An environmental degradation sensor for environmentally sensitive products
such as food, pharmaceuticals or cosmetic products provides the degraded
state and estimated remaining life of the product. The sensor is made of
a polymeric matrix and conductive filler. A control agent, selected to
adjust a reaction rate of the sensor to environmental conditions, allows
correlation of an electrical property of the sensor to a degraded state
of the product. The sensor may be integrated with a passive RFID to
provide product identification and degradation status wirelessly via
reader. The sensor improves product safety, reduces cost of premature
product disposal and, combined with RFIDs, improves the security of
products through combined product degradation monitoring and tracking.