13 Creative Eco-Friendly Packaging Examples and Ideas You Should Check Out

Consumer purchasing habits are becoming more environmentally friendly, according to a worldwide https://www.simon-kucher.com/sites/default/files/studies/Simon-Kucher_Global_Sustainability_Study_2021.pdf

74% of consumers are willing to spend more money on sustainable packaging, so it’s an excellent way to raise revenue and enhance your brand image. In addition, these packaging solutions decompose quickly and naturally, minimizing your company’s contribution to single-use plastic waste and pollution.

If you’re looking to establish yourself as a sustainable brand, you can get started by exploring these creative eco-friendly packaging ideas from some of the most ingenious brands and manufacturers.

1. Water-Activated Tape

FRECKL STUDIO offers a collection of minimalist and uniquely designed fashion items. As the company explains, it’s their attention to detail that enables them to curate each piece to fit the individual styles. This attention extends to their creative eco-friendly packaging.

Instead of sending orders to consumers using regular packaging tape, they opted for a clever, more sustainable option to seal their packages: Custom Water-Activated Tape from tendlyn.

tendlyn Custom Tape and Custom Paper Stickers by @frecklstudio

tendlyn’s Custom Tape uses 100% recycled paper, non-toxic water-activated adhesive, and soy-based inks to ensure that the product is biodegradable, recyclable, and compostable. It adheres to the paper or box when moistened, hence the name.

FRECKL STUDIO also uses a special type of Tape Dispenser from tendlyn. One that comes with a tank you can fill with water and lets you wet the tape as you roll. Here’s an ASMR video of that in action below.

2. Recyclable HangTags

Southern Californian ecommerce brand, But first, West, makes handmade, customized pet accessories. They cap off their merchandise with Custom Hangtags from tendlyn that match their branding.

tendlyn Custom Hangtags by @butfirstwest

Hangtags don’t have to be boring or wasteful. tendlyn’s Custom Hangtags are made from circular materials such as recycled card stock and digitally printed using HP non-toxic or soy-based inks — making them recyclable and home-compostable. Soy ink

3. Dissolvable Paper Gift Wraps

Personal care brand Plus resorts to sustainable packaging solutions to curb plastic pollution by introducing dissolvable soap packaging. Plus paper gift wraps dissolve down the drain in less than 30 seconds — an easy start to encouraging a zero-waste lifestyle. In addition, they use bio-renewable ink that is safe for the environment and does not contain harmful chemicals.

Image source: Plus

Dissolvable wraps are great product packaging ideas for specialty stores that sell gift items like books, skincare, and luxury bath products. Wrap the products the same way you would use an ordinary gift wrap. Then send the package off and let your customer’s unboxing experience end with the packaging’s magic-like disappearance.

4. Reusable Embosser

LoverGirl is a Sydney-based jewelry company. Their handmade accessories are made from the highest-grade materials in Australia. As part of its commitment to sustainability, the ecommerce brand claims its “pieces are designed to last forever; our packaging isn’t.”

The company uses tendlyn’s recycled Padded Mailers, Custom Cards, and compostable for packaging its products. But the cherry on top is their hangtags, which they level up with tendlyn’s Custom Reusable Embosser for a more personalized look.

tendlyn Custom Embosser in action by @lovergirlworld

You can achieve the same results by getting a Custom Embosser to personalize your stationery, hang tags, or cards. This will allow you to leave a lasting impression on your customers without wasting resources, such as ink — for as long as you want.

5. Biodegradable Plastic

GenZ-founded Impact Snacks is a plant-based superfood snack manufacturer. Their mantra, “Choose Good,” is reflected throughout their operations — from their use of holistic ingredients to their bioplastic packaging.

The snack brand uses marine biodegradable wrappers that are 100% compostable at home. After finishing a snack, you can simply throw it into the bin or turn it into compost for your house or garden plants. Bioplastics are one of the most sustainable choices you can make for packaging food products.

Image source: @impactsnacks

6. Reusable Drawstring Bags

Align Slimes specializes in creating handcrafted slimes that help with reducing stress. Orders come with a mini bag of borax to activate the slime. All are packaged neatly in a Custom Drawstring Bag from tendlyn.

tendlyn Custom Drawstring Bags by @alignslimes

These reusable bags are a convenient and stylish alternative to plastic or paper bags. Made from 100% organic cotton, they can be customized with your logo and website name. If you want to give your shoppers a useful bag they can take on the go, drawstring bags fit the bill. On top of that, this creative eco-friendly packaging also doubles as a free advertisement for your brand.

7. Reusable tote bags

Even if yours isn’t an ecommerce business, you could still consider using eco-friendly packaging. Just like Chellsie Kiger. The hair salon owner gifts branded Tote Bags from tendlyn to her clients to show her gratitude for their continued patronage.

