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Standards Development
This document defines terms and definitions related to active and intelligent packaging for use in international commerce and academia. It aims to provide a comprehensive inventory of relevant terminology, harmonize language usage in the packaging industry, and support clear communication among all stakeholders globally.
Active and intelligent packaging (also referred to as smart packaging) is one of the fastest-growing areas in the global packaging industry, driven by increasing demands for product safety, quality assurance, and supply chain transparency in food, pharmaceuticals, and high-value goods. The global market for active and intelligent packaging is projected to surpass $18 billion by 2025, with an average annual growth rate of over 6%, and the technology is rapidly expanding across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. This growth is fueled by evolving regulatory and consumer requirements, such as the need to reduce food waste, improve shelf life, offer real-time monitoring, and ensure the traceability and authenticity of products. (Sources: Towardspackaging.com and others)
Recent technology developments in this field include the rise of functional packaging components like oxygen scavengers, antimicrobial films, and moisture absorbers, as well as data-driven features such as RFID, NFC, QR codes, and time-temperature indicators. These innovations are accelerating the adoption of IoT-enabled smart logistics and user-interactive packaging solutions, not only for food and pharma but also for electronics and sensitive goods. As a result, active and intelligent packaging is now a core element of modern digital supply chain strategies and safety systems worldwide.
Despite its rapid development, the sector still faces a significant challenge: the absence of harmonized international terminology. Currently, definitions and scopes for terms like “active packaging,” “intelligent packaging,” “scavenger,” “indicator,” and “freshness indicator” diverge widely between regions, industries, and even within different standardization or regulatory documents. For example, “antimicrobial packaging” may be defined by mode of action in one country and by its ingredients in another, and a “time-temperature indicator” could refer to anything from a color-changing label to an IoT data-transmitting sensor. These inconsistencies can confuse research, legal compliance, trade, and supply chain operations.
Establishing a unified vocabulary standard for active and intelligent packaging is essential to:
• Enable clear technical and regulatory communication among global stakeholders,
• Facilitate international trade and compliance by providing shared definitions,
• Support consistent product certification and market access,
• Guide R&D and innovation with a common framework,
• Prevent legal and operational disputes resulting from ambiguous or conflicting terminology.
The proposed standard responds directly to these market, technological, and practical needs, serving as the foundation for effective global collaboration and future harmonization in the field of smart packaging.
This standard will consolidate terminology, aid multilingual usage, and be referenced for future development of standards in active and intelligent (smart) packaging.
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