The ever-present nature of packaging in modern society has led to a mounting crisis of global pollution. From plastic bags choking marine life to overflowing landfills, the environmental toll of disposable packaging has reached alarming levels.
As consumer demand for convenience continues to drive the proliferation of single-use containers and wrappings, urgent action is needed to address this growing threat to our planet’s ecosystems.
This article highlights the top 14 sustainable packaging companies that are committed to creating innovative, waste-free solutions. From plant-based materials to reusable designs, these companies are at the forefront of a packaging revolution that prioritizes the planet.
Join us as we explore their remarkable initiatives and learn how these companies, in particular, are transforming the way we think about packaging.
Sustainable Packaging Materials
The packaging industry is witnessing a surge in innovation as companies explore a diverse array of sustainable materials.
Biodegradable plastics derived from sources like cornstarch and seaweed are gaining traction, offering functionality similar to traditional plastics without a long-term environmental impact. Mycelium, the root structure of fungi, is being harnessed to create sturdy, compostable packaging for electronics and furniture.
Agricultural waste products, such as wheat straw and sugarcane bagasse, are finding new life as eco-friendly alternatives to paper and cardboard. Some firms are even experimenting with edible packaging made from milk proteins or seaweed extracts, particularly for food items.
These innovations not only reduce reliance on fossil fuel-based materials but also often require less energy to produce, further diminishing their environmental footprint.
This video from CPI UK explains how sustainable packaging can impact our efforts to minimize pollution and restore the environment.
The Alarming Reality of Packaging Pollution: Key Facts and Figures
As consumers, we encounter packaging every day, but few realize the staggering environmental impact of these materials. The statistics offer a sobering insight into our packaging problem, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable alternatives and improved waste management.
The dominance of plastic in the packaging industry is a key concern. Nearly 40% of all plastic produced is estimated to be used for packaging, much of which is discarded after a single use. This contributes to the estimated 8 million tons of plastic waste finding its way into our oceans each year, devastating our marine ecosystems.
The impact extends beyond our oceans. Packaging accounts for approximately 30% of municipal solid waste in the United States, placing a tremendous burden on landfills. Globally, the recycling rate for plastic packaging is dismally low, with only about 14% collected for recycling.
This shortfall is particularly alarming given the persistence of these materials in the environment – many common packaging items can take hundreds of years to decompose.
The environmental cost of packaging pollution translates into significant economic impacts. The plastic packaging industry alone is responsible for an estimated 1% of greenhouse gas emissions globally, contributing to climate change.
When factoring in these emissions, ocean pollution, and other related issues, the economic cost of plastic packaging is estimated at a staggering $40 billion annually.
Perhaps most concerning is the trajectory of this problem. Without significant intervention, experts project that the amount of plastic waste entering the ocean will triple by 2040.
This increase would exacerbate the already critical issue of microplastic pollution – currently, an estimated 5.25 trillion macro and micro pieces of plastic contaminate our oceans, many originating from packaging materials.
Top 14 Innovative Sustainable Packaging Companies
Solutom
Solutum is a sustainable packaging company founded in 2017 and based in Tel Aviv, Israel.
It focuses on developing innovative solutions to combat plastic pollution by providing biodegradable alternatives to single-use plastics.
The company has created a patented biodegradable compound that can dissolve in water and biodegrade into harmless components, such as carbon dioxide, water, and biomass.
This makes their products suitable for various disposal methods, including industrial and home composting, incineration, and recycling system.
Solutum offers a range of innovative products designed to provide sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics. The main products include:
Vivomer: This bio-based material is a vegan and home-compostable alternative to traditional plastics. It is designed to fully break down in soil and marine environments, leaving no microplastics behind.
Biodegradable Polybags: Solutum produces fully biodegradable packaging specifically for non-food dry goods.
These bags are compatible with various disposal methods, including composting, incineration, landfill, and recycling, making them versatile for different applications.
These environmentally friendly packaging solutions can dissolve in water and biodegrade into harmless components, such as carbon dioxide, water, and biomass.
Stora Enso
Stora Enso is a prominent global player in the renewable materials sector, particularly known for its sustainable packaging solutions.
The company is deeply rooted in forestry and aims to replace fossil-based materials with renewable alternatives, focusing on creating a circular economy in packaging.
Stora Enso provides a range of packaging solutions, including:
Corrugated Packaging: Made from renewable materials, these products are designed to protect goods while being recyclable. They cater to various industries, including food and e-commerce.
Paperboard Materials: The company is advancing the development of lightweight, low-carbon packaging that meets the demands of modern consumers while ensuring high performance and sustainability.
