New Innovations in Food Packaging in Food Industry

Abstract

Packaging is an essential and critical requirement for promoting food safety, extended shelf life and thereby promoting food security. The packaging industry is exhibiting a rapid growth owing to the rising demand for processed and packaged food by consumers due to changing lifestyle patterns and eating habits, globalization and affordable income levels. Adoption of new technologies in transportation, logistics and supply chain, post-harvest technology, growth in new retail sector, evolution of e-commerce, need of single-use and single-dose consumer pack, and increasing dependence on appliances such as refrigerators, freezers and microwave ovens has led to a surge in packaging innovations. The recent efforts to meet the needs of the consumer and to ensure product quality during storage and transportation highlight the use of flexible packaging, high-barrier material innovations, improved metal and glass packaging, sustainable plastic packaging, active and intelligent packaging, modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), and other innovations. The future innovations in food packaging and their environmental and societal impact will influence the food industry at large. The present chapter reviews the recent developments in packaging materials and systems that have had impact on the society.