Packaging should strictly meet various requirements in order to preserve fruits and vegetables for longer periods of time. Traditional packaging can no longer effectively and sufficiently meet today’s needs. The concept of active packaging has been defined as a packaging system actively changing the condition of the package to improve food safety, extend shelf life, enhance sensory properties, and maintain the quality of the products. In order to modify environmental or physiological conditions within the food package, active-packaging systems usually involve scavenging or absorption of undesirable compounds such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, ethylene, flavor/odor, and excessive water. Compounds such as carbon dioxide, antioxidants, and preservatives are added or released into the headspace of the package by other active-packaging systems by using sachets, labels, or films. Moreover, temperature control active packaging is classified as insulating materials and self-heating and self-cooling cans. Conventional active plastic technologies or active sachets are gradually being replaced by active nanocomposites for improving the quality and safety of packaged food products. Active nanocomposite films that incorporating oxygen scavengers could be used for packaging a variety of oxygen-sensitive food products. Also, nanocomposites could be applied as antimicrobial packaging to control undesirable microorganisms in foods. Due to consumer preferences for minimally processed and naturally preserved foods and the food industry’s interest in investing in product quality and safety, active packaging will develop in the future. Further studies are needed regarding different areas of active-packaging systems.