Bio-Based Smart Packaging Materials for Next-Generation Food Systems
- 1Institute of Polymer Materials, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Abstract
Traditional petroleum-based packaging suffers from pollution and functional limits, making it unsuitable for next-generation food systems. In contrast, bio-based smart packaging-combining renewable substrates with responsive components-transforms packaging from a passive shell into an active quality monitor and supply chain information node through three interconnected pillars: renewability, real-time responsiveness to freshness markers, and digital traceability. Market figures confirm this shift, with the smart food packaging sector projected to reach USD 48.97 billion by 2028 (CAGR 4.49% from 2023). This review covers recent progress in natural polymers (cellulose, chitosan, alginate, gelatin) and bio-based polyesters (PLA, PHA). Their multiscale structures enable tunable mechanical and barrier properties while serving as hosts for intelligent functions. Two functional directions stand out: active preservation (antimicrobial, antioxidant, gas-regulating, stimulus-controlled release) and intelligent sensing (colorimetric indicators, bio-based sensors, nano-amplified signals for real-time freshness monitoring). Beyond material functions, digital tools such as IoT and blockchain turn packaging into interactive data nodes, linking material intelligence with full traceability to enhance food safety and supply chain efficiency. Key challenges remain with long-term operational stability, production costs, scalable manufacturing, and life cycle assessments. Nevertheless, bio-based smart packaging is expected to evolve through biomimetic design, process innovation, and system-level integration toward adaptability, multifunctionality, and intelligence, ultimately supporting safer, more transparent, efficient, and sustainable food systems.
Related
- Phytochemical-Functionalized Smart Polymer Films: Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Strategies for Next-Generation Active Packaging
- Next-generation electronic packaging materials: thermal-dielectric properties and design strategies in PI and PTFE-based composites
- Empowering the next generation of intelligent packaging: integration and prospects of plant-derived sensing elements (PDSEs) in active food systems
- Review: next-generation metal hydride systems for sustainable hydrogen storage—kinetics, nanostructuring, and intelligent materials discovery
- Advanced Microwave Processing for Next-Generation Materials
BibTeX
@article{zhang2026biobased,
title = {{Bio-Based Smart Packaging Materials for Next-Generation Food Systems}},
author = {Ziao Zhang and Haowen Qian and Chun Shen and Shuping Wu},
journal = {Materials},
year = {2026},
month = jun,
doi = {10.3390/ma19112393},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19112393},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Bio-Based Smart Packaging Materials for Next-Generation Food Systems
AU - Ziao Zhang
AU - Haowen Qian
AU - Chun Shen
AU - Shuping Wu
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/06/04
JO - Materials
DO - 10.3390/ma19112393
UR - https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19112393
AB - Traditional petroleum-based packaging suffers from pollution and functional limits, making it unsuitable for next-generation food systems. In contrast, bio-based smart packaging-combining renewable substrates with responsive components-transforms packaging from a passive shell into an active quality monitor and supply chain information node through three interconnected pillars: renewability, real-time responsiveness to freshness markers, and digital traceability. Market figures confirm this shift, with the smart food packaging sector projected to reach USD 48.97 billion by 2028 (CAGR 4.49% from 2023). This review covers recent progress in natural polymers (cellulose, chitosan, alginate, gelatin) and bio-based polyesters (PLA, PHA). Their multiscale structures enable tunable mechanical and barrier properties while serving as hosts for intelligent functions. Two functional directions stand out: active preservation (antimicrobial, antioxidant, gas-regulating, stimulus-controlled release) and intelligent sensing (colorimetric indicators, bio-based sensors, nano-amplified signals for real-time freshness monitoring). Beyond material functions, digital tools such as IoT and blockchain turn packaging into interactive data nodes, linking material intelligence with full traceability to enhance food safety and supply chain efficiency. Key challenges remain with long-term operational stability, production costs, scalable manufacturing, and life cycle assessments. Nevertheless, bio-based smart packaging is expected to evolve through biomimetic design, process innovation, and system-level integration toward adaptability, multifunctionality, and intelligence, ultimately supporting safer, more transparent, efficient, and sustainable food systems.
SN - 1996-1944
ER -