Sustainable packaging has moved from a niche request to a standard question in most packaging briefs, and the practical options available today don't require compromising on branding or durability.
Kraft and recycled paperboard
Uncoated or lightly coated kraft board is recyclable and widely used for retail boxes, carry bags and hardboard packaging, printing cleanly in single or full colour.
Compostable food packaging
Bagasse, a sugarcane fibre, and similar plant-fibre containers offer a compostable alternative to plastic-lined food packaging for takeaway and delivery use, though they typically cost more per unit than standard kraft.
Reducing material rather than substituting it
Right-sizing a box to the product, rather than defaulting to a larger standard size, reduces material use and shipping volume without changing the packaging material at all, often the simplest sustainability improvement available.
Balancing sustainability and durability
Eco-friendly materials generally handle dry goods and short transit well, while heavier or liquid-containing products still need lining or reinforcement that keeps the packaging functional, so material choice is matched to the product rather than applied as a blanket policy.
