ABSTRACT
Over the last decade, food packaging technology has gone through a fast and signicant development especially in case of innovative materials, where some of them have been already commercially applied. The main role of food packaging is to secure proper preservation of food by protecting it from the inuence of the various external and internal environmental conditions. Busy lifestyles and rising disposable income are resulting in increased consumption of packaged food. The days when food packaging was used simply to provide information about packed product, protect and provide convenient method of transportation are long gone. Current innovations of food packaging technology are focused on following functions: better protection, more efcient and long-lasting quality preservation, and enhanced safety in general for both consumer and environment. In addition, nowadays active and smart packaging facilitates increased functionality of packed product. The most recent packaging innovations on the market include unique features that capture the imagination of consumers providing an interactive communication experience that lasts long after a consumer has discarded the packaging. Most of such innovations lead to extending shelf life, and even further providing useful information that updates during the product’s lifetime. Nowadays innovations in food packaging materials are perceived as combination with factors that will affect its further development and potential industrial application.
