It’s refreshing when our items aren’t buried deep in unnecessary and excessive Styrofoam or plastic. Embracing sustainable packaging materials offers a heap of benefits for businesses and the planet.
We get it; pretty much everything comes in packaging, but the urgency of climate change is pressing. A focus on sustainable packaging solutions is replacing reliance on single-use plastics and mountains of packaging waste. Not only can making the transition significantly reduce your environmental footprint, but it can also help attract dedicated customers who appreciate your commitment to sustainability. You might even save money in the long run! Here, we look at the importance of sustainable packaging materials and explore some innovative ‘outside the box’ alternatives.
What is waste packaging?
Waste packaging can include anything used to wrap or protect goods that are eventually discarded after use. This includes cardboard boxes that protect books delivered to your doorstep, plastic bags that hold clothes purchased online, and even an empty bag of crisps. You can find DEFRA’s statistics for packaging waste here.
Packaging trends in 2025 have a focus on sustainability
It’s no surprise that the packaging trends we have seen so far in 2025 focus on the entire life cycle of your packaging, literally from creation to disposal. So far there has been a surge in sustainable packaging with biodegradable, recyclable, and reusable materials, alongside a focus on minimalism and personalised experiences.
Taxes and legislation have been introduced in the UK to deter businesses from choosing less sustainable options, which is adding pressure!
The plastic packing tax: producers must pay per tonne of plastic packaging they use.
Packaging waste regulations: Introduced in 2023, producers must gather and report data on the packaging they sell. This information will be used to determine the fees for the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) packaging scheme, which will be fully implemented in October 2025.
Why is sustainable packaging important?
Sustainable packaging is a simple swap that is vital in the fight against climate change. You might be wondering how packaging waste contributes to global warming, and the answer lies in the enormous amounts of greenhouse gases produced during the manufacturing and disposal of conventional packaging materials.
Plastic is a problem, but it isn’t the only culprit. A considerable issue arises when plastic ends up in landfills, primarily because many people lack the knowledge to recycle it properly, resulting in even more emissions.
Recycling traditional packaging can help alleviate some problems, but sustainable packaging is ultimately the more environmentally friendly solution.
What are the benefits of sustainable packaging materials?
- Switching to sustainable packaging will reduce your environmental impact.
- Using renewable, recycled, or biodegradable materials supports a circular economy.
- Sustainable packaging can lower long-term production and disposal costs through efficient materials and reduced waste.
- It supports a sustainable brand image and helps you appeal to eco-conscious consumers.
- It helps businesses meet growing environmental regulations and consumer demand for sustainability.
- Switching to sustainable packaging will encourage you to be creative and innovative with material development and packaging design for better functionality and sustainability.
Types of sustainable packaging materials
Recycled paper and card
- Pros: Recycled paper and cardboard packaging is biodegradable and compostable; it is widely available and cost-effective.
- Cons: It can be less durable than virgin materials and may require additional treatments for strength.
- Examples: Boxes/cartons, paper bags for groceries or gifts, wrapping paper or protective inserts.
We will start with likely the easiest and most cost-effective way to embrace sustainable packaging. Recycled paper comes from post-consumer waste, reducing the need for virgin resources, and is widely recyclable again after use. Additionally, it offers a natural, rustic aesthetic that can be appealing for products in the artisanal or eco-friendly market.
Recycled plastic packaging
- Pros: Using recycled plastic packaging contributes to a more sustainable and circular economy.
- Cons: Recycled plastic packaging often has durability and quality issues, and challenges arise due to limited recycling infrastructure.
- Examples: Recycled plastic wraps, cosmetics bottles and jars, shipping and mailing bags, and recycled plastic bottles.
Recycled plastic packaging is made from plastic waste, including waste plastic bottles, packaging materials, and everyday household products. Using recycled plastic, we reuse materials already in circulation, helping keep them out of landfills and waterways.
Manufacturing products from recycled plastic requires less energy than producing them from virgin materials, leading to lower carbon emissions. Quality concerns exist, as some plastics may degrade in quality during recycling.
Glass packaging
- Pros: Glass can be indefinitely recycled; it doesn’t interact with its contents, preserving the flavour, scent, and quality, and it looks luxurious.
- Cons: Glass is fragile and can often break, leading to product loss. It’s also more expensive to ship, as it’s heavier, and overall, it’s less convenient.
