50+ Eco-friendly & Recyclable Packaging Inspiration

Packaging design is one form of graphic design applications through product packaging design. Some designers say that the key to a successful packaging design is a design that is able to attract attention and binding the eyes of consumers longer. If so, then that went by the designers is to create a more eye catching designs they can make. Then the alternative might be the colors are bright, dynamic form elements, or whatever it is that can shout loudly 'calling' the eyes of consumers.

But sometimes some of us forget the function of the environmentally friendly in graphic design. Packaging design will from this year see a growth in the use of biodegradable plastics and the use of sustainable ingredients Such as bamboo, According to Predictions from business information consultancy Datamonitor.

The Organisation says new types of biodegradable plastic, using as Eco Pure Such additives or Reverte, earnest help plastics biodegrade more Quickly and safely. Datamonitor says use of these plastics is particularly prevalent in the bottled water sector.

The group adds that bamboo, with its fast growing rate, is becoming the ingredient of choice in products and packaging, and is being used in baby wipes and cosmetics packaging, among other applications.

Datamonitor also predicts that the ‘shot’ format, which was being used in the energy drinks market and is now expanding to relaxation drinks, will continue to grow. Datamonitor says the number of products featuring the word ‘shot’ or ‘shots’ has doubled since 2006.

Another growth area will be the fairtrade market, with the number of fairtrade food products doubling in frequency worldwide since 2006, according to Datamonitor.

Here are 50 creative and stunning eco-friendly packaging concepts.

50 creative and stunning eco-friendly packaging concepts

1. Vim Popcorn Packaging

With a target audience of sophisticated, environmentally aware and health conscious snackers the Vim popcorn packaging came alive as a green product using only recyclable materials. The innovative packaging design allows the user to feel in control as they decide how much of the product they wish to consume.

2. Sennheiser Eco-Friendly Packaging

This eco friendly packaging for Sennheiser CX 300 ear phones is made from cardboard and is 100% recyclable – “no nasty plastic clam shell to clog up land fills.”

3. Permanent Markers Packaging

This packaging is more of a vintage mixed with retro style design.

4. Stumptown Coffee Roasters Packaging

This is one of those undeniably environmentally cooperative designs, it also shows great use of typography.

5. Iams Dog Food Packaging

I love this all-natural packaging concept for Iams dog food.

6. Envelope Packaging

Finding a clean and neat envelope design is unique in its own. However, finding one that is easy on the eyes and is friendly to the environment is extremely rare.

7. ARCADIA Oraganic Tea Packaging

The pattern was lacquer transfered to green paper. They come in a package of four so placed back-to-back all the little pyramids would nest together to make a larger pyramid.

8. Askul Garbage Bags Packaging

Merit winner of the 2007 EDAwards, designed by Swedish design firm, Stockholm Design Lab. This garbage bag packaging is simple, creative, yet effective.

8. Remarkable Pencils Packaging

The use of grey board is interesting, it sems like an invitation to try pencils, a way to say: this is the first support for your imagination.

9. Askinosie Chocolate Packaging

The packaging is equally impressive. A rugged military ration feel that brings to mind WWII ephemera and old typewritten forms, permeates Askinosie’s collection.

10. GE CFL Light Bulbs Packaging Concept

The redesign of General Electric CFL light bulbs is aimed to bring a friendlier shelf presence through the use of basic informative graphics. The new design is packaged with post consumer cardboard rather than calm shell plastic. This ensures the use of less natural resources and therefore less impact on the environment.

11. Seed Packaging

An incredible design featuring a nifty illustration of what’s packaged inside.

12. Mommy Francis Packaging

This an amazing design with unique characteristics. The top of the cups aren’t made from your usual plastic called PVC, it contains a bio-degradable material that resembles plastic.

13. Diamond Ring Packaging

This packaging was intended to encase beauty within a simple design.

14. The Kingdom Animalia Packaging

The Kingdom Animalia, a line of wooden animals and their packaging, were all made in the USA. The boxes are made of recycled cardboard, and offset printed. One element of the design system is that there are a few facts about the real life animal on the box. There are 15 different animals in this collection. They are made of sustainably harvested wood and are solid maple. The finishes on the animals (including the paint, stain, and beeswax sealer) are all non-toxic and very low/no VOC. All of the finishes are also made in the USA. They were laser cut and hand finished. They are meant to be decoration for a nursery, bookshelf, and the like. They are not, however, toys for children.”

