MTU is at the forefront of a European-wide initiative to reduce food loss and waste, through the development of advanced smart packaging technologies.
Researchers at Munster Technological University (MTU) are spearheading efforts to develop and trial smart containers and smart labels designed to improve the shelf-life and quality monitoring of fresh produce as part of its partnership in the SISTERS project, Systemic Innovations for a Sustainable Reduction of European Food Waste.
Funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme, the five-year project began in 2021 and brings together 21 partners and three linked third parties from eight European countries. The project focuses on reducing food waste across all stages of the food value chain, from primary production through to final consumption.
MTU is leading Work Package 2 (WP2) of the project, which focuses on technological innovations for the transport and packaging of perishable foods, particularly fruits and vegetables, items that are consistently among the most wasted across Europe.
The smart containers developed in WP2 integrate passive modified atmosphere packaging with an embedded sensor kit. These sensors monitor temperature, humidity, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and volatile organic compounds (such as ethylene), allowing real-time insights into storage conditions.
“These technologies are grounded in practical, scalable solutions that can have a real impact,” said Krishna Panduru, Research Fellow at MTU. “We’re combining engineering, materials science, and data monitoring to create tools that are both sustainable and commercially viable.”
In tandem with container development, the MTU team is testing smart labels, affordable, passive devices that visually indicate when a product has been exposed to unfavourable conditions during transport. This gives logistics providers and retailers a rapid and intuitive method to assess product quality.
Padraic Moriarty, Lecturer and technical lead for sensor integration at MTU, explained: “We’re developing sensor systems that can operate within the existing logistics infrastructure. Our aim is to make smart monitoring both affordable and robust enough for widespread adoption.”
The work at MTU reflects a strong focus on applied research and industrial relevance. The team has worked closely with international partners to ensure that the tools developed are compatible with commercial requirements, including regulatory compliance and cost-effectiveness.
“The combination of smart packaging and real-time monitoring offers a new level of control in food logistics,” said Dr Juncal Nogales, researcher at MTU. “These tools are designed to be practical for commercial use, while also aligning with sustainability goals.”
Smart containers and labels are currently being validated through laboratory testing and real-world pilots, with results to inform larger-scale demonstrations later in the project. This phase is essential to ensure performance under realistic transport and storage conditions and to evaluate potential uptake by commercial partners.
The SISTERS project continues through 2026, with demonstration activities planned across several EU countries. MTU is also exploring opportunities to pilot its smart packaging solutions in Irish supply chains, particularly within the fresh produce and distribution sectors.
Andrew Shields, Principal Investigator for the project at MTU, stated:
“Our focus is not just on novel technology but on deploying solutions that deliver value across the supply chain. The collaboration with Aitiip and Rebus Labs ensures that the tools we are developing are both sustainable and technically sound. By the end of the project, we hope to see these smart packaging systems in active use, reducing waste and improving efficiency in real-world settings, both in Ireland and across Europe.”
For more information on the SISTERS project and MTU’s role, visit: https://sistersproject.eu
