Packaging With Smarts

We unknowingly ingest more stuff than we would ever like to imagine. Between the microscopic bugs, bacteria, and viruses that find their way into the food we eat, we are walking hosts to a menagerie of living things—some of which can make us sick or even can be fatal.

The good news is that there are layers of protection built into food production designed to keep what we eat safe from pathogens that cause food-borne illnesses. A growing part of this safety system is smart packaging.

Smart packaging 101

There are several kinds of smart packaging that serve the food industry and protect consumers. However, Raghu Das, CEO, IDTechEx said, most smart packaging used for food falls into two categories: chemical and electronic.

“Chemical smart packaging includes packaging which controls the amount of carbon dioxide-to-oxygen ratio in the package of fresh foods to keep them fresher for several more days—mega bucks in the food industry,” he said. “It also includes inks which can change color with temperature so you know when fish or other foods have gone past their use date. … Electronic versions will warn of temperature excursions more accurately. Generally, smart packaging is used for diagnostics or for brand enhancements.”

A major area of smart packaging is freshness systems. These include freshness indicators, temperature-control packaging, gas scavenging packaging, anti-pathogens packaging, and time-temperature indicators (TTI). These packaging technologies do exactly as their names suggest, said Lawrence Gasman, principal analyst, NanoMarkets, and can ultimately affect the bottom line of food suppliers and producers.

“Keeping food and beverages fresh is a concern for suppliers and retailers, as well as consumers,” he said. “Increasing the shelf life directly impacts the profit made by the retailer. In addition, freshness systems give a distinct image to the brand and the retailer. The consumer benefits through access to better preserved and nutritious edibles. Above all, diseases originating from the consumption of stale or expired food can be eliminated through the use of freshness systems.”

Each kind of freshness system serves in the protection of the consumer in its own way. Here’s a rundown:

Freshness indicators—According to Gasman, these are “smart labels that indicate the freshness level of the packaged food through a color change.”

Temperature-control packaging—This technology is important in beverage packaging. Self-heating and self-cooling cans, meals, and beverages offer consumers convenience, Gasman said, but they also provide a service during times of natural disasters and catastrophes.

TTIs—These smart labels “monitor the temperatures that a package has been exposed to and for what duration. Thus, one can get a time-temperature history of the package, as it has passed through the supply chain until its final stage of consumption,” Gasman said.

Gas scavenging packaging—“Gas scavenging packaging and breathable film is a type of smart packaging which controls the concentration of certain gases, such as oxygen, inside the packaging depending upon the state of food items and the temperature,” Gasman said. This is the most effective and cost-efficient method of lengthening shelf life of food products.

Furthermore, Gasman added, “Apart from this, moisture control is an important part of controlling microbial growth. Breathable films allow the selective passage of certain gases, depending upon the conditions of the packaged food. Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP), as it is commonly known, has been in use in several packaged foods and beverages and the penetration is expected to increase in the coming years.”

Anti-pathogens packaging—This kind of smart packaging detects pathogens inside food packaging and communicates their presence to consumers. “The consumer today is willing to pay a little extra if he can be assured that the packaged food he is consuming is completely free from pathogens. A smart label on the package that continuously monitors the package for the presence of harmful microbes and viruses is sure to be received well by consumers,” Gasman said.

A bright future

According to Gasman, smart packaging has a few obstacles to overcome before brand owners start widespread implementation of these technologies in their packaging. These issues include cost and the complexity of implementation through the supply chain.

But there are pressures expediting the growth of smart packaging. Gasman said, “A number of drivers favor the increasing penetration of smart packaging, including changing consumer demand patterns. … For brand manufacturers, smart packaging opens the prospect of making a brand identity through the use of high-tech features. In these ways, demand for smart packaging can be seen as coming not only from the end-user segment, but also from retailers, brand manufacturers, and government agencies. These drivers are favoring the development and advancement of various enabling technologies, presenting significant opportunities for technology suppliers.” n