So, what exactly makes packaging sustainable? Some important factors to consider are the materials that the packaging is made from, the packaging design, and what the packaging’s end-of-life cycle looks like. 

Packaging Materials: Sustainable packaging prioritizes materials that are renewable, responsibly sourced, and/or recyclable. Examples of common, sustainable packaging materials include paper and cardboard. Created from wood pulp, paper, and cardboard are derived from raw materials that are renewable and can be responsibly sourced from sustainable forestry initiatives.  

Packaging Design: Sustainable packaging should optimize a package’s design to remove excess space and eliminate the use of unnecessary packaging materials. Design-based changes in sustainable packaging not only can reduce packaging waste, but also promote both material and transportation efficiency, which can minimize a supply chain’s carbon footprint by cutting down on the amount of resource extraction that occurs, as well as the number of trips needed for shipment. 

End-of-Life Cycle for Packaging: Given the buildup of packaging waste in landfills and the environment, sustainable packaging should prioritize an eco-friendly end-of-life cycle for the packaging materials after use. For example, packaging that is curbside recyclable, compostable, or reusable can achieve an end-of-life cycle for used packaging material that does not cause or add to environmental harm. 

Simply put, sustainable packaging can encompass a variety of different things. The biggest takeaway is that all forms of sustainable packaging shoot for the same goal: protecting the product and the environment while reducing the environmental impact created by packaging in a supply chain.