Battery-Free, Stretchable, and Autonomous Smart Packaging

In the food industry, innovative packaging solutions are increasingly important for reducing food waste and contributing to global sustainability efforts. However, current food packaging is generally passive and unable to adapt to changes in the food environment in real time. To address this, a battery-less and autonomous smart packaging system is developed that wirelessly powers closed-loop sensing and release of active compounds. This system integrates a gas sensor for real-time food monitoring, a Near-Field Communication (NFC) antenna, and a controlled release of active compounds to prevent quality deterioration in the complex food environment. The ability of the developed smart packaging system is demonstrated, to continuously monitor the freshness of fish products and to trigger the release of active compounds when the food starts to spoil. The system is able to extend the shelf-life of the food product up to 14 days, due to the controlled release of antioxidant and antibacterial compounds. The system can pave the way toward an Internet of Things solution that addresses protection, active prevention of food spoilage, and sustainability, facing all the current challenges of the food packaging industry.