We all know how important it is to reduce our impact on the environment. Many businesses are now improvising new ways of designing and producing their products, attempting to lessen their carbon and environmental footprint, while simultaneously saving money. The concept of “cradle-to-cradle” — taking responsibility for a product’s impact from the sourcing of the materials to its ultimate disposal — is also becoming increasingly popular.
One of the biggest culprits when it comes to an industry’s impact is packaging materials and accessories. The cradle-to-cradle concept needs to take into account the shipping of a product from the producer, through to the retailer, and onto the consumer – a process which often involves significant quantities of expensive packaging materials. This has led to a wave of innovative new eco-friendly alternatives from environmentally damaging packaging materials. From recyclable plastics to biodegradable containers, there’s seemingly no end to the options available for the environmentally conscious business.
In this Green Business Bureau article we present 10 greener packaging alternatives your business should consider:
1. BIODEGRADABLE PACKAGING PEANUTS
New York has recently reinstated a ban on Styrofoam, the light, airy material used for takeaway cartons and loose-fill packaging. Similar U.S. cities have followed suit preventing the use of Styrofoam, otherwise known as EPS (expanded polystyrene foam). EPS is neither biodegradable nor is it economically recyclable, often finding its way into waterways where it can have adverse effects on marine life.
Styrofoam has been a standard in loose-fill packaging for fragile or otherwise sensitive items, helping to prevent movement and cushion against shocks. For businesses looking for the closest alternative to this packaging classic, biodegradable air peanuts are now available. These work in the same way as their Styrofoam brethren, but they do not linger for eternity polluting the environment. They are also less expensive.
2. CORRUGATED BUBBLE WRAP
We’re all familiar with bubble wrap packaging, a kids favorite which helps to protect fragile items during shipping. However, this is not an eco-friendly material as it is plastic based. The good news is that a number of alternatives are being developed.
One of these is a wrap made of up-cycled corrugated cardboard. Rather than disposing or recycling post-consumer cardboard waste, the material is given an additional life as a cushioning agent. Small cuts are made to produce a concertina-type effect that protects against shocks just as bubble wrap does. The only downside is that you don’t get the satisfaction of popping the bubbles afterward!

3. AIR PILLOWS MADE OF RECYCLED MATERIALS
Inflatable air pillows are another great eco- and cost-saving alternative to Styrofoam or bubble wrap. Available in a variety of sizes, they are ideal for filling voids in boxes or providing cushioning around packed items.
Air pillows are small bags, which can be inflated meaning they consist primarily of air. This cuts down on the amount of plastic used in their production and transport when compared to other cushioning materials.
Once more, they can be reused, recycled, and are even biodegradable. Make sure to purchase air pillows that are made from 100 percent recycled materials, with the biodegradability emphasized.
4. RECYCLED CARDBOARD AND PAPER
Of course, all these filler materials need to be housed in something, and cardboard boxes are the industry standard. While cardboard and paper are organic materials, if they are sourced unsustainably, their use can have a drastic impact on the environment.
Luckily, paper and cardboard are some of the most recyclable materials available. To ensure your packaging is as eco-friendly as possible, try to source post-consumer or post-industrial recycled paper and cardboard. Alternatively, materials marked as FSC-certified will be sourced from sustainably managed forests. Note that paper and cardboard can be recycled five to seven times over.
5. CORNSTARCH PACKAGING
Cornstarch is an organic material that has made in-roads into the eco-friendly packaging industry. Derived from the corn or maize plant, it has plastic-like properties making it a good plastic alternative in many contexts – from bottles to other molded forms and loose-fill packaging.
While a more environmentally sustainable alternative to petroleum-based packaging, cornstarch is not without its problems. As it is derived from the grains of corn, it effectively competes with human and animal food supply, possibly raising the price of one of our dietary staples. It’s best to weigh both the pros and cons of this option when considering it for your packaging needs.
6. MUSHROOM PACKAGING
Another cheap, eco-friendly packaging alternative that can be used to support smaller items is, believe it or not, made from mushrooms. It uses cleaned and ground agricultural waste, which is then fused together by a matrix of mushroom roots, otherwise known as mycelium.
The agricultural waste is exactly that – waste – and therefore could not be used as a food source for humans or animals. It consequently avoids the possible controversy linked to cornstarch packaging. The raw material can then be molded into whichever shape is desired. It is then dried and used as packaging. Not only is this a petroleum free material, it also naturally degrades at an incredible rate. Mushroom packaging can be composted at home, breaking down into non-toxic, organic matter.
7. SEAWEED PACKAGING
From corn to mushrooms, and then to seaweed, the gelatinous substance agar – found in a variety of seaweeds and algae – can be used as green packaging. Seaweed is also useful in the food industry, as it can be utilized as a thickener or a vegetarian alternative to gelatin.
Today we can celebrate the award-winning designers who prototyped seaweed packaging. Being made from a plentiful and sustainable raw material, seaweed packaging could be the next big thing in eco-friendly, biodegradable packaging alternatives.