Barrier Solutions: Stora Enso is innovating in barrier technology to protect contents without relying on fossil-based materials, aiming for effective and recyclable alternatives.
Nohbo
Nohbo specializes in creating single-use, water-soluble drops that contain personal care products such as shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and shaving cream.
These products are designed to dissolve in water, leaving no plastic residue behind, which addresses the growing concerns over single-use plastic waste in the beauty and personal care industry.
The company’s approach not only offers convenience but also aligns with increasing consumer demand for eco-friendly alternatives
Nohbo offers a range of innovative, sustainable personal care products encapsulated in water-soluble films. Their main product line includes:
Shampoo Drops are single-use, water-soluble drops designed to dissolve in water, providing a convenient and eco-friendly alternative to traditional shampoo bottles.
Conditioner Drops: Similar to shampoo drops, these are formulated to condition hair effectively while eliminating plastic waste.
Body Wash Drops: These drops dissolve in water to create a lather for washing, again focusing on sustainability.
Shaving Cream Drops: A water-soluble option for shaving cream that aims to reduce the environmental impact of conventional packaging.
Nohbo’s products are designed to be biodegradable and free from harmful ingredients, aligning with the growing consumer demand for natural and sustainable personal care solutions.
Notpla
Notpla is a London-based startup focused on developing sustainable packaging solutions that replace single-use plastics with biodegradable alternatives from seaweed and plant extracts.
Founded in 2014, Notpla has gained recognition for its innovative approach to packaging, which aligns with global efforts to reduce plastic waste and its environmental impact.
Notpla’s product range includes:
Ooho: An edible and biodegradable packaging for liquids, designed to encapsulate drinks in a flexible, seaweed-based membrane. This product can decompose in less than six weeks in a compostable environment, making it a viable alternative to traditional plastic bottles and sachets.
Notpla Coating: A greaseproof and waterproof coating for paperboard, used in takeaway food packaging. This product replaces plastic-lined containers, providing a sustainable solution without harmful chemicals.
Notpla Film: A flexible packaging material suitable for various applications, including household cleaning products and cosmetics. This film can be designed to be water-soluble or fully biodegradable.
Future Innovations: Notpla is also exploring new products such as rigid materials and further developments in edible and compostable packaging options
Ecovative
Ecovative is a pioneering sustainable packaging company founded in 2007 and based in Green Island, New York. The company specializes in developing innovative packaging solutions using mycelium, the root structure of mushrooms, as a primary material.
This approach not only provides an eco-friendly alternative to traditional plastic foams but also harnesses the natural properties of mycelium to create biodegradable and compostable packaging products.
Ecovative’s innovative mycelium-based packaging is being adopted in diverse industries, including consumer electronics, food and beverage, home goods, beauty, construction, and defense.
This broad applicability underscores the company’s commitment to providing sustainable solutions that meet the evolving needs of various sectors while addressing environmental concerns related to plastic waste.
Ecovative’s flagship product, also known as MycoComposite™, is made from mycelium and agricultural byproducts like hemp.
This packaging is designed to replace styrofoam and other non-biodegradable materials, offering a sustainable solution that decomposes naturally in composting environments.
Voidless
Voidless is a Milan-based startup focused on addressing the issue of overpackaging in the logistics and packaging industry.
Founded in 2021, the company has developed an innovative “box on demand” solution that utilizes artificial intelligence to create customized packaging tailored to the specific dimensions of the shipped items.
This approach significantly reduces waste associated with oversized packaging and enhances warehouse operational efficiency.
Voidless’s technology enables warehouses to generate boxes in real time that perfectly fit the items being shipped, which not only minimizes the use of cardboard and filler materials but also improves transport efficiency.
This innovation is particularly relevant given the growing e-commerce sector, which is projected to exceed 170 billion parcels shipped in 2023. By addressing the inefficiencies of standard-sized packaging,
Voidless aims to enhance the sustainability of logistics operations and improve the overall customer experience.
Bloom Biorenewables
Bloom Biorenewables is a Swiss startup based in Fribourg, focused on developing sustainable packaging solutions through innovative bioplastics derived from plant waste.
Founded in January 2019 as a spin-off from the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), the company aims to provide alternatives to petroleum-based materials by utilizing biomass, specifically lignin and hemicellulose, which are abundant in non-edible agricultural waste and wood.
Bloom Biorenewables converts plant waste into biodegradable and recyclable materials suitable for various applications.
Bioplastics: The company produces sustainable degradable bioplastics, such as polyesters and polyurethanes, which exhibit excellent mechanical and barrier properties, making them suitable for high-quality packaging solutions.
Nutraceuticals and Food Additives: Their biopolymers can be used as sustainable ingredients in nutraceuticals, providing antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.
