419Chapter 19 Food packaging innovations: current and future applications in smart food developmentsmart food development

Abstract

Food packaging as a critical component of food processing food processing has evolved tremendously from the groundwork done by Nicholas Appert in the nineteenth century. This development has mainly been necessitated by the notoriety of conventional plastic packaging in the environment, the demand for functional products, as well as increased consumer awareness. Over the last century, plastic polymers plastic polymers , particularly polyethylene polyethylene and polypropylene polypropylene , have dominated the industry; however, the worldwide menace of plastic pollution has reinforced the push for eco-friendly packaging, especially in the food industry food industry . Hence, various innovations have since emerged in food packaging food packaging to address these problems, aligning with several UN SDGs (sustainable development goals), including cleaner production, climate action, and zero hunger. These innovations include active-, edible-, intelligent-, and nano packaging nano-packaging . While active packaging incorporates various active compounds to extend food shelf life, edible packaging can be consumed and also biodegrades as efficiently as the food it protects. Similarly, intelligent packaging intelligent packaging facilitates the safety and transport of packaged food using advanced technologies, while nanopackaging utilizes nanoscale materials to enhance numerous functionalities in food packaging. We present a comprehensive overview of these highlighted food packaging innovations, thus presenting a theoretical framework for future works and the evolving smart food industry.