28.1% of total waste are packaging containers. This was reported by the US Environmental Protection Agency in 2018.
It would have been a disaster by now if governments, businesses, and every stakeholder didn't take a stand against environmental pollution.
One of the shifts was in consumer behavior and making purchasing designs.
Over 70% of shoppers agree that the eco-friendliness of a brand is a reason they'd buy products. So, you have to change or remain behind.
Here are 27 eco-friendly packaging ideas you can start with.
1. Cardboard Tubes
The first is a cardboard tubing design. It's simple, brandable, and perfect for your items.
2. Disposable Food Containers
Do you just want to get the job done or is there something else you can achieve with the design?
Even if your answer is yes on both, you still don't need to complicate your design. Just get the job done and get it over with.
Okay, so this is not the fanciest container ever. But don’t let that plain look fool you. It works 100%.
3. Classic Pouches
Some people think the good old packaging styles are a thing of the best.
That a brown paper, a twine, and a tiny flower can't crack it in today's world.
That's not true and here is a design that agrees with me.
4. Corrugated Cardboard Box
Just when you thought all we are going to do is to fill our list with complex design ideas.
So far, we are mentioning simple ideas after simple ideas.
And here's another.
The only thing not so simple about this box is the patterns on it.
5. Larger Cardboard Box
Yes. You guessed it again. Another simple box idea. This one checks all of these boxes:
It is elegant
100% eco-friendly
Has enough branding space
6. Stand-Up Paper Pouch
Let's now turn our attention to one that's a bit complicated. It is a paper pouch with a colorful label and an illustration.
7. Glass Jars
Of course, no eco-friendly packaging ideas list is complete without touching on glass.
If you are looking for biodegradable or compostable options, look away. Glass containers are eco-friendly in a different way.
One that involves not throwing your packaging away. But using them again and again.
They are reusable.
8. Custom Floral Packaging
If you are not a florist, don't love flowers, and are not planning to gift someone a flower, please ignore this one, too.
That's because this design is 100% for flowers. And has everything you'll need. I am talking about a die-cut handle or even the natural feel of kraft paper.
9. Small Pouches
Next is something a bit unique.
The design itself is just a sachet-like pouch. Not tins, jars, or boxes.
So, why are they unique? You have an early advantage when transporting them. I mean a large box is enough to carry many of them at once.
10. Hexagonal Cardboard Boxes
Are you bored with the old square and rectangular box packaging everyone seems to be using today?
If you are, try out unique shapes. Maybe something bold or unexpected or both.
11. Box Made with Pineapple Leaves
You are already reading through this list, so that's a win for the environment.
Then, you start supporting initiatives that seek to use plant wastes to make packaging. That's another tick.
So, how many ticks do you have? Two, and that gets you a pouch design made from pineapple leaves.
12. Flour Paper Pouch
Why did you think you must do much to get your packaging right?
Sure, you must get your brand details right. But that's almost everything you'd do to make a packaging like this a hit.
13. Branded Cardboard Box
I agree, the box design is common. That's because it gets the work done without requiring much.
You don't have to stick to the old plain box designs. Make yours one of a kind.
Think:
Illustrations
Bold colors
Personalized messages
14. Smart Refill Pouch
Bulky packaging gives you another headache during disposal. Are you tired of tossing out bulky plastics you can't reuse?
If your answer is yes like me, then maybe a pouch you can refill is what you need.
15. Cardboard Tins
Plastic tins are not environmentally safe, but you can use the same design and different materials to achieve the same or even better results.
Cardboard is a stronger alternative to traditional plastic tins.
16. Cardboard Carrier
Small boxes are great until you want to carry four of them at once.
I've been there, and there's nothing easy about losing some of your most important items.
So, you need a box carrier for that, and here is a design I like.
17. Corrugated Cardboard Bottle Holder
Get this:
You can have a packaging that opens just like a book.
18. Paper Cosmetic Containers
Who needs plastic when the world is full of options? No one.
Take cosmetic packaging for example:
Paper-based containers would work just fine.
That's not all.
They also give off a more natural vibe.
19. Eco-friendly Packaging Trios
Here's one more trick to get people's attention:
Cohesive branding. Use the same color and branding on every packaging design that comes out of your business.
Such a small detail can be the reason your sales skyrocket.
20. Pouch with White Lid
Of all the thin paper pouches on this list, I like this the most. I don't need much to make it a beauty. Just one llabel is enough.
21. Molded Pulp Trays
My grandma's kitchen knows one or two things about beauty. Even her would agree with me that there's something luxurious about this soap packaging.
22. Cardboard Carrier with an Integrated Handle
We have already mentioned box carriers, was another necessary?
You tell me.
I love the first carrier option for small boxes. I can carry medicine boxes in it.
But the paper-based carrier, here, can carry bottles, tins, and not just boxes.
So, yes. We needed it.
23. Set-Up Box
An all-white design is clean on a rigid box. This one even has a thin paper material to cover your cookies before closing its flaps.
24. Pillow-Shaped Pouch
Half pouch, half handbag, full-on adorable. It has rope handles, so it gives your packaging a personality.
25.Molded Fiber Clamshell
Once the go-to for greasy takeout, now reimagined in molded fiber with clean lines and no flashy ink.
26. Cardboard Boxes with Molded Insert
One unique thing here is the inserts. They are also the most important to the design.
So, what are the inserts made of?
The one in the picture is grain husks. But that is not the only material you can use.
Similar agricultural wastes would do the work and create custom-fit cushioning for your fragile items.
27. Pouch and Box Combo
Sometimes you need a box to further protect your small pouch even though it comes with a lid.
Conclusion
Eco-friendly packaging ideas don't have to be so unique they compromise on design or even functionality.
Most of them are just simple ideas we all ignore.
Even if your answer is yes on both, you still don't need to complicate your design. Just get the job done and get it over with.
That a brown paper, a twine, and a tiny flower can't crack it in today's world.
So far, we are mentioning simple ideas after simple ideas.
That's because this design is 100% for flowers. And has everything you'll need. I am talking about a die-cut handle or even the natural feel of kraft paper.
The design itself is just a sachet-like pouch. Not tins, jars, or boxes.
If you are, try out unique shapes. Maybe something bold or unexpected or both.
Then, you start supporting initiatives that seek to use plant wastes to make packaging. 
Sure, you must get your brand details right. But that's almost everything you'd do to make a packaging like this a hit.
You don't have to stick to the old plain box designs. Make yours one of a kind.
If your answer is yes like me, then maybe a pouch you can refill is what you need.
Cardboard is a stronger alternative to traditional plastic tins.
I've been there, and there's nothing easy about losing some of your most important items.
You can have a packaging that opens just like a book.
Take cosmetic packaging for example:
Cohesive branding. Use the same color and branding on every packaging design that comes out of your business.
You tell me.
So, what are the inserts made of?
