4 Key trends shaping eco-responsible packaging in 2025

One area that businesses can have immediate and positive environmental impact is their choice of packaging for products and distribution purposes. Four key trends are transforming the packaging industry that enable businesses to dramatically reduce their direct and indirect carbon emissions from packaging use and their contributions to plastic waste in the environment.

• New, more sustainable materials to replace fossil-fuel based plastics have become more affordable and more widely available.
   
• Packaging design is being simplified to reduce waste and improve recyclability of materials.
   
• Reusable packaging is being developed by more brands and retailers.
   
• Smart technologies incorporated into packaging can help reduce the carbon footprint of logistics and foster a sustainable supply chain.

New Compostable materials for eco-responsible packaging

As the demand for sustainable alternatives grows, innovative solutions are emerging to replace conventional plastic packaging.

Plastic, being durable, flexible, and low-cost, is essential to modern economies. It preserves food, facilitates global transportation, and serves as a marketing tool. However, its environmental impact is significant: in 2019, plastic production contributed to 3.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions and generated 353 million tonnes of waste, with packaging accounting for 40% of that waste¹.

In response, more eco-responsible and increasingly cost-effective alternatives are emerging:

• Bioplastics: produced from renewable resources such as corn or rice starch and sugarcane, they are often blended with fossil fuel-based polymers.
   

More packaging will be made from post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials and upcycled waste from different industries to promote circularity and reduce reliance on virgin materials.

Rethinking package design

Currently, just 9% of plastic packaging is recycled every year, according to the World Economic Forum⁵. To raise those rates significantly, the design of packaging solutions needs to change. A big part of the recycling problem is complex packaging comprised of multiple materials. The materials need to be separated and sorted, increasing the cost and decreasing the efficiency of recycling efforts. 

Eco-responsible packaging design emphasizes a new cleaner aesthetic. It uses mono-materials whenever possible, simple color schemes and short direct consumer messaging. It has fewer components and doesn’t use complex inks that need to be removed in the recycling process. It comes with clear labels (triman, packaging components for example)⁶ to help consumers sort the materials for efficient recycling. 

Companies are focusing on reducing material usage through lightweight designs, refillable systems, and concentrated product formats to cut down on packaging waste. Optimal packaging design is also minimalist, using lighter materials and just enough of them to ensure product safety and integrity. It reduces waste volumes, transportation costs and GHG emissions.

The Packaging Design Centres at Antalis supports businesses in creating innovative, bespoke, and eco-responsible packaging. Thanks to their expertise, the packaging engineers propose optimised solutions that combine protection, performance, and sustainability, meeting the specific needs of each client.

Reusable packaging 

The development of more reusable plastic packaging that can be collected, cleaned and used multiple times can help reduce waste volumes and conserve resources. The systems usually involve a deposit and return system (DRS) to motivate consumers to return the packaging.
 

Smarter packages

A smart package is a more environmentally responsible package. Packaging that has QR codes and radio frequency identification (RFID) tags to track packages in transit and even monitor product conditions can dramatically increase logistics efficiency. The digital codes and tags allow businesses to see products as they move through supply and distribution chains. They make deliveries more secure and predictable and can verify that products are authentic and have not been tampered with.

The technology helps businesses improve their inventory management and reduce the overall carbon footprint of their logistics operations. The codes can also provide consumers with information about the product as well as the environmental impact of both the product and its packaging. U.S. pizza maker Domino’s uses smart codes to give consumers information on how and where to recycle its cardboard pizza boxes. 

The transition to more eco-responsible packaging revolves around four key trends: sustainable materials, optimized design for recyclability, reusable systems, and digital tracking tools. Tackling plastic waste requires a collective effort from businesses, consumers, and governments. With solutions becoming more accessible and affordable, now is the time to act. Antalis experts can help companies adopt more sustainable packaging practices.