- Examples: Containers for drinks, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, containers for food and preserves.
Glass is fantastic because it can be recycled indefinitely without losing quality; it’s one of the few packaging materials that this applies to. Although heavier and less convenient than plastic, glass is incredibly durable and provides an excellent barrier against contaminants. This makes it a great option for food, beverages, and cosmetics. Glass also contains no additives (like BPA) and is a single material with no coating on the contact surface, offering a high level of safety for end customers.
Many brands use glass packaging, especially when conveying premium quality or environmental consciousness. However, it does come with higher costs of manufacturing processes and transportation costs.
Tote bags as packaging
Who doesn’t love a handy tote bag? One creative way to package an item sustainably is with a tote bag. Tote bags, often made from organic cotton, jute, or recycled fabrics, can offer a dual purpose: They can be a functional product and eco-friendly packaging.
When brands use tote bags as part of their packaging strategy, they provide customers with a reusable item that promotes a sustainability-focused lifestyle. This is an excellent idea for fashion, food, and retail brands; tote bags offer ample space for creative designs and can double as marketing tools.
Our 100% pre-consumer recycled cotton tote bags are perfect for packaging. They are great for shopping, carrying books, or even being chic accessories. By choosing a tote bag made from eco-friendly fabrics and ethical production practices, brands can ensure that their packaging remains sustainable from start to finish.
Mycelium (mushroom) packaging
- Pros: It is biodegradable, compostable, strong and durable, and grows from agricultural waste.
- Cons: There is limited availability for this type of packaging and higher costs involved.
- Examples: Companies like IKEA use mycelium-based packaging to replace polystyrene in their furniture packaging.
Packaging made from mycelium (mushrooms’ root structure) is biodegradable and compostable and can be grown to fit specific shapes and sizes. As an alternative to Styrofoam or plastic, mushroom packaging offers a circular solution to packaging waste. It doesn’t need light or water and can grow off various crop waste.
Polystyrene takes about 500 years to decompose, during which it releases toxic substances. In contrast, mycelium provides comparable protection to polystyrene but without adverse environmental effects.
Edible packaging
- Pros: Biodegradable and compostable, edible and safe for consumption.
- Cons: There is potential habitat disruption if not sustainably sourced and higher production costs.
- Examples: Film or wrappings that can be eaten with the products, wrapping on noodle packets, edible cups and sachets.
Well, this type of packaging is a little outside the box! You eat the box. Edible packaging can include ingredients like seaweed, rice, or potato starch to create film-like wrappers.
We have to admit that this is still a niche option! However, the potential for edible packaging in the food industry is exciting. Brands that embrace edible packaging could reduce waste and offer customers a novel and eco-conscious experience. We can see it all over social media.
Companies are already implementing sustainable packaging materials
Sustainable packaging is already the norm for many companies. Here are a couple of examples:
Calvin Klein
Calvin Klein is committed to ending single-use plastic in all its packaging globally and aims to eliminate unnecessary waste by 2030. To reduce its environmental footprint, the brand has transitioned men’s underwear boxes from plastic to paper, which contain at least 50% recycled content across North America. This change has successfully removed 650,000 pounds of plastic from on-product packaging, equivalent to more than 31 million standard-size plastic water bottles.
Lush Cosmetics
Lush uses as little packaging in its shops as possible, and you can go completely naked (that’s the products, not actually you!). Roughly half of their products can be taken home without packaging, which we love. Selling shampoo bars alone saves nearly 6 million plastic bottles globally.
When packaging is unavoidable, Lush uses recycled materials. 90% (by weight) of its packaging is recycled, and Lush is working on the remaining 10%. They aim to have 100% of their packaging recyclable or compostable.
Sustainable packaging is a win-win for any business
Sustainable packaging can be a win-win for your business and the environment. Many customers prefer eco-friendly options, and sustainable packaging can help companies stand out in a crowded market.
By opting for sustainable packaging, your company allows customers to feel good about reducing their carbon footprint, makes disposal easier, and assures them that no harmful chemicals or toxins are present in the materials.
Traditional plastic packaging often releases harmful substances as they break down, while sustainable options do not. This promotes the health and safety of your customers and enables them to repurpose the packaging for their use if they choose not to recycle it.
Switch to sustainable packaging materials to benefit the planet, boost your brand’s reputation, and position yourself as a leader in the eco-conscious marketplace.
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