In 2025, sustainable packaging isn’t a nice-to-have — it’s an expectation. Consumers are more informed, regulations are tightening, and brands that ignore the shift risk losing relevance (and revenue). At Nextpack, we see firsthand how leading brands are responding: not just with token efforts, but with real, measurable changes to the way they package and ship products.

If you’re looking to align your packaging with modern sustainability standards — and do it in a way that’s both strategic and beautiful — here are seven ideas our clients are embracing right now.

Here are 7 eco-friendly packaging tips that we’ll be discussing: 

• Utilise sustainable packaging materials 
• Print with vegetable and soy-based Inks
• Right-size your packaging
• Swap out plastic protective barriers for corrugated cardboard
• Eliminate matte lamination
• Embrace mono-material design
• Invest in a materials audit

Let’s explore these tips now in more detail.

Boody, the ethical essentials brand, has long stood as a blueprint for what it means to build sustainability into every fibre of your business — literally. Since 2016, their bamboo-based clothing line has reduced the fashion industry’s impact one breathable staple at a time. With operations now spanning 15 countries, their global footprint is significant — but their environmental footprint is intentionally light.

Boody’s dedication to sustainability goes far beyond materials. Their use of state-of-the-art computer knitting machines slashes fabric waste, and they cultivate bamboo without pesticides or fertilisers, relying solely on recycled rainwater. These choices aren’t just environmentally considerate — they’re strategic. They’ve helped Boody conserve nearly 600 million litres of drinking water and farm 300 hectares of pesticide-free land, proving that low-impact doesn’t mean low-performance.

That same ethos extends to their packaging — where we’ve proudly partnered with them. Boody’s shipping boxes are custom-designed to be as practical as they are planet-friendly. Made from recycled and recyclable materials, they’re a prime example of packaging doing its job without doing harm. For their inner product packaging, we specified vegetable-based inks — derived from renewable sources — to replace traditional petroleum-based options.

The result? Packaging that reflects Boody’s commitment to care — for their customers, and the planet. It’s not just what’s inside that counts. The box it comes in says a lot too.

As consumer expectations continue to evolve, the demand for packaging that’s as thoughtful as the product itself is growing. Boody is living proof that aligning form, function, and values is not only possible — it’s profitable.

When it comes to eco-friendly packaging, it’s not just the materials that matter — it’s what’s printed on them too.

Traditional inks are petroleum-based, made from crude oil — a non-renewable resource that contributes to carbon emissions. These inks often contain VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which harm air quality and make recycling more complex. It’s a hidden pollutant that can quietly undercut your brand’s sustainability story.

That’s why we advocate for vegetable and soy-based inks.

These renewable, plant-derived alternatives significantly reduce VOC emissions and are easier to remove during recycling. That means packaging printed with these inks is more likely to be effectively recycled — closing the loop, not clogging it.

One example is Alpha-H — an iconic Australian skincare brand with sustainability at its core. From recyclable tubes and cartons to local ingredient sourcing, Alpha-H takes a holistic approach. Their cartons are printed with vegetable-based inks that align with their clean-beauty philosophy, creating a softer footprint without compromising their premium feel.

Bonus: vegetable-based inks can also produce richer, more vibrant colours — ideal for brand-led designs that need to pop on shelf.

In a time when consumers buy into values as much as products, choices like ink matter. A small shift like switching from petroleum-based to vegetable-based inks sends a clear, credible message: you’re serious about sustainability.

At Nextpack, we’re here to help you make those smarter packaging choices — choices that look good, feel right, and work better for the planet.

We’ve all experienced it: ordering a single item online, only for it to arrive in a box three times its size, stuffed with unnecessary filler. It’s frustrating for the customer — and wasteful for the planet.

Oversized packaging is one of the most common (and most overlooked) sustainability issues in e-commerce. It creates excess waste, drives up shipping costs, and increases carbon emissions due to inefficient pallet loading and heavier freight. It’s a lose-lose — for both business and the environment.

At Nextpack, we approach every packaging brief with presentation and precision in mind. Your packaging should protect what’s inside, feel on-brand, and avoid unnecessary materials — without compromise.

Take The Hamper Emporium, for example — an Australian luxury gifting brand known for premium wine, artisanal treats, and thoughtful pamper products. When they came to us, they needed packaging that could deliver both protection and polish — without relying on bubble wrap or foam.

We designed a range of custom hamper boxes tailored to their product configurations. From structure to inserts, every detail was calculated to reduce material usage while maintaining strength and a refined aesthetic.

The result? Elegant, efficient packaging that enhances the unboxing experience while reducing waste. These boxes ship flat, require no plastic or filler, and support The Hamper Emporium’s high-end positioning — in both design and sustainability.

Smart packaging design helps reduce costs, improve logistics, and minimise your environmental footprint — all while delivering a premium experience to your customers.

In short: right-sizing isn’t just the sustainable choice. It’s the strategic one.

Foam is a packaging material people rarely question — yet it poses a big problem for sustainability. You’ll find it everywhere: inside electronics packaging, liquor boxes, fragile goods, and more. It cushions well, but at a cost.

Most foams — especially expanded polystyrene (EPS) — come from fossil fuels and are notoriously hard to recycle. While technically recyclable at specialised facilities, those facilities are few and far between. For most customers, foam ends up in general waste and landfill, where it can take hundreds of years to decompose.

That’s why at Nextpack, we work with clients to replace foam inserts with corrugated cardboard alternatives — a sustainable solution that doesn’t compromise protection or presentation.

Corrugated cardboard is one of our favourite materials. It’s strong, durable, and adaptable — ideal for custom inserts, impact-resistant packaging, and tailored support. It’s lightweight and fully recyclable via curbside collection, making it a practical win for brands and customers alike.

