13 Eco-Friendly Packaging Materials: Unique, Branded and Sustainable

In the present era of massive innovation, eco-friendly packaging is essential to stand out on retail and online platforms. It not only boosts brand image but also ensures product protection while promoting sustainability. Eco-friendly packaging materials hold great strength and durability to ensure product protection during transportation. The clear and concise packaging designs highlight the sustainability factor to attract eco-conscious customers.

What Is Eco-Friendly?

Eco-friendly refers to the products or services that hold the least environmental impact. These are manufactured using renewable or plant-based resources to protect ecosystems. They focus on the conservation of natural resources to reduce air or water pollution. Eco-friendly holds the least carbon emissions to contribute toward a healthier and sustainable environment.

What Is the Meaning of Eco-Friendly in the Packaging Industry?

Eco-friendly in the packaging industry refers to the use of natural or renewable resources like wood pulp, cornstarch, and sugarcane to promote recyclability. The eco-friendly packaging designs are compostable and sustainable. It holds an energy efficient manufacturing process to minimize the industrial waste in landfills. They break down naturally over time to ensure biodegradability. Kraft paper, cardboard, and corrugated cardboard are popular examples of eco-friendly packaging materials.

List of 13 Eco-Friendly Packaging Materials

To understand it further, let’s explore 13 different eco-friendly packaging materials that are safe, efficient and recyclable:

1. Recycled Cardboard

Recycled Cardboard is a processed material made with already-used cardboard to craft new cardboard packaging. The procedure comprises the collection of old cardboard, sorting, converting it into smaller pieces, and then mixing it with water to form pulp. The pulpy material is then filtered, dried, and transformed into new cardboard sheets. This is quite a strong, reliable, and durable material used to manufacture boxes and packaging of different styles.  

2. Kraft Paper

Kraft paper holds a natural brown color as it is manufactured using wood pulp, extracted from the forest trees. The eco-friendly paper has high tensile strength and durability to keep the products safe during transit. These are mostly utilized to create kraft paper bags to carry the goods at grocery stores or supermarkets. The brands can also get them customized using different printing methods to wrap food, chemicals, gifts, etc.

3. Mushroom Packaging

Mushroom packaging is a sustainable packaging alternative to plastic or polystyrene. This is manufactured using a root-like structure of mushrooms called mycelium to create molds for the packaging of various products. It is usually made of 100% biodegradable and compostable material as it breaks down naturally over time. Mushroom packaging can be personalized in a wide range of shapes and sizes to accommodate products of custom dimensions.

4. Compostable Bags

Compostable bags are manufactured using plant-based materials to ensure biodegradability, the ability to decompose naturally over a short period. These are traditionally made with potato starch, corn starch, or sugarcane extracts. Compostable bags easily break down with water or carbon dioxide to be consumed as a soil fertilizer. Compostable packaging holds the least environmental impact and helps in the reduction of air pollution.

5. Plant Based Packaging

Plant-based packaging is manufactured using renewable plant resources like sugarcane, cellulose, or corn to be used as a great alternative to petroleum-based plastics. This type of packaging requires less energy for the production processes, ultimately resulting in lower carbon footprints. These are used to package various items including containers, bags, disposable plates, cups, or bottles.

6. Seaweed Packaging

Seaweed packaging holds the potential to reduce plastic pollution with its sustainable, biodegradable, and compostable properties. The packaging is manufactured using seaweed, a renewable resource that rapidly grows in the ocean. This is flexible but robust enough to be used as food, cosmetics, or electronics packaging. Seaweed packaging is harmless and does not leave any type of residue.

7. Biodegradable Packaging Peanuts

Biodegradable packaging peanuts are a great alternative to polystyrene peanuts, as they are manufactured using cornstarch to ensure biodegradability. They are non-toxic and decompose naturally to minimize their environmental impact. These are crafted to provide a cushioning effect to fragile products, keeping them safe from damage during storage, handling, or shipping.

8. Cornstarch Packaging

Cornstarch packaging is a biodegradable material manufactured using polylactic acid (PLA), a substance derived from fermented cornstarch. It is a sustainable packaging alternative to Styrofoam and plastic. This is used for various applications including food packaging, disposable plates, cutlery, bags, and containers. Cornstarch packaging is an eco-friendly option as it holds amazing compostable properties to break down quickly into organic matter to make nutrient-rich soil.

9. Poly Mailers

Poly mailers are eco-friendly, lightweight, and self-sealing envelopes crafted for the delivery of small products including clothing, accessories, or books. These are flexible, affordable, and mostly used for e-commerce packaging. Poly mailers take up minimal space, making it a cost-effective option for shipping. They do not need any adhesive material to accomplish the packaging purposes. They are crafted in custom dimensions to ensure the safe delivery of products.

10. Molded Pulp

Molded pulp packaging is a sustainable material manufactured using recycled paperboard or newsprint to package a wide range of products from cosmetics, food, and beverages to machinery. They hold a great cushioning effect to ensure product protection during transit. These are also used in the production of egg cartons to keep the eggs safe.

11. Bioplastics

Bioplastics is a type of packaging manufactured using plant-based renewable resources, microorganisms, and agricultural waste. It reduces the dependency on fossil fuels and, therefore, holds a lower carbon footprint as compared to traditional plastic packaging production procedures. They are biodegradable and compostable, thus breaking down naturally to reduce pollution. These are mostly utilized in the production of flexible bags, bottles, cups, containers, and films.

12. Bagasse

Bagasse is a fibrous substance achieved from the sugarcane stalks after the extraction of juice. Sustainable pulp is often used in the production of paper, cardboard, and many other products packaging. Bagasse is mostly used in the food industry for the manufacturing of plates, bowls, or containers. This is compostable and creates new economic opportunities for people in rural areas.

13. Water-soluble Plastic

Water-soluble plastics are eco-friendly plastics that decompose completely in water. The packaging holds no harmful residuals as manufactured using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) from plant-based resources. They are used for various applications including detergent pods, bags, pouches, and agricultural films. They hold the potential to be used as an amazing plastic alternative, eventually helping in the reduction of air pollution.

Why Should We Choose Eco-Friendly Packaging Materials?

Choosing eco-friendly packaging materials like kraft, recycled cardboard, and other biodegradable plastics minimizes the amount of waste in landfills. The production processes diminish the need for virgin materials and focus on the conservation of natural resources. The use of renewable or plant-based resources makes the packaging compostable and sustainable. The reduction of carbon footprints efficiently improves the overall health of the ecosystem.

Which Eco-Friendly Packaging Material is Best for Shipping Products?

The selection of the best eco-friendly packaging material depends on the product dimensions, brand requirements, and shipping distance. However, recycled cardboard is popularly used to ensure recyclability and biodegradability. This holds great strength and durability to carry light to heavy-weight products. Brands often use cardboard mailer boxes for durability and recyclability, offering products excellent protection. Their self-sealing design makes them simple to use and offers customers an amazing unboxing experience. The non-fragile mailer boxes can be customized using brand logo and artwork design to give your product packaging a professional outlook.

Which Packaging Material is More Eco-Friendly, Kraft, Corrugated or Cardboard?

All three packaging materials including kraft, cardboard, and corrugated cardboard are eco-friendly as they are manufactured using natural or renewable resources. However, we have designed a table below to efficiently understand their environmental impact:

Where to get Customized Eco-Friendly Packaging?

For customized eco-friendly packaging, consider partnering with companies like Box Agency which prioritizes sustainability. These providers offer tailored solutions, including boxes, mailers, and inserts, to align with your brand’s eco-conscious values. So, hurry up, place your order, and make your brand progress smoothly on the road toward prosperity.