Swedish company Innoscentia has spent years developing sensor technology that tells consumers whether the food inside a package is still safe to eat. The company is now ready to launch the technology on the market. This year, its sensor is also competing in Packnorth Award.
Every year, the EU wastes 58 million tonnes of food, much of which is perfectly edible but discarded because conservative “best before” dates have led consumers to stop trusting their own senses. This is not simply a labelling issue. It is a fundamental flaw in the way we package food, according to Lund-based Innoscentia.
Innoscentia has developed sensor technology that transforms packaging into a real-time quality indicator. Instead of static dates based on worst-case scenarios, the technology provides current, fact-based information about the freshness of the product. The solution is now competing in Packnorth Award 2026.
The solution is simple and cost-effective: a sensor that reacts to the by-products generated as food deteriorates and changes colour when the contents of the package are no longer safe to consume.
The result is that the full shelf life of the product can be utilised, consumers can make decisions based on facts rather than uncertainty, and food waste can be reduced at the point where it occurs—when the consumer decides whether to eat or discard the product.
The sensor platform has been validated and is now entering the industrialisation and commercialisation phase.
“Awareness of the climate impact of food waste has never been greater, and legislation is evolving rapidly. The EU’s targets of reducing food waste by 10% in production and 30% in retail and consumer households by 2030 are putting strong pressure on the entire value chain to find real solutions, rather than marginal improvements. This strongly supports the case for our technology,” says Henrik Nilsson, CEO of Innoscentia.
“We have developed a scalable and cost-effective technology that creates value for producers, retailers, and consumers while directly addressing the new regulatory requirements.”
Innoscentia has spent many years developing the technology, encountering numerous challenges along the way. Approximately one year ago, the company achieved a breakthrough and has since filed a patent application for the technology.
“These years have taught us a great deal about measuring food quality and spoilage, and we now have a product that we know will work,” says Henrik Nilsson.
Now is the time to enter Packnorth Award 2026. The jury will meet in September.
As a participant, your entry will be showcased at Sign Print & Pack in Odense, Denmark, in September, followed by Empack in Stockholm a few weeks later. In addition, all participating entries will be featured in Packnews issue 4 this year.
Don’t miss the opportunity to take part!