Recent Developments in Intelligent, Active, and Sustainable Food Packaging Systems for Enhanced Food Safety and Quality Assurance

ABSTRACT: Background: The global food packaging industry is undergoing a paradigm shift from passive containment toward dynamic, multifunctional systems that actively preserve food quality, monitor spoilage in real time, and minimize environmental impact. Objectives: This review synthesizes recent advances (2020–2025) in intelligent, active, and sustainable food packaging with emphasis on technological principles, material innovations, and regulatory frameworks. Methods: A comprehensive narrative review was conducted using peer-reviewed literature from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Publications from 2020 to 2025 were included. Results: Active packaging incorporating antimicrobial agents, essential oils, and nanocomposites demonstrated significant shelf-life extension. Intelligent systems including colorimetric freshness indicators, time-temperature indicators (TTIs), biosensors, and RFID-enabled labels offer real-time food quality data. Sustainable alternatives such as polylactic acid (PLA), chitosan-based films, and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) address environmental concerns associated with petroleum-derived plastics. Artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) integration are accelerating these advances. Conclusion: Convergence of smart materials, digital technologies, and circular economy principles is transforming food packaging. Harmonized regulatory frameworks, consumer acceptance, and cost-effectiveness remain critical challenges for broader adoption. Keywords: active packaging; sustainable food packaging; nanocomposites; biosensors; food safety; shelf-life extension; biopolymers.