Very few foods are sold without packaging. A food's desirable quality is maintained throughout its shelf life thanks to effective packaging, which also reduces waste. Despite its significance and the crucial role, it serves, packaging is frequently seen as at best somewhat redundant and at worst a significant resource waster and a threat to the environment. Such opinions are a result of the fact that a package's job is frequently all but finished by the time customers reach to it.

Food packaging requirements have increased in order to provide consumers with high-quality goods that meet strict standards for material performance and prolonged shelf life. Innovative food packaging can benefit from advancements like smart packaging, which has the potential to contain active ingredients, provide exceptional gas/vapor barrier qualities, and reduce plastic waste disposal.