The term "active packaging" describes any packaging system that performs a function in addition to holding food. More specifically, active packaging interacts with the environment surrounding the food, thereby rendering the food inside fresher, safer, or more pleasing to the consumer. More than a passive barrier between food and the environment, active packaging systems employ materials that react with oxygen, prevent increased carbon dioxide concentrations in the package, or protect the food from degradation due to light exposure or water vapor.
