This section provides topical information and useful tools to explore, learn and challenge current practice, and to move towards more sustainable packaging design. It’s a diverse collection of websites, articles, videos, podcasts and books that introduce sustainable design, recycling, circular economy and sustainable packaging. Three are highlighted to get you started. Additional resources follow, organized by resource type.
Highlights
| Ecodesign | Sustainability Guide | Primer on the concept and practices associated with eco design packaging. The eight steps of the Ecodesign wheel– an initiative of the EcoDesign Circle. Raises awareness on ecodesign among organizations and professionals. |
| NS Packaging |The Rise and Growing Importance of Sustainable Packaging Design | Article providing an overview of the movement toward sustainable packaging design. |
| Plastic Wars | Frontline Public Broadcasting Station (PBS) & National Public Radio (NPR) | A documentary on recycling. An inside look at why and how the plastic industry created a narrative that allowed it to continue growing, despite negative impacts its products were having on the environment. (If outside US, check your country's streaming services.) |
Books
| Biodegradable and Edible Packaging: Fruit and Vegetable Applications, Rigotti de Castro, Tainara, de Souza Silva, Keila, Molina Filho, Lucídio. 2021. | Explores how biodegradable packaging has been widely studied as an alternative material. |
| Designing a Sustainable Packaging Program | A free ebook from BillerudKorsnäs. Created by a global company in the packaging industry to provide guidance for launching a sustainable packaging program. |
| Managing Packaging Design for Sustainable Development: A Compass for Strategic Directions, Daniel Hellström and Annika Olsson. 2017. | Authors emphasize the need to rethink packaging design systems. Presents a strategic packaging design tool that encourages designers to “go off-road, to develop and innovate, and to remake packaging design.” |
| The Future of Packaging: From Linear to Circular - Live Circular, Tom Szaky. 2019. | A book for businesses about a future circular economy, eradicating over-consumption and waste. "A source of knowledge and inspiration." |
Guides
| The Association of Plastics Recyclers | Design Guide Overview | The APR Design® Guide for Plastics Recyclability helps package designers measure each aspect of design against industry-accepted criteria to ensure it is truly recycling compatible. |
| Ecodesign | Sustainability Guide | Primer on the concept and practices associated with eco design packaging. The eight steps of the Ecodesign wheel - an initiative of the EcoDesign Circle which raises awareness on ecodesign among organizations and professionals in the Baltic Sea Region. |
| SPC | Design for Recycled Content Guide | From the Sustainable Packaging Coalition, this Guide supports brands and suppliers who want to incorporate recycled content into packaging. Provides recommendations on strategy and decision making, identifying challenges and opportunities. |
Websites
| Circule Solutions | Circular Packaging | Primer on the concept and practices associated with circular packaging. |
| Cyclic Design | Design company’s website explaining how to design eco-friendly packaging. |
| Eco Design of Plastic Packaging | The management guidelines of the “Round Table for the Eco Design of Plastic Packaging”describe management processes, strategies and methods for developing sustainable packaging solutions. |
| NS Packaging | Sustainable Packaging Design | An analysis of sustainable packaging design trends by NS Packaging, a major industry player. |
| RecyClass | RecyClass is an industry-led group working to redesign plastic products to improve reuse and recycling. |
| The Greater Goods | Sustainable Packaging Design | This article provides a definition of sustainable packaging design and explains what makes particular packaging methods/designs sustainable. |
| WEF | Sustainable Packaging | An article from the World Economic Forum on “Seven ways packaging is changing to reduce plastic waste.” |
Podcasts
| The Sustainable Packaging Show | Michael Markarian hosts a podcast focused on sustainable packaging. |
| Sustainable Packaging with Cory Connors | Cory Connors hosts a podcast exploring sustainability in packaging. Includes frequent guests from industry and community groups/organizations. |
Videos
| Towards a Circular Packaging Economy | EIT Food is Europe’s leading food innovation initiative. In this 2019 video, they feature experts discussing “wicked challenges” to implement a sustainable, circular system for food packaging. |
| Plastic Wars | Frontline Public Broadcasting Station (PBS) & National Public Radio (NPR) | A documentary on recycling. An inside look at why and how the plastic industry created a narrative that allowed it to continue growing, despite negative impacts its products were having on the environment. (If outside US, check your country's streaming services.) |
Documents
| GreyB | Research Landscape of Sustainable Packaging | A report on the future of sustainable packaging. |
| Packaging Design "Rules" | The Consumer Goods Forum list of nine Golden Designer Rules for plastic design. |