Intelligent packaging indicator can provide consumers with effective information such as freshness, safety or environmental conditions (temperature, pH value, gas atmosphere) of packaged food, based on its ability to detect, sense and record changes in product environment, which is an extension of traditional packaging's ability to spread information. It also helps to improve the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) and Quality Analysis and Critical Control Point (QACCP) systems, which help to detect unsafe food on site, identify potential health hazards, and develop strategies to reduce or eliminate occurrence of food safety issues. Bio-based intelligent packaging system has attracted much attention because it uses degradable and renewable materials to visually display information related to the quality of packaged food in the supply chain to consumers, which conforms to the needs of circular economy and sustainable development. In this paper, the structural mechanism, functional adaptability types and functions of environment-friendly intelligent packaging indicators (pH sensing, time-temperature sensing and atmosphere sensing, etc.), which used natural pigment (anthocyanins, chlorophyll, curcumin and betalains, etc.) as sensitive element and bio-based polymer (polysaccharides, proteins, lipids and modified cellulose, etc.) as carrier, as well as the new trend and new progress in monitoring food quality, storage and transportation environment, were reviewed.