Last Updated on June 11, 2025 by Packoi Team
Many customers have shown concern over their environmental impact and carbon footprint contribution. This is enough reason for companies to be more severe about choosing sustainable options for their packaging.
In this article, you’ll learn more about sustainability and how to create the perfect packaging that meets industry standards and impresses your target market.
What Does Sustainability Mean?
Sustainability is focused on preserving our natural resources for future generations while fulfilling our current needs.
In the packaging industry, this refers to using sustainable packaging materials that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It also means using green packaging that can help minimize waste.
The Sustainable Packaging Coalition®, or SPC, provided the packaging standards that companies have to meet. You can refer to these standards while creating environmentally friendly packaging that meets your product’s functional and economic needs.
What Are The 3 Sustainable Packaging Options?
Sustainable packaging is packaging that you can recycle, reuse, or reduce. All three can help you meet business concerns with eco-friendly standards.
The goal is to ensure that the life cycle of the packaging won’t pose a threat to the environment. That means avoiding the typical plastic packaging that may be cost-efficient but damage our ecosystem.
While it may seem intimidating, especially for small businesses, it’s easy to comply with these standards.
There are a lot of sustainable packaging companies that use clean production technologies and offer flexible packaging options. You can get a lot of input from them as you comply with the demand for more sustainable packaging options.
Recycle Packaging
Recyclable packaging uses recycled-source materials that can be broken down or used again for a different purpose. The most common material is corrugated cardboard.
The other recyclable materials you can use to create sustainable packaging include metal, paper, glass, and even some types of plastic.
Reuse Packaging
This type of sustainable packaging can be used for a long time. It doesn’t always have to be used as it was initially intended.
Sometimes, reusable packaging is turned into a decorative item or used for storage purposes.
This type of packaging is ideal for minimizing waste. It uses durable materials to maintain its shape and function for a long time.
Reduce Packaging
This sustainable packaging solution is simple. Instead of trying to minimize the effects of packaging on the environment, please don’t use it.
If the product can be sold even without individual packaging, then that’s what you should choose. Or if there’s no need for inner packaging or outer sleeves, don’t include it in your packaging solution.
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What Are The Qualities Of Eco-Friendly Packaging Materials?
Sustainable packaging materials need to pass a specific life cycle assessment test. There are various packaging materials to choose from. You have to focus on sustainable materials that have a minimal ecological footprint.
They should be long-lasting, processable, recyclable, renewable, and lighter. To help you make informed choices, here’s a breakdown of the essential qualities that define truly green packaging materials:
| Quality | Description |
|---|---|
| Durable | An essential quality of eco-friendly packaging material, especially for perishable or fragile products, ensuring long-lasting use and waste reduction. |
| Processable | Eco-packaging uses raw materials that can be quickly processed with minimal energy and waste, and can also be easily converted into something else after use. |
| Recyclable | A typical quality indicating the use of materials like paper, glass, and metal that can be reprocessed into new products, while still meeting specific product requirements and customer preferences. |
| Renewable | Refers to materials that can be reused after delivery or are biodegradable enough for green energy generation or composting, thereby reducing environmental impact and ecological footprint. |
| Lighter | Sustainable packaging is designed to be as light as possible without compromising product integrity, which facilitates easier transport, saves space and energy during deliveries, and is beneficial for the environment. |
By prioritizing these qualities, businesses can select packaging materials that not only protect their products but also significantly reduce their environmental footprint and align with global sustainability goals.
Tips When Designing Sustainable Packaging
Coming up with a design for your sustainable packaging goes beyond the decision to avoid using plastic packaging. It goes beyond choosing food packaging that’ll ensure no food waste or spoilage will happen.
There are a couple of things that you should consider before you come up with the right design that’ll make your packaging sustainable.
Check Out Customer Preferences
In general, sustainable packaging endears companies to their customers. They like the thought that the company they’re buying from is trying to contribute to saving the environment from harm.
But you still have to consider the specific market you’re trying to target.
It’ll help you decide on the suitable packaging material that’ll impress the preferences of your ideal customers.
Research The Best Natural Materials
The thing about sustainable packaging is it’s constantly evolving. The concept and the general idea are still the same. But the options for environmentally friendly packaging are steadily growing.
Experts use technology to create more alternatives that can keep our natural resources safe. So keep an eye on these new developments. Some of the new materials may be the perfect option for your packaging.
Choose Corrugated Materials
Cardboard material is one of the most popular options for packaging sustainability. It looks like an incredibly raw material: the brown color and the texture of the cardboard packaging scream sustainability.
Not only that, but this sustainable packaging is versatile. You can be very creative in designing it to reflect your brand, the product, and your efforts to be more sustainable.
Minimize Space
Space can also be an essential consideration when it comes to sustainable packaging.
As you know, sustainability is also about conserving energy. If one shipment can transport many packages, it lessens the power spent during deliveries.
In this regard, it’s crucial to choose packaging materials that are just the right size for what your packaging needs.
It shouldn’t be too big. But it shouldn’t look too cramped, either.
Find the balance when minimizing the space the packaging will take up.
Meet Market Criteria
Packaging sustainability isn’t just about using more paper than plastic. There are specific market standards and regulations that you should satisfy before you can claim that you’re being sustainable.
Make sure you do your research so you know how you can comply and be more environmentally friendly.
Your research may also lead to new packaging options that could significantly impact the environment.