Take LARK Distillery, an award-winning Tasmanian spirit company crafting exceptional whisky for over 30 years. LARK is Australia’s first carbon-neutral distillery.

Their mission to move toward fully curbside recyclable packaging led to reassessing the foam inserts used to protect their bottles during transit. We saw a clear opportunity to improve.

Replacing foam with corrugated cardboard was a no-brainer — we created custom-cut prototypes that maintained bottle protection without plastic components. The result? A fully recyclable whisky box insert that offers the same support, aligns with sustainability goals, and still looks premium on shelf or at unboxing.

Swapping plastic barriers for corrugated cardboard is one of the most tangible ways brands reduce waste while delivering on quality and function. And customers notice — and appreciate — the difference.

Matte lamination has long been the hallmark of luxury packaging — that smooth, soft-touch finish that feels indulgent and looks effortlessly premium. But here’s the reality: traditional matte lamination isn’t recyclable. It’s usually a plastic film that can’t break down easily and often ends up contaminating recycling streams. For brands committed to sustainability, this presents a tough challenge. How do you maintain that premium look and feel without compromising your environmental values?

At Nextpack, we’ve worked with leading brands like Maggie Beer to solve this exact dilemma. Instead of relying on conventional lamination, we helped them transition to biodegradable soft-touch finishes — coatings that provide the same luxe, tactile experience but are designed to safely break down in the environment. This means you can offer customers that signature high-end feel, without the guilt of unsustainable packaging.

What’s important to understand is that ditching matte lamination doesn’t mean sacrificing quality or sophistication. Today’s eco-friendly finishes are thoughtfully engineered to be soft, tactile, and luxurious — just like traditional lamination, but with a planet-positive difference. They use sustainable materials that maintain durability and aesthetics while reducing plastic waste.

For premium and growth-stage brands looking to future-proof their packaging, making this switch is a smart move. Consumers are increasingly savvy and expect brands to back up sustainability claims with real action. Offering recyclable, biodegradable packaging builds trust, aligns with evolving regulations, and strengthens your brand’s reputation as a responsible leader.

At Nextpack, we’re passionate about helping brands stay ahead of the sustainability curve. Eliminating matte lamination is one of the simplest yet most impactful changes you can make to reduce environmental impact without compromising the premium experience your customers expect.

Because at the end of the day, luxury packaging shouldn’t just look and feel good — it should do good, too.

Mono-material packaging is exactly what it sounds like — packaging made entirely from one type of material. Think of a paperboard box with no foil layers, plastic windows, or laminations glued on. It’s simple, streamlined, and surprisingly powerful.

Why does this matter? Because when packaging is made from just one material, it’s far easier to recycle. Traditional packaging often combines materials that require separation before recycling — a process many facilities simply can’t handle efficiently. The result? Packages end up in landfill or incinerated instead of being repurposed. Mono-material packaging removes this barrier. It’s a straightforward, user-friendly design that helps ensure your packaging stays in the recycling loop.

But the benefits don’t stop at recyclability. Mono-material designs typically have a lower production impact — fewer manufacturing steps, less waste, and reduced energy consumption. That’s good news for brands serious about shrinking their carbon footprint without sacrificing quality or style.

We’ve seen this trend take off with new client launches, especially in the beauty and wellness sectors. Here, eco-conscious consumers are increasingly making buying decisions based on packaging recyclability and sustainability. Offering mono-material packaging can be a game changer — it signals your brand is serious about responsibility and helps build trust with a growing audience who values transparency and environmental action.

Of course, just because mono-material packaging is simpler, it doesn’t mean it has to be plain. By combining these designs with digital embellishments — like embossing, debossing, or laser-cut detailing — you can deliver a tactile, elevated finish that feels premium and bespoke. These techniques allow brands to add texture, depth, and visual interest without compromising recyclability.

At Nextpack, we’re excited to champion mono-material packaging because it’s a smart, sustainable choice that aligns premium experience with planet-positive impact. We help brands design packaging that’s not only beautiful and functional but also makes recycling effortless for consumers.

Embrace mono-material design — simple, sustainable, and seriously stylish.

Not sure how sustainable your packaging really is? You’re not alone. Many brands assume their packaging is eco-friendly — but assumptions can be misleading, and what looks good on paper doesn’t always translate into real-world impact.

That’s where Nextpack’s Materials Audit comes in. It’s a deep dive into your current packaging materials and how they’re used, designed to uncover hidden inefficiencies and sustainability gaps. We review everything — from what you’re using and where it’s sourced, to the actual recyclability of your packaging versus the claims made, and how your unboxing experience balances with waste trade-offs. We also analyse your packaging-to-product ratio, ensuring you’re not over-packaging or using materials unnecessarily.

This thorough assessment helps us pinpoint where simple swaps, structural redesigns, or clever material solutions can reduce your environmental footprint — all without compromising on performance or the premium feel your brand demands.

Because here’s the truth: real sustainability isn’t just about the materials themselves. It’s about how they’re used, how durable they are, and how easily they can be disposed of or recycled at the end of their lifecycle. A packaging material that’s recyclable but layered with complex coatings or glued with non-recyclable adhesives doesn’t do your brand or the planet any favours.

At Nextpack, we pride ourselves on staying ahead of evolving material and manufacturing technologies. We’re obsessive (some say pedantic) about quality and sustainability — helping our clients work with the most advanced, planet-positive packaging solutions available.

Book a Materials Audit session with us and walk away with clear, actionable insights — the kind that help you reduce waste, improve customer experience, and future-proof your packaging strategy.

Sustainability starts with understanding. Let’s get real about your packaging materials.