Cosmetics and Homecare: The lignin products developed by Bloom have potential applications in cosmetics, serving as UV filters and emulsifiers.
Biofuels: Bloom’s technology also extends to the production of sustainable aviation fuels and heavy fuel oils.
LimeLoop
LimeLoop is a sustainable packaging company based in San Francisco, California, specializing in reusable packaging solutions designed to reduce environmental impact in e-commerce.
The company focuses on creating a circular economy by offering durable, customizable packaging options that can be reused multiple times, thereby minimizing waste associated with single-use packaging.
LimeLoop’s innovative approach not only helps businesses streamline their shipping processes but also fosters a deeper connection with consumers who are increasingly concerned about sustainability.
Reusable Packaging Solutions: LimeLoop provides a range of reusable packaging options that can be customized for various shipping needs. This approach helps businesses save costs and contributes to sustainability by reducing reliance on single-use materials.
Environmental Impact Tracking: Through its platform, LimeTrack, LimeLoop allows businesses to monitor their environmental savings, including reductions in CO2 emissions, water usage, and resource consumption. For instance, using LimeLoop’s packaging can lead to an 80% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to traditional cardboard packaging.
Sustainable Materials: The packaging is made from reclaimed materials that would otherwise end up in landfills, promoting upcycling and reducing the need for virgin materials. LimeLoop emphasizes the importance of reducing and reusing over recycling, positioning itself as a leader in sustainable practices.
Better Packaging Co
Better Packaging Co. (BPCo) is a sustainable packaging company founded in 2018 and based in Auckland, New Zealand.
They develop eco-friendly, customized packaging solutions for the e-commerce and retail industries, focusing on the complete lifecycle impact of their products
Better Packaging Co offers a range of sustainable packaging products, including:
- Padded mailers
- Courier satchels
- Garment bags
- Thermal labels
Their product categories span compostable, recyclable, reusable, plant-based, and waste-based materials.
This includes the first poly mailer and garment bag made from 100% recycled and recyclable ocean-bound plastic pollution.
Their POLLAST!C range is made from 100% recycled Ocean Bound Plastic pollution.
Genecis Bioindustries
Genecis Bioindustries is a Canadian biotechnology company based in Toronto, specializing in transforming organic waste into sustainable, biodegradable materials.
Founded in 2016 by Luna Yu and a team of University of Toronto students, Genecis aims to address the dual challenges of organic waste disposal and plastic pollution through innovative biotechnological solutions.
Genecis focuses on producing polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), a type of biodegradable plastic that serves as a viable alternative to traditional petroleum-based plastics.
Their PHA products can be customized for various applications, including packaging, medical devices, and automotive parts. This adaptability allows companies to transition away from single-use plastics while maintaining product performance and quality.
The use of organic waste as a feedstock not only reduces production costs but also minimizes environmental impact, making Genecis’s offerings attractive to businesses looking to enhance their sustainability profiles
A New Earth Project
A New Earth Project is a sustainability initiative launched by Atlantic Packaging, one of the largest privately held packaging companies in North America.
The project’s mission is to rid the world’s oceans, lakes, and rivers of plastic pollution by offering sustainable packaging solutions and advocating for change in the packaging industry
A New Earth Project has developed several specific sustainable packaging solutions to reduce plastic pollution in oceans, lakes, and rivers. These solutions include:
100% Curbside Recyclability: All products in the catalog can be recycled through standard curbside recycling programs.
Renewable Resources: The materials used are sourced from renewable resources, minimizing reliance on fossil fuels.
Non-Harmful to Wildlife: The packaging solutions are designed to be safe for wildlife and ecosystems, reducing environmental impact.
One specific solution developed is the S3 packaging system, which allows companies like Pyzel Surfboards to eliminate single-use plastics from their shipping processes. This system is fully curbside recyclable, enhancing sustainability in shipping practices for surfboards.
EarthFirst
EarthFirst is a leading sustainable packaging company that specializes in compostable films and innovative packaging solutions.
Established in 1949, the company has positioned itself at the forefront of the flexible packaging industry, focusing on environmentally responsible products made primarily from Poly Lactic Acid (PLA), a plant-based material.
This approach allows EarthFirst to provide packaging alternatives that not only function like traditional plastics but also have a significantly lower carbon footprint and a positive end-of-life profile
EarthFirst has recently been recognized as the #1 Sustainable Packaging Company by a leading innovation trend website, highlighting its significant contributions to advancing sustainability in the packaging sector.
EarthFirst produces a range of compostable films that offer the functional benefits of plastic while being environmentally friendly. These films are designed to be composted at the end of their life cycle, reducing landfill waste and carbon emissions.
