Active and Intelligent Packaging: An Emerging Technology in Thailand

Panuwat Suppakul

Abstract

In response to the dynamic changes in current consumer demand and market trends, the area of active and intelligent packaging (AIP) is becoming increasingly significant. Principal AP systems include those that involve oxygen scavenging, moisture regulating, ethylene scavenging and inhibiting, carbon dioxide and ethanol generating, antimicrobial packaging, antioxidant packaging, insect repellent packaging and anti-anxiety packaging. The latest advances in IP systems include barcode labels, radio frequency identification tags, time-temperature indicators, gas indicators, food spoilage indicators, rancidity indicators, moisture indicators, fruit ripeness indicators, ready-to-serve indicators and sensors. An emerging technology, AIP has been of increasing interest in Thailand. According to the National Science and Technology Strategic Plan (2004-2013), AIP technology is considered as materials technology in the core technologies of the food and agricultural cluster. This emerging technology must be carefully considered by key players and supporters in order to expedite AIP technology as one of the major technologies in the country’s creative economy. This will help to raise Thailand’s packaging industry to the next level on a par with other developed countries.

Driving Forces in Packaging Innovation

In this decade, innovative packaging with enhanced functions is constantly sought in response to an increase in consumer demand for minimally processed foods, changes in retail and distribution practices associated with market globalisation, new consumer product logistics, new distribution trends (e.g. internet shopping), automatic handling systems at distribution centers, an increase in regulatory requirements, stricter requirements regarding consumer health and safety and the recent threat of food bioterrorism (Suppakul et al., 2003; Yam et al., 2005). Active and intelligent packaging (AIP) technology is being developed as a result of these driving forces.

Overview of Active and Intelligent Packaging Technology

Active packaging (AP) is defined as a mode of packaging in which the package, the product and the environment interact to prolong shelf life, and/or enhance safety and/or sensory properties, while maintaining the quality of the product. This is particularly important in the area of food packaging. Suppakul et al. (2003) published a detailed discussion of some of the principal AP concepts. The latest advances in AP include oxygen scavenging, moisture regulating, ethylene scavenging and inhibiting, carbon dioxide and ethanol generating, antimicrobial packaging, antioxidant packaging, insect repellent packaging and anti-anxiety packaging.

Intelligent packaging (IP) is defined as a packaging system that is capable of providing information to facilitate decisions to extend shelf life, enhance safety, improve quality and warn about possible problems. Yam et al. (2005) reviewed and elucidated the anatomy of the IP systems. The latest advances in IP include barcode labels, radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, time-temperature indicators, gas indicators, food spoilage indicators, rancidity indicators, moisture indicators, fruit ripeness indicators, ready-to-serve indicators and sensors.

Research in Active and Intelligent Packaging Technology in Thailand

As an emerging technology, AIP has been of increasing interest in Thailand. Research findings in these areas have been gradually produced, especially in the Department of Packaging Technology and Materials (DPTM), Kasetsart University and the National Metal and Materials Technology Center (MTEC) of the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA 2004). Promising subclasses of AIP have been extensively researched in Thailand as the following list of research projects demonstrates:

• Development of antimicrobial packaging films containing natural plant extracts.
• Development of antioxidant packaging films containing natural plant extracts.
• Development of antimicrobial pad for extending the shelf life of table grapes.
• Development of bio-active nanocoated film containing natural plant extract using rapid expansion of supercritical solutions.
• Development of milled rice packaging for preventing insect infestation.
• Development of fresh preserving film for tropical fresh produce.
• Development of anti-anxiety film for transportation of Siamese fighting fish.
• Development of antimicrobial paper for packaging applications.
• Development of spoilage indicator for Thai desserts.
• Development of food spoilage indicator for monitoring microbial quality deterioration.
• Development of moisture indicator for monitoring quality deterioration of moisture sensitive foods.
• Development of rancidity indicator for monitoring quality deterioration of oxygen sensitive foods.
• Development of a prototype of lactic acid-based time–temperature indicator for monitoring food product quality.
• Development of fruit ripeness indicator for monitoring ripening quality of durian and mango.
• Consumer attitude towards intelligent packaging.

Equilibrium modified atmosphere packaging (EMAP) has been developed by MTEC in collaboration with the DPTM. This freshness preserving film for tropical fresh produce was awarded the Silver Medal (Package and Storage) in the 53rd World Exhibition of Innovation, Research and New Technology – BRUSSELS EUREKA 2004. Recently, a Kasetsart team won 2nd prize in ‘Rice Innovation Awards 2009’ organised by the Thai Rice Foundation under the Patronage of His Majesty the King in association with the National Innovation Agency (NIA) for their research in developing a freshness label from rice starch: ‘KU FreshZense’. A Kasetsart team also successfully investigated anti-anxiety agents, which are widely used in fish transportation to minimise stress on fish during transportation, and to develop anti-anxiety packaging for freshwater aquarium Siamese fighting fish.

Consideration of Active and Intelligent Packaging Technology in Thailand

With globalisation leading to the migration of product and package manufacturing in Asian countries, Thailand has significantly increased urbanisation. The Thai Government's active production of Asian project hubs is reflected in a high rise in packaging industry activity. The Thai packaging market growth is approximately 10-15% per annum. For infrastructure investment and skills development, there are four universities offering packaging education programs in Thailand, with Kasetsart University (KU) being the first institution in Thailand and South East Asia to offer a PhD in Packaging Technology. There are at least two levels of resistance to the wider take-up of AIP technology in Thailand. First, there are industry concerns about the reliability and effectiveness of the technology at the current stage of development. Second, a higher level of consumer awareness and acceptance is required before the technology can really take off. Despite these concerns, it could change in the very near future as a result of the approval of active and intelligent materials regulation on 30 May 2009 by the European Parliament (Suppakul 2009). It will both directly and indirectly affect the science and technology, economics, society and environment of Thailand.

Conclusions

In Thailand, AIP is a rapidly emerging technology allowing for working, manipulating, creating and expanding to novel areas of this innovative packaging. It has been used in various applications. For example, MTEC-KU fresh films have been used for Chinese kale, chili, sweet basil and banana. KU FreshZense freshness labels have been used for either carbohydrate-based food products or protein-based food products. KU antifungal pads have been used for table grapes. MTEC ripeness indicator labels have been used for durian and mango. In addition, anti-anxiety packaging has been conceptually developed for aquarium fish transportation. AIP technology is considered one of the major technologies in the country’s creative economy. This will assist to raise Thailand’s packaging industry to the next level on a par with other developed countries.

References

NSTDA (2004) National science and technology strategic plan (2004-2013). National Science and Technology Development Agency. Bangkok: Ministry of Science and Technology, Thailand.

Suppakul, P (2009) Active and intelligent packaging technology. Bangkok: Kasetsart University; 457 pp. (In Thai)

Suppakul, P, Miltz, J, Sonneveld, K and Bigger, SW (2003) Active packaging technologies with an emphasis on antimicrobial packaging and its applications. J. Food Sci. 68: 408-420.

Yam, KL, Takhistov, PT and Miltz, J. (2005) Intelligent packaging: concepts and applications. J. Food Sci. 70: R1-R10.

Dr Panuwat Suppakul is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Packaging Technology and Materials, Faculty of Agro-Industry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; E-mail: fagipas@ku.ac.th