15. 360 Paper Bottle-The recycled paper bottle Packaging

Extremely innovative new packaging from Brandimage, who was responsible for everything including concept development, branding, prototyping, engineering, and product design. The 360 Paper Bottle is the first of its kind in the world, and a true environmentally-friendly solution to the problem of plastic water bottles

16. Lite2go Packaging

Lite2go is an innovative lamp designed by KnoEnd that eliminates packaging.When the lamp is assembled, the packaging itself becomes the shade for the light bulb and fixture contained within. This clever example of double-use shows how the use of the packaging can be optimized.

17. Tous H2O packaging

Tous H20 is the latest fragrance launched by Perfumes Y Diseño. Tous H20 is being billed as “eco-chic”, the glass is made from 25% recycled material and is 100% recyclable.

18. Method Omop Packaging

The packaging has a minimal quality to it that alone provides it a creative advantage – you want to look at the packaging, touch it and find out what is in it.

19. Passion Shed Packaging

The agency behind this design wanted to create a natural feel to reflect the naturally sourced ingredients. They also tried to make the packaging as recyclable as possible.

20. Revelry Wines Packaging

Revelry wines are sold in patent-pending REVELution cask. According to 425 Magazine, the “unique, boxed design holds almost twice the amount of wine that a bottle holds, isn’t susceptible to cork taint and keeps wine fresh for several weeks after opening”. It is also recyclable.

21. Hangerpak (Student Work)

A sustainable, reusable way to send and keep your t-shirts. As you open the package you create a coat hanger. The packaging could be made from recycled material whether it is card or plastic and the only waste is the green tear-away tab.

22. Coco

Great typography and a clean design. The packaging also shows you the percentage of the amount that is recyclable towards the bottom right.

23. Incase

This is one of the simplest and cleanest designs that offer new and innovative ways to close the package.

24. Lean

A geometrical design that offers an effective but complex packaging.

25. Pangea Organics Glueless Carton

This design uses every inch of white space possible on the packaging. This saves money all while being creative

26. Phil Bowditch- Brand Identity and Packaging for a small, family run fishmongers in Taunton, Somerset.

The customer today is in need of reassurance of where exactly their produce and meat are sourced.
With meat coming to the U.K from as far afield as Argentina, customers are looking more and more for locally produced foods.
The idea with this identity is to use the fishing hook logo to pinpoint exactly where in Lyme Bay Phil Bowditch's fish is caught by showing it on the nautical maps the fish is wrapped in, then the mileage is displayed on the branded paper bags.

27. Crepini packaging

Packaging and identity design for Crepini Cafe filled frozen crepes. Kraft unbleached paper box with 3 color print for a tactile and natural feel. Custom illustration by Roger Xavier. Vintage styled design featuring simple illustration that doesn’t fail to get the message across.

28. Far Coast Packaging

Far Coast coffee, tea, and cocoa - a new venture from Coca-Cola. This design is easy to handle, sleek and smooth.

29. Vinegar and sea salt

Colorful designs are often best depending on your product. This products packaging has a little bit of everything. It showcases clear-cut typography, simple illustrations, & a smooth texture.

30. Amazon Kindle DX

Primarily, the design is meant to deliver an elegant out of box experience for the customer. Additional design criteria included using minimal packaging to reduce cost, emphasizing environmentally considerate materials, and fitting within Amazon.com’s guidelines for efficiency and durability. Some features of the design: Ships in its own container (SIOC), Certified Frustration Free (an Amazon.com directive), 90+% recyclable, and 90+% made from recycled materials.

31. Starbucks Recycled Mugs

“This recycled ceramic mug was brought to life in a zero-waste factory in Japan, which reuses the clay of former mugs and dishes to create new ones. It’s a story of reuse and renewal that is told from mug to package. The particles coming together to form words and shapes represent a renewed respect for resources. ”

32. Homemade Olive Oil

“This job is a commission from a producer of homemade olive oil. The idea was to create a label that reflected a recycling theme since this product is not for sale but used as gifts only.”

33. M13 Functional Juice

The design objective was to fit an enormous amount of functional ingredients into each bottle. Recycled products were also incorporated into the design.

34. Dream Ball Project

The Dream Ball Project by Unplug Design is an amazing demonstration of how packaging can impact mankind in a positive way- increasing quality of life, ensuring a second life to a box, and forming a bond between two people.

