Bottle

Packaging has a lot of jobs to do. It needs to protect what’s inside, survive transport, communicate what the product is and, ideally, catch someone’s eye before the competitor sitting next to it does.

Then there’s one more increasingly important job: reducing its environmental impact.

Switching to eco-friendly packaging sounds simple enough, but the reality is a little more nuanced. A material might be recyclable but difficult to print on. Another might be compostable but not suited to every product. And something that looks wonderfully natural may not necessarily be the most sustainable option available.

So, following on from our exploration of creative food packaging design, let’s look at some of the eco-friendly packaging options available, including where they shine, where they fall short and what they mean for your design.