ABSTRACT
Active packaging is a kind of packing with added components that can either emit or absorb components into the packaging system from the food, which is being packaged, or from the environment, which surrounds the food. Active packaging can increase food conservation by inducing active packaging action, and the various active agents or components are incorporated into the passive barrier to work as emitters or absorbers of various components that play a pivotal role in preserving food. There are different types of active packaging available to enhance the stability of food products, such as moisture regulators, oxygen, carbon dioxide and ethylene scavengers, synthetic antioxidants, antimicrobial active packaging, etc. Biodegradable active packaging can be designed from natural-based biopolymers, which possess excellent barrier properties with significant antioxidant with antimicrobial activities. Therefore, in this chapter the basic concept of active packaging is explained along with its design for developing such packing material for several food applications.
