Preface

Emerging food packaging technologies are promising packaging innovations that can provide competitive advantages to improve the food distribution system. A food packaging innovation may be advanced to become an emerging technology if its developers can apply sound science in a creative and cost-effective manner to fulfill some important and timely socioeconomic needs such as improving food safety and security. The successful development and commercialization of emerging technologies often requires thinking inside and outside the box, developing innovative approaches and solutions to address specific needs, and integrating them smoothly and effectively into the existing system. To develop breakthrough packaging technologies, multidisciplinary teams with expertise, not only in packaging science and engineering, but also in disciplines such as food engineering, information technology, nanotechnology, and socio-economics are often needed.

This book begins with an overview of the driving forces behind food packaging innovations and some considerations for their development. Following this overview are 20 chapters organized into four parts.

Part I consists of six chapters on active packaging technologies. An active packaging technology is typically used to favorably change the internal environment of a package to extend the shelf life of the food inside. Controlled release packaging is a technology by which active compounds such as antimicrobials and antioxidants are incorporated into the package and then released to the food in a controlled manner to retard microbial growth or lipid oxidation for shelf life extension. When appropriate, this innovative technology may be combined with traditional technologies such as modified atmosphere packaging to achieve the desired benefits.

Part II contains five chapters on intelligent packaging and the consumer/ packaging interface. Intelligent packaging has emerged as one of the most innovative packaging technologies in recent years, using the communication function of packaging to monitor and improve the distribution system and to facilitate decision making. The consumer/packaging interface is related to the complex but important human environment of the packaging system described in Chapter 1.

Part III consists of five chapters on new packaging materials, including the latest developments in nanocomposites, coating technologies, light-protective materials, and compatible materials for non-thermal processing, as well as safety and regulatory aspects of new packaging materials.

Part IV consists of four chapters on environmentally compatible food packaging, including topics on eco-design, life cycle assessment, packaging for waste reduction, and biobased polymers. To develop sustainable packaging, new packaging materials must not only be environmentally compatible, but they must also be economically viable and provide useful packaging functions to meet the needs of society.

It is our fervent hope that this book will serve as a useful reference for researchers, professionals, students, and novices. The book is blessed by the dedication of the contributing authors and by the great assistance of the editorial staff at Woodhead Publishing. Finally, acknowledgments would not be complete without thanking our wives, Aileen and Eun-Mee, who have acted as great sounding boards and support during many hours of working.