care with some types of active packaging. For example, when the oxygen atmosphere in a package is reduced for extending shelf life, controls for anaerobic bacteria need to be considered. Also when a controlled atmosphere reduces the appearance of food degradation, consumers need to retain a means of determining whether actual degradation is present.