35. Recycle Easily

A packaging design concept for Brett Allcorn that aims to encourage users to recycle. The packaging has a back label that can be easily peeled off to reveal the prepaid return postage that the users can use to send the product back easily for recycling when the life of the product has come to its end.

36. Samsung Reclaim: An Eco-friendly Phone

An eco-friendly overachiever, Samsung Reclaim from Sprint is designed with environmentally-responsible components and fully recyclable packaging, making it the perfect wireless phone for the eco-conscious consumer.

37. Microsoft Kin One and Two

Microsoft Pink handsets which are known as the Kin One and Kin Two are being positioned as feature phones for “Generation Upload” . The Kin One is in its greenish recyclable packaging. The Kin Two is in its black recyclable egg-carton-esque packaging.

38. Recycled Bols Genever Packaging

Beattie McGuinness Bungay New York, came up with a unique promotional campaign for Dutch spirits client Bols Genever. They turn the used spirits bottles into glasses and barware through a specialized handmade process.

39. Mode Tea Identity + Packaging

The Mode Tea project was an exploration in sustainable packaging methods and processes. Through extensive research of the principle of sustainability, a packaging scheme was devised which could be fully recycled or reused. The materials proposed would all come from sustainable sources and would not be harmful to the environment.

40. LOCCITANE – Skincare Regimen Boxes

These boxes were designed to house L’OCCITANE’s natural ingredient-based skincare products. In the true spirit of the brand, both the boxes and the packaging within were made with recyclable materials.

41. Flicker

Flicker takes a package for a light kit and transforms it into an interactive lamp which is also 100% recyclable.The design removes the need for additional packaging, filler material and instructions cutting down on waste.

42. Imoeba iPod Cases

The cases themselves are made from recycled leather, and the packaging is 90 percent recycled paper.This packaging is only using 10 percent raw materials, and the rest of the content has been rescued from landfills. In an ideal world the packaging will be recycled again.

43. Litl Webbook

The Litl webbook packaging is simple, straightforward and designed to appeal to a wide range of ages, embodying Litl’s mission as technology for everyone. The entire package is made from recyclable paper with no plastics or foams used, and the packaging doubles as its own shipping box.

44. Student Spotlight: Funflops

Visual identity made for the international flipflop brand, Funflops. Funflops’ flipflops is all made out of recycled material like old vehicles tires. This is something they wanted their identity to represent because its uniqe compared to the competition. The identity had to express values like Fun, organic and beach life.

45. Cutting Board Package

A recyclable polypropylene packaging for bread which may be collapsed and used as a cutting surface. The package protects the bread while acting as a reusable storage system and kitchenware item.

46. Us vs. Them x Incipio

Savage Diplomacy teamed up with clothing brand Us Versus Them to design a package for their first iPhone accessory collaboration with Incipio. The design made use of screen printing approach on chip board.

47. Domino’s Pizza Proverb Packaging

Is it weird to want to frame a pizza box? These illustrations of Domino’s Pizza’s Pizza proverbs are delightful and a perfect reflection on what Domino’s Pizza stands for.

48. Lee Never Wasted

The ‘Never Wasted’ shopping bag that can be reused in one way or another. Some for fun, some for function, but nothing ever goes into the trash. Not only did this make the idea long-lasting and interactive but also conveyed the message in a fascinating manner.

49. Manymals

Manymals is a collection of five necklaces that features wild animals which hang from the chain as they would naturally in their habitats. The packaging is made from 100% recycled paper pulp and features a factual story about the creature contained within.

50. Scrap Drives

Designed by Matt Ritchie, this series of recycled USB flash drives inform their user of ways to recycle their electronics. Each drive included a hand-made package and digital resources.

51. Packaging for HP Inks

This packaging enables the HP Ink consumer to send back their empty ink cartridge in the self addressed, same box that the new ink cartridge is bought in. Conceptually, HP would start a “refilling” option, where the user would order their next cartridge online ahead of time and receive a discount by entering a the code found on the box. Recycled chipboard was used as material and screen printing was used for the graphics (using only process inks cyan, magenta, yellow and black).

52. Billerud’s FibreForm

This is a new biodegradeable, recyclable packaging material by Billerud, a Swedish company. The material is very flexible, can easily be shaped into soft, natural shapes and can stand up to being embossed. It is touted to have a variety of applications from product packaging to food packaging: Marks & Spencer has taken to using the material as packaging for their sliced meat over traditional plastic packaging.