Smart packaging is gaining ground across Latin America as brands in food, beverage and pharmaceuticals look to extend shelf life, improve food safety and strengthen traceability from factory to shelf.

Brazil, Mexico and Argentina are leading uptake of active and intelligent packaging—such as freshness sensors, QR codes and RFID tracking—driven by urbanisation, a growing middle class and pressure to cut food waste.

Drivers: shelf life, food safety and traceability

Producers are turning to active packaging tools—oxygen scavengers, moisture absorbers and antimicrobial layers—to protect perishable goods and reduce spoilage.

Intelligent packaging features, including QR-enabled product data, RFID tags and real-time freshness indicators, support end-to-end traceability and authenticity checks.

In cold chains, IoT packaging and cloud monitoring help track temperature and handling, which is critical for meat, dairy and ready-to-eat foods.

Regulators are tightening labelling and sustainability rules, prompting companies to adopt solutions that both preserve quality and improve recyclability.

Investment momentum in biosensors and anti-counterfeiting

Investment is flowing to startups and established converters working on printed electronics, low-cost sensors and biodegradable smart materials. Collaboration among food manufacturers, technology providers and logistics firms is accelerating commercial pilots.

In pharmaceuticals, intelligent packaging that supports serialisation and anti-counterfeiting is a priority, reflecting stricter compliance requirements and export ambitions.

 Reported strategies that combine local partnerships with R&D localisation are helping firms navigate regulation while adapting solutions to regional supply chains.

Challenges to scale and where growth may come next

High unit costs for sensors and data components remain a barrier for smaller producers, and digital infrastructure outside major cities can be patchy. Awareness and training gaps also slow adoption.

Despite these hurdles, falling prices for printed sensors, wider cloud connectivity and industry education programmes are expected to broaden access.

E-commerce growth is another pull factor, as brands look to use packaging for both product protection and post-purchase engagement.

With Brazil’s agritech focus and Mexico’s manufacturing and export links, the region is well placed to expand active and intelligent packaging across retail, logistics and healthcare.