Premature spoilage due to inaccurate shelf-life labelling significantly contributes to the large-scale waste of global food production. A promising solution to this issue is the development of colorimetric sensor arrays for real-time detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by spoilage-causing microorganisms. However, existing sensor arrays face limitations, such as the inability to detect multiple VOCs simultaneously, lack of integration with packaging materials, and suboptimal performance in real packaging conditions. This project aims to address these challenges by developing universal colorimetric sensor arrays that are covalently integrated into packaging materials, enabling the detection of a broad range of spoilage-related VOCs across diverse fresh food categories. The approach includes: 1) modifying dyes with polymerizable groups, 2) plasma surface activation of packaging materials to facilitate dye deposition, 3) precise inkjet printing of the modified dyes, and 4) plasma curing to form strong, stable bonds between the dyes and the packaging through the introduced polymerizable groups. The sensor arrays will undergo comprehensive testing for stability, safety, and performance in contact with real foods under typical packaging. This innovative integration of sensor technology into packaging materials is expected to provide fundamental insights into the design of real-time spoilage indicators, offering a scalable and effective tool to reduce food waste.