The Custom Tote Bags with a bold, retro “Chellsie Kiger” print are made from 100% organic cotton and printed using water-based inks. These materials produce fewer carbon emissions than their traditional counterparts.

Tote bags provide the same branding and functionality benefits as drawstrings. However, tote bags are more popular for daily use.

tendlyn Custom Tote Bags by @chellsiedanielle

8. Compostable Cards

Home to custom embroidered clothing and textile supplies, Thread Honey upcycles vintage garments and ornaments into fresh designs. The company also sells embroidery kits and patterns for those looking to reduce their carbon footprint.

Together with branded Tissue Paper, Water-Activated Tape, and Padded Mailers from tendlyn, Thread Honey demonstrates its commitment to sustainability — from its products to its creative eco-friendly packaging.

The company inserts Custom Cards into its eco-friendly packaging to add a touch of thoughtfulness. These cards from tendlyn are printed with soy-based inks on 100% recycled materials and feature a brand photo with a reminder to recycle the packaging. Try adding these cards to give your packages a personal touch.

tendlyn Custom Cards by @threadhoney

9. Seaweed-Based Packaging

Innovative food packaging company Notpla helps overthrow single-use food packaging, which totals 10.7 billion items of packaging waste

Image source: Notpla

A good example is their seaweed pipettes, which are perfect for drizzling sesame, olive, or flaxseed oil over any food product. Pairing these pipettes with on-the-go seaweed food boxes is a revolutionary move to reduce plastic condiment sachets from overflowing landfills.

10. Aluminum and Glass Bottles

Another contributor to the relentless growth of plastic waste is the use of disposable bottle containers. This is why NeatClean, a brand campaigning against plastic bottles, has pioneered the use of refillable, circular packaging for their cleaning products. The brand offers reusable aluminum and glass bottles and refill formulas to eliminate the need for shipping tons of packaging waste worldwide.

Image source: NeatClean

Each NeatClean Starter Pack comes with a reusable aluminum spray bottle and a 30ml refill cleaner formula. After mixing the formula with 470ml tap water in the bottle, you’ll have a 500ml cleaner. The next time you run out of cleaning products, you only have to buy refills.

The brand also uses eco-friendly packaging to stay true to its goal. If you’re still finding your path to creative yet sustainable packaging for your skincare and home products, this reusable-refillable combo is an excellent place to start.

11. Stock Paper Tubes

Small businesses that sell candles, cosmetics, and ceramics can secure their products better by using sturdy, thick-walled containers instead of standard plastic or paper pouches. Stock Paper Tubes from tendlyn make for an ideal sustainable packaging option.

tendlyn Stock Paper Tubes

Our Stock Paper Tubes can be customized for your brand’s packaging needs. Each paper tube has a removable lid to display your logo and product details. Its simple design may encourage customers to reuse them if they don’t recycle them immediately.

Secure packaging doesn’t have to be inefficient — it all comes down to how you use your resources efficiently. Use shredded paper, honeycomb wraps, or biodegradable packing peanuts as fillers for these Stock Paper Tubes and keep your products safe.

12. Recyclable and Compostable Stickers

Opening a package with free stickers is always a delight. These thoughtful add-ons can put a smile on your customers’ faces. If you can’t afford to spend time outlining and snipping them one by one, tendlyn’s Custom Die Cut Stickers are better alternatives.

tendlyn Custom Die Cut Stickers

Compared to regular stickers, these compostable die-cut stickers use recycled materials (like acid-free paper) to reduce virgin plastic consumption. At the end of their lifecycle, they would re-enter the circulation instead of ending up in landfills, which could help save both our forests and oceans.

The design and use of your stickers are completely up to you. Choose artworks and icons that are relevant to your brand, and use them as tissue paper seals, box seals, or free inserts. This custom packaging idea is a budget-friendly and guilt-free way to make your brand stand out.

13. Dissolving Containers

SOAPBOTTLE is the inventor of an ingenious container for liquid personal hygiene products: a biodegradable, natural soap bar container. Its design inspiration came from zero-waste edible food packaging.

Image source: SOAPBOTTLE

Each bar includes an easy-slip metal clip and a ribbon for trouble-free usage and storage and is outlined with a water-insoluble layer, which prevents the gel inside from dissolving the soap casing immediately. Once you’ve finished the liquid product, you can use the bar as hand soap until it runs out. Whatever remains can decompose within a few days in landfills.

Wrapping It Up

Becoming a sustainable brand is a journey worth taking for the sake of your business, your customers, and the planet. Get started by looking for creative, eco-friendly packaging options. Take a cue from these inspiring brands and show your customers that you value environmental consciousness as much as they do.

Regardless of the type of products you sell, tendlyn has the right packaging solutions for your needs. If you seek sustainable packaging materials tailored to your brand, we can help tell your unique story effectively. Explore your options today.