Green Smart Labels for Food Packaging: Technologies, Sustainable Materials, Applications, and Future Perspectives

Food loss and waste have become major global challenges that jeopardize environmental preservation, economic viability, and food security. Smart packaging technologies have emerged as effective solutions to monitor food quality, increase shelf life, and reduce unnecessary food waste across the supply chain in response to these issues. Among these technologies, smart label systems have attracted considerable attention due to their capacity to deliver real-time information on food safety, quality, and freshness through simple, rapid, and user-friendly detection mechanisms. The smart labelling technologies used in food packaging, such as time-temperature indications, freshness indicators, gas sensors, radio frequency identification (RFID)-based systems, and biosensor-based labels, are covered in detail in this review. With a focus on food quality monitoring and traceability, their working principles, benefits, and current applications are examined. Additionally, as sustainable substitutes for traditional petroleum-based materials and synthetic dyes, new developments in eco-friendly smart labels based on biodegradable polymer matrices and naturally derived colorimetric indicators, especially anthocyanins, are reviewed. Along with recent technological advancements in nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), and digital traceability systems, the present constraints related to material stability, production cost, large-scale manufacturing, and regulatory approval are also analysed. Overall, smart labelling technologies show promise for enhancing food safety, reducing food loss and waste, and facilitating the shift to intelligent and sustainable food packaging systems. Continued advances in sustainable materials and sensing technologies are expected to accelerate the commercialization of smart labels and contribute to more resilient and circular food systems.