What type of food packaging is designed to increase shelf-life by modifying the atmosphere inside the package?

Active packaging is specifically designed to enhance the preservation of food products by modifying the atmosphere within the packaging. This type of packaging can include various technologies, such as oxygen scavengers or moisture absorbers, which actively work to reduce the levels of oxygen or humidity in the package. By altering these environmental conditions, active packaging helps to slow down the degradation of food products, thus increasing their shelf life.

This is particularly valuable in prolonging freshness and preventing spoilage, making it ideal for perishable items. The effectiveness of active packaging is rooted in its ability to interact with the contents of the package and respond dynamically to changes in the environment, ensuring that food remains safer and can maintain its quality for a more extended period.

In contrast, passive packaging does not actively alter the atmosphere inside the package; instead, it provides a barrier to external factors. Functional packaging may enhance product appeal or convenience but does not primarily focus on extending shelf life through atmospheric modification. Preservative packaging is not a standard category in packaging terminology, and it generally refers to the practice of adding preservatives to food rather than modifying the packaging itself.