Recently, EarthFirst introduced a line of home compostable films made from a biopolymer blend compliant with TUV NF T51-800 standards.
These films are designed for various applications, including e-commerce mailing envelopes and retail bags, and are currently undergoing certification for home compostability.
They are noted for their strong seal integrity, which exceeds that of traditional polyethylene materials.
Elopak
Elopak is a leading global supplier of carton packaging and filling equipment for liquids, known for its commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility.
Elopak has been a carbon neutral company since 2016 and offers CarbonNeutral® packaging to all customers. The company has reduced its emissions by 70% over the past decade and supports projects outside its value chain to offset residual emissions.
Elopak’s Pure-Pak® cartons are primarily made from wood fibers originating from sustainable and controlled forestry, according to the most stringent and credible standards available.
The company also offers a fully renewable carton option with a forest-based polymer. In 2014, Elopak launched the first carton made of 75% renewable polyethylene from responsibly managed forests
Be Green Packaging
Be Green Packaging is a leading sustainable packaging company specializing in designing, manufacturing, and distributing environmentally friendly packaging solutions.
Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Ridgeland, South Carolina, Be Green Packaging is one of the few sustainable food packaging companies creating Cradle-to-Cradle certified, tree-free, compostable packaging.
Be Green Packaging’s product range includes molded fiber packaging solutions made from renewable materials such as bamboo, bulrush, wheat straw, sugarcane, and rice husk.
These materials regenerate quickly, allowing the company to produce packaging that is not only compostable but also recyclable. Their offerings cater to diverse applications, from simple plates to complex packaging for consumer electronics and health products
In Summary
The urgent need for sustainable packaging solutions has never been clearer. As our planet grapples with the mounting crisis of packaging pollution, from overflowing landfills to plastic-choked oceans, the statistics paint a stark picture of environmental degradation.
However, amidst these challenges, innovation offers hope. The packaging industry is rapidly evolving, embracing a diverse array of eco-friendly materials, from biodegradable plastics to mycelium-based containers. These greener alternatives can reduce environmental impact as well as meet consumer demands for more responsible packaging.
The shift towards eco-friendly packaging is more than just a trend. It represents an important change in how we produce, consume, and dispose of goods.
By adopting innovative solutions, we can improve our waste management practices. This approach allows us to significantly minimize the environmental impact of traditional packaging.
Ultimately, these efforts can help create a more sustainable and environmentally conscious future for generations to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can businesses reduce packaging waste?
Businesses can reduce packaging waste by adopting a circular economy approach, using minimal packaging, implementing take-back programs, and utilizing recycled materials in their packaging designs. This involves rethinking product delivery and packaging systems to prioritize sustainability
What are some of the leading sustainable packaging companies in the USA?
Several companies in the USA are leading the charge in sustainable packaging innovation. Notable among these are some we have mentioned such as EarthFirst and Be Green. Ecovative Design is known for their mycelium-based packaging and Notpla, creates seaweed-based edible packaging; and Footprint, specializing in plant-based alternatives to single-use plastics.
Seventh Generation, a household products company, is recognized for its commitment to recyclable and compostable packaging. Additionally, Loop, while not a packaging company per se, is revolutionizing the industry with its reusable packaging system partnering with major brands. These companies, among others, are at the forefront of developing eco-friendly packaging solutions that reduce environmental impact while meeting consumer and industry needs.
What are some sustainable food packaging companies to watch out for?
Several innovative companies are leading the way in sustainable food packaging solutions. King Pack offers a range of eco-friendly packaging options in South Africa, focusing on biodegradable materials suitable for various businesses, from restaurants to markets.
In Europe, companies like Arekapak create packaging from sun-dried palm leaves, providing a fully biodegradable option for food presentation. BioPak focuses on eco-friendly alternatives to traditional packaging, using rapidly renewable resources for their products. Additionally, BIOFASE in Mexico transforms avocado pits into biodegradable cutlery and containers, showcasing a creative approach to utilizing agricultural waste.
These companies exemplify the shift towards sustainable practices in the food packaging industry.
Why is single-use plastic a problem?
Single-use plastics are designed for one-time use, consuming significant resources during production and contributing to waste that is rarely recycled. Nearly 95% of single-use plastics are not recycled, leading to pollution in landfills and oceans
References
European Environmental Agency: Plastic Pollution Infographic
US Environment Protection Agency: Containers and Packaging: Product-Specific Data
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP): Plastic Waste Statistics
Sustainable Packaging Coalition: Packaging Innovations Trend Report
Precedence Research: Sustainable Packaging Market Size, Share and Trends