8. ECO-FRIENDLY PLASTIC AND RECYCLED PLASTICS
There’s no getting around it – some shipping needs require a sturdy and reliable material that isn’t going to break and can support heavy loads. While many of the alternatives based on organic raw materials can be great containers, cushioners or fillers, there are still times when only plastic will do.
Yet there’s no need to cut back on your eco-credentials in these cases, as you have 100 percent recycled plastic options. From drums, spill trays, and spill control pallets, you can choose eco-friendly shipping materials for all your shipping needs. Yet it must be noted that plastic can only be recycled once, so avoiding this material all-together is your best green option.
9. ORGANIC FABRICS
Plastic bags significantly impact our environment, with Americans using an average of 365 plastic bags per year per person (compared to Denmark populations who use 4 plastic bags per year per person).
Yet there are eco-friendly alternatives such as organic fabrics for reusable bags. You’ll see a variety of organic fabrics are on the market including hemp, organic or recycled cotton, tapioca, palm leaves, and many more. All of these materials are biodegradable, taking ~100 days to decompose compared to the 10,000 years it takes for a plastic bag to degrade. There are also many other uses for these fabrics besides bags, such as clothing.
10. EDIBLE FILMS
Imagine walking around the grocery store and seeing food items wrapped in edible skin. Imagine eating your wrapped fruit, chocolate bar or ice cream right off the shelf, packaging included. Well you can with the invention of edible films.
More appropriate to the food industry, edible films provide a sustainable packaging alternative to wrap food items. This packaging has the potential to make food storage and preparation simpler, while curbing food and packaging waste, and reducing chemical leaching from plastic coats.
Different natural products can create edible packaging, but the most effective and widely used is chitosan. Chitosan is a sugar that’s made from treating the chitin shells of shrimp and other crustaceans. This makes chitosan one of the most abundant biopolymers after cellulose.
If you work in the food industry, switch to edible film to protect and package your food items, rather than environmentally-harmful plastic.
THE CHANGING TIDE OF PACKAGING
Cities throughout the U.S. and around the world are banning specific materials derived from fossil fuels. And so it seems the tide is beginning to turn on plastics. With so many eco-friendly alternatives on the market at competitive prices, more businesses are recognizing the opportunities in making the switch. Eco-friendly is becoming mainstream, and smart business owners throughout the country are making the change today to ensure they are ahead of the game tomorrow.
For more information on sustainable packaging for you business, why not read our Sustainable Packaging Guide for Small Business
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Author Bio:
Cory Levins serves as the Director of Business Development for Air Sea Containers. Cory oversees the development and implementation of ASC’s internal and external marketing program, driving revenue and profits from the Miami FL headquarters. Before joining Air Sea Containers, Cory Levins was the Director of Business Development for Marketing and Real Estate Lending Companies. Cory enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, sports, and the ocean.
http://www.brandablebox.io is another alternative for any business. the boxes are made from 100% recycled materials
There are multiple sustainable alternatives currently present in the market, that could be used by businesses for packaging their products. These include; Corrugated Bubble Wrap, Cornstarch Packaging and Seaweed Packaging. If your looking for quality sustainable packaging solutions head over to Premium Vials, we offer wide range of sustainable packaging material suitable to meet the needs of your business.
These are some incredible tips that you have shared with us this will surely help us reduce waste and also help save the environment and also save our costs as well, will surely discuss it with my partner regarding this and see how we can apply these tips.
That’s good to know that you can get biodegradable plastic. It would be smart for a company to find a product handling manufacturer that uses this. This would also impress customers and encourage them to buy from the company.
A really good article coming from a packaging direction. It’s good to hear that more options are available and gives businesses plenty of alternatives.
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Thanks to you for sharing.
Best,
Diana
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Best,
Diana
I agree that recycled plastic can make for some eco-friendly packaging. I hope that I can find an industrial packing and crating company that uses such materials. Those would surely come in handy in the future if I ever start a business that would require the shipping of goods.
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This article is definitely important for sustainable living and was helpful in discussing how easily we can maintain the balance using these tips. Thanks for sharing.
Hello.
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http://www.heapsgoodpackaging.com.au is a really good option for compostable packaging made from plants. They currently only ship in Australia.
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https://bubblepaper.com is a great sustainable alternative to plastic bubble packaging. Its recyclable, biodegradable, and compostable.
Very cool! Thank you for providing this resource to our readers!
Very impressive detail article. I am also going to give my opinion on this topic. I recently got in contact With RSF Packaging they are providing Sustainably sourced & recyclable boxes which will surely help in reducing waste. if you wanna check them out here is the link https://www.rsfpackaging.com/cardboard-boxes/
That sounds great! Could you provide a link to RSF Packaging’s sustainable products?
Hey, these eco-friendly ideas are superb, and I think it will be great if I also have these ideas in my office areas, just like using recycled cardboard, etc. I really appreciate your work. Thanks for sharing these ideas with us.
