Ecopackaging

Ecopackaging is packaging designed to minimize environmental impact across its life cycle, from material extraction and production to use, reuse, and end-of-life disposal. It emphasizes reducing material usage, improving recyclability, and favoring renewable or lower-impact materials where feasible, with the goal of lowering waste, energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and pollution associated with packaging.

Common strategies include source reduction, designing for recyclability or compostability, enabling reuse, and facilitating disassembly for recycling. Materials used in ecopackaging range from conventional options such as paper, cardboard, glass, and metal, to plastics intended for high recyclability, and to bio-based or compostable alternatives like polylactic acid (PLA), polylactic blends, bagasse, or starch-based films. The suitability of each material depends on product requirements, disposal infrastructure, and consumer behavior.

Lifecycle assessment (LCA) methods are used to evaluate environmental impact, guiding design and material choices. Standards and certifications help verify claims, including FSC certification for wood fibers, Cradle to Cradle certification, OK compost HOME and INDUSTRIAL labels, and compostability standards such as EN 13432 and ASTM D6400.

Policy and market development influence ecopackaging adoption. Many regions implement extended producer responsibility schemes and packaging waste directives that promote recyclability, recycled content, or responsible disposal. Public procurement and consumer demand can also drive change, though challenges remain, including cost, performance requirements, contamination of recycling streams, and gaps in collection and processing infrastructure.

Examples include recyclable beverage cartons, paper and cardboard packaging, reusable transport packaging, recyclable PET bottles, and compostable food-service ware in appropriate facilities.