Stay True To The Brand
Although you want your customers to be impressed with your packaging and you want to meet industry standards, your brand should also be considered.
After all, your packaging will always be an extension of your brand.
When customers see your sustainable packaging, they should be able to recognize your brand with it. That way, they’ll know you as an eco-friendly brand.
Examples Of Sustainable Packaging Efforts
In the past, the best and most cost-efficient option was always plastic packaging.
Even if companies knew they had to stop using it to save the environment, the cost of being more sustainable was just too great.
But now, technology and research open doors for more alternative materials to be used as packaging. It’s easier to meet a more sustainable packaging design.
Every day, a new raw material is discovered that makes sustainability more accessible and more economical for many companies.
Here are some examples you can use as you increase your efforts to be more sustainable.
Paper-Based Packaging
Cardboard material is considered the industry standard when it comes to sustainable packaging.
It’s the best option as opposed to plastic because it can effectively reduce carbon dioxide emissions and oil consumption by 60%. It’s biodegradable and can be recycled up to 7 times.
It offers flexible packaging, which makes paper-based materials like cardboard ideal. You can turn it into anything you want – a box, bag, or envelope – the material is incredibly versatile.
While it’s more popular than other sustainable packaging materials, it’s not entirely without fault.
When it’s not managed well, it could lead to deforestation risk, not to mention the fact that its life cycle has a considerable carbon footprint.
If you use paper-based packaging, make it reusable to minimize waste.
Biodegradable Plastics
While plastic packaging is the main thing that sustainability is trying to eradicate, that doesn’t mean it’s entirely out of the picture.
If you’re being honest, there are packaging solutions that only plastic can meet.
This is why experts have worked hard to create bio-based plastics as an alternative. It still looks and functions like plastic.
While it’s compostable packaging, it requires a particular type of industrial composting.
Just be careful about those who claim they have biodegradable plastic. Just because something is bio-based, it doesn’t always mean it is biodegradable packaging.
Make sure you read between the lines and ask about the material’s life cycle before using it as sustainable packaging.
Recycled Air Pillows
Air pillows are a great way to cushion fragile products and keep them safe in transit. It also doesn’t take up a lot of space once it’s deflated after being used.
Although air pillows were initially made of thin plastic, it doesn’t pose a massive threat to the environment anymore. The creation of bio-based plastic converted this filler into more eco-friendly packaging.
This sustainable packaging is a welcome alternative to other fillers like bubble wrap or Styrofoam.
Cornstarch Packaging
This sustainable packaging uses an organic material that’s created from corn grains. This makes it a compostable packaging that can replace plastic in many ways.
It can be formed into molded forms, bottles, or film packaging.
The thing about this packaging is that it comes from a raw material that humans and animals consume. That means it competes with the food supply.
When that happens, it can affect corn pricing and the average consumer.
Mushroom Packaging
This packaging is formed after the fusion of agricultural waste and mushroom roots. This makes it compostable packaging.
It’s petroleum-free and can degrade naturally, even faster than other packaging materials. You can even let it compost at home.
It’s a great alternative to cornstarch packaging because it doesn’t interfere with any food supply chain.
This sustainable packaging can take on any form. That makes it incredibly versatile. But it can only be used for small items for now.
There’s hope that it can contain more significant products and packages in the future.
Organic Materials
Textile is one of the sustainable packaging materials that you can use. Although it’s fabric, it’s a durable material that can be reused, as long as your packaging uses the right design.
Among the organic materials you can use are hemp, palm leaves, recycled cotton, tapioca, etc.
These are all biodegradable, so you don’t have to worry about the environmental impact of using these as packaging.
How will you use them as packaging?
Your options include using them as a bag to hold products.
Or you can use the fabric as a cushioning material. These can protect your product from scratches.
FAQs
What is sustainable packaging?
Sustainable packaging involves using materials and processes that minimize environmental impact throughout a product’s lifecycle, focusing on conserving resources and reducing waste.
What are the “3 Rs” of sustainable packaging?
The “3 Rs” of sustainable packaging are Recycle, Reuse, and Reduce, all aimed at minimizing environmental impact.
What materials are considered sustainable for packaging?
Sustainable packaging materials include corrugated cardboard, paper, glass, metal, certain bioplastics, cornstarch, mushroom packaging, and organic textiles.
What role does technology play in sustainable packaging?
Technology plays a vital role in sustainable packaging by developing new bio-based materials, improving recycling efficiency, and creating lighter, more environmentally friendly designs.
Conclusion
The shift towards sustainable packaging is a critical business imperative. As consumer awareness grows, companies embracing eco-friendly packaging gain significant competitive advantages. By choosing recyclable, reusable, or reduced materials and thoughtfully designing packaging, businesses can meet industry standards and resonate with their market.
Continuous innovation in sustainable materials offers an expanding array of accessible choices. Investing in sustainable packaging is a powerful statement of a brand’s values, fostering customer loyalty and contributing to a healthier planet.
Start Supporting Sustainable Packaging with Packoi Now!
Now’s the perfect time to start. It’s not just good for the environment if you haven’t joined the sustainable packaging bandwagon. This can also make your business incredibly competitive.
Packoi Printing is here to help you switch to more sustainable packaging. We use eco-friendly methods to produce our packaging materials, and we can also assist you in identifying the best packaging options.
Get in touch with us now if you want to know more about our packaging offers. Share your ideas so we can work on a quotation for you.