It’s fascinating that I came across your site and get to know about your vision of biodegradable plastic. I’m also working on a sustainable business where people can be more aware of their surroundings and make use of some eco-friendly products. I’m currently in search of biodegradable plastic bottles (PET) and want to raise awareness about the benefits of sustainability.
Thank you
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Hi! Here at GBB, we want to support truly sustainable businesses. Can you provide a link to your eco-friendly products?
Great learning platform for business start ups.
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Hello! Here at GBB, we love to support truly sustainable businesses. Can you supply a link to your eco-friendly products?
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Thank you! I’m happy you are finding our content valuable.
This is a really good post here. Thanks for taking the time to post such valuable information. Quality content is what always gets the visitors coming.
Thank you, Carolyn! The GBB team appreciates readers like you.
Thank you for this article, I really like it! I can’t ask any Q & A about eco-friendly packaging because you said everything here.
Thanks for your feedback! I’m glad you find our content helpful!
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You can use 100% recycled paper materials packaging boxes solution. Can’t use plastic bags which have been a staple in impacting the environment. Follow govt appeal… thnx
Very useful information shared in this article, nicely written! I will be reading your articles and using the informative tips. Looking forward to read such knowledgeable articles.
Hey Nice article. In this present scenario of widely spread pollution due to non biodegradable packaging materials, switching to sustainable and eco-friendly packaging is so important. When it comes in the case of food industry, sustainable packaging that facilitates safe transportation of goods are highly preferable. Disposable packaging suppliers
in the market delivers quality eco-friendly food packaging options that assures safety of the packaged food from external harm without loosing its nutritional quality.
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Thank you, Hari! We appreciate your support.
Please do a post about custom vape boxes as well. People need vape boxes for the packaging of vape products and there is a growing demand for these custom boxes
Thanks for your feedback! Customized boxes is highly sought after for companies these days. I will pass along your comment to my team.
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Useful information thanks for sharing …
Thanks, Lukas! We’re happy you find our content helpful.
This blog GBB is really good. All articles of GBB are great fully researched and full of knowledge. Custom boxes are trending now in the market because every brand is moving towards custom packaging with custom boxes. So, keep writing related to custom boxes. Thanks!
Thanks for your input, Kevin! You’re right. Customization is a big deal to most companies these days. So how can we offer customization freedom while still maintaining sustainability? That’s an issue that we will continue to highlight in our product and packaging articles. I’ll pass along your input to my team.
These are some great sustainable options. http://www.heropackaging.com.au has great home-compostable shipping mailers!
Thanks for sharing, Anaita!
Provide a logo for sustainably packaged! Help consumers identify & buy products packaged with these!!!
Thanks for your feedback, Mary! I agree. Certification seals and logos are crucial towards ensuring consumers are purchasing truly sustainable products, especially in an age of greenwashing! I will take your insight and pass it along to my team so we can create an article around the importance of sustainability certification seals and logos.
Hey Cory, thank you for sharing such a helpful article. I own a small home-based business. I have always tried to conserve the environment currently, I am using recycled cardboard and papers for packing. I really liked the Mushroom packaging idea and am surely going to try for the next few orders for a change. I hope my customer’s like the effort. Will try more of the techniques given in the article. Keep sharing.
Thanks for your feedback, Neha! And great job doing your part to be more sustainable!
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Thanks…..
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I really enjoy your Article Especially the “AIR PILLOWS MADE OF RECYCLED MATERIALS” portion. I try to read the content related to Recycled material Issues. you are awesome.
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It’s very interesting to read your post. Follow my blogs for more interesting and informative stories. and packaging articles.
Nice article. Didn’t even know there was such a thing as seaweed packaging. I guess the main concern for smaller businesses when wanting to use more sustainable packaging is the price point. Maintaining a higher profit is always going to more important than eco-packaging which is almost always more expensive than traditional packaging.
Hi Edward,
Thanks for your comment. Indeed, we must not forget that sustainability encompasses the economic, social, and environmental facets of a business. It’s about balancing the needs of each to create a self-sustaining organization. It’s about making the sustainable changes you can afford to make. Luckily a lot of sustainable choices reduce business costs by improving business efficiency and reducing waste. Plus investors, customers, and employees are shown to favor sustainable business choices, with many customers agreeing they’ll pay more for a sustainable alternative (esp. millennials). Many organizations implementing sustainable packaging solutions charge a premium to offset extra costs made, which stakeholders are willing to pay for. Customers are wanting more sustainable options and seek the brands that are providing this. Plus, with continued use, the cost of this new, sustainable technology decreases as sustainable packaging becomes more widespread. But you’re correct, sustainability is about finding the green solutions that work for your organization 🙂
Thanks for sharing this post . I got to know more about the cornstarch packaging.
Hi Tina, thanks for your comment – it’s always good to hear that our work is appreciated 🙂
great work all the time
This is a great article