How to Choose Sustainable Paper Options for Packaging

Currently, regulators, retailers, and consumers are all demanding that packaging should protect products while minimizing environmental impact, and that environmentally friendly packaging should convey brand values. Choosing the right sustainable packaging means striking a balance between packaging performance, recyclability, and cost. This solution will explain what sustainable packaging is, why it is so important, how it supports brand marketing, what paper options are available, what environmentally friendly inks and adhesives are available.

What is sustainable packaging

Sustainable packaging refers to packaging designed to minimize its environmental impact throughout its entire lifecycle, from raw materials to production, sales, use, and recycling. This can be achieved by reducing the amount of material used, using renewable or recyclable raw materials, and designing packaging that is easy to reuse or recycle.

What are the benefits for company of choosing sustainable packaging

Sustainable development brings both environmental and business benefits. Environmentally, it reduces resource consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and landfill waste, thus decreasing the depletion of non-renewable resources. Business-wise, sustainable packaging is increasingly outperforming similar products in sales growth.

How does custom sustainable packaging help brand building and marketing

Sustainable and environmentally friendly packaging is not just a trendy choice; it brings many tangible benefits to businesses and the environment. Choosing sustainable packaging materials reduces carbon emissions and significantly decreases the consumption of non-renewable resources. Materials such as recycled paper and biodegradable inks are ideal choices for customized packaging, making them sustainable options.

In addition, environmentally friendly and sustainable packaging is also a proactive marketing strategy that can attract environmentally conscious consumers. By combining branding with environmental protection, a positive brand image can be established, thereby gaining access to a wider market.

What paper options exist for sustainable packaging

Kraft paper / natural kraft board

• What it is:It is unbleached brown paper or paperboard, usually made with a higher proportion of virgin fibers and with a lower degree of bleaching. It is commonly used in the production of paper bags, mailing bags, kraft paper folding boxes, and corrugated paperboard.
• Sustainability profile:Easy to recycle and reuse, with a more natural appearance, aligning with the philosophy of eco-friendly brands. Can be made from a high proportion of recycled fibers or certified fiber sources.
• Design notes:Brown surfaces are not suitable for colorful and brightly colored patterns; they are better suited for black and white printing or hot stamping processes.

Corrugated board

• What it is:Fluted medium sandwiched between printing papers; available in many flute sizes (B, C, E, F etc.).
• Sustainability profile:Corrugated cardboard is highly recyclable and typically already contains a significant amount of recycled materials. Corrugated fibers can be reused multiple times in the recycling cycle, making it an ideal sustainable option for transportation and secondary packaging.
• Design notes:The appropriate corrugated combination and thickness need to be selected based on factors such as the required stacking strength, product fragility, and product weight.

Solid Bleached Sulfate (SBS) and Folding Box Board (FBB)

• What it is: SBS is a high-quality, fully bleached virgin cardboard with exceptional whiteness, providing excellent printing quality. FBB is a multi-layer cardboard that can contain mechanical pulp and recycled paper layers while maintaining a white surface.
• Sustainability profile: SBS typically uses virgin fibers, resulting in a higher unit price, making it suitable for cosmetics or products with high requirements for printing quality and aesthetics. FBB, on the other hand, is more economical and, while not suitable for high-end packaging when used alone, can be used in combination with other recycled materials.
• Design notes: It is recommended only when excellent color printing is required. Recycled or uncoated cardboard is preferred when printing is not needed.

Molded pulp and fibre alternatives

• What it is: Molded pulp is made from recycled paper or agricultural waste such as bagasse and is commonly used in the production of pallets, liners, and protective covers. Other non-wood fibers such as bagasse, hemp, straw, and banana fiber can also be used to make it.
• Sustainability profile: If no non-compostable additives are used in the production process, then it can be composted and biodegraded. It is made from agricultural waste or recycled materials, thus possessing good circularity and sustainability.
• Design notes: The surface finish is too low for printing. It is suitable for product protective sleeves or disposable trays.

Specialty sustainable paper

FSC certified paper ensures its reliable origin. Cardboard with a special textured surface made from bleached recycled fibers. When used in food packaging, PLA coatings, PHA, or thin hydrophobic coatings should be selected. These barrier layers should be compatible with composting or recycling, and problematic polyethylene composites should be avoided as much as possible.

What eco–inks and adhesives are available

Ink:

• Water-based and vegetable-based inks (soy, linseed): lower VOCs, derived from renewable oils, often deink more easily in recycling processes. Soy inks are widely used in packaging for lower environmental impact.
• UV inks: excellent print quality and fast curing, but formulations vary — some UV systems complicate recycling due to crosslinking; evaluate recyclability and vendor data sheets.

Adhesive:

• Water-based adhesives: dominant, lower VOCs, compatible with recycling when used appropriately.
• Bio-based adhesives & solvent-free hot-melt: growing market segments offering strength with lower environmental impact.

Why choose us

As a partner focused on paper packaging (stock and custom), we combine practical production experience with sustainability capabilities that matter to brands:

• Depth of experience: 23 years of production and export experience in paper packaging (folding cartons, corrugated, sleeves, sticker, carriers) means we bring practical, tested solutions from many product categories.
• Material & process capability: We offer a wide range of specialty papers, coating and finishing (foil stamping, embossing, debossing, UV), and can match high-quality print on recyclable substrates — important when you need premium graphics without compromising recyclability.
• Press quality & color control: Heidelberg printing equipment ensures accurate color reproduction and consistent quality across runs — critical when switching to recycled papers that have different substrate properties.
• Sustainability credentials: We work with FSC-certified material options and can provide documentation for recycled content, enabling credible claims and certification-backed marketing.
• Practical custom services: Rapid dieline and 3D sample turnaround (we offer design support and fast sample production) helps you test material & finish combinations before large orders.
• Export & compliance experience: Experience with global exhibitions and international clients means we understand regulatory and logistical considerations for multiple markets.