This week, we’re focusing on sustainability and taking a closer look at three standout sustainable packaging design projects.
In this article, we’ll explore each project, their unique features, practical tips for sustainable packaging design, photos, videos, interesting facts, and useful links.
Let’s dive into three inspiring examples that highlight the importance of sustainable packaging design.
Interested in a similar project? Let’s talk.
Sustainable Packaging Design
BITE DEODORANT
Sustainable packaging design by Bite’s in-house graphic design team
Bite is a personal care brand offering products like toothpaste, deodorant, facial balms, and more.
To reflect their commitment to the environment, Bite has developed a range of fully recyclable, sustainable, and eco-friendly packaging solutions.
The packaging design is visually striking and meets the creative standards of the industry, proving that sustainability and great design can go hand in hand.
Tips for Sustainable Packaging Design
Our first tip for approaching sustainable packaging design: every action should be rooted in genuine values.
Too often, brands jump on the sustainability bandwagon for marketing purposes, without real commitment.
It might seem like a good idea at first, but as the saying goes:
“A lie has short legs”
If you fake it, it’s only a matter of time before you’re found out—putting your brand at the center of a communications crisis.
Definitely not worth the risk.
Project Insights: Sustainable Packaging Design
Bite started with toothpaste tablets—hence the name “bite.”
The deodorant packaging is innovative: it’s refillable, and the outer case is reusable.
Available in three scents: citrusy Neroli, fresh floral Rose Vert, and woody Santal.
Refills are shipped in compostable packaging and fit into a sleek, metallic dispenser that looks like a mini spaceship escape pod.
The mirror finish, rounded edges, and robust shape are reminiscent of the original iPods—only fully chromed.
The Bite logo is stamped on the front, with “Because it’s the Earth” embossed underneath.
This project has received the following awards:
- Best of Show – The Dieline Award – Creative Agency – In-House
- Plastic-Free Innovation of the Year – The Dieline Award – Creative Agency – In-House
Congratulations to Bite for their sustainable packaging design for deodorant.
Interested in a similar project? Let’s talk.
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ECO-FLO
Sustainable packaging design by Morrama design studio
The test kit has been streamlined to just four components: the test kit, test strip, absorbent pad, and an envelope.
By removing the need for a plastic outer case, swab, buffer capsule, and mixing tube, several single-use plastic parts have been eliminated.
The test is made from FSC-certified recyclable cellulose pulp and packaged in a sealed, biodegradable Nature Flex film envelope.
Material choices were guided by end-of-life considerations.
The result is a test kit that breaks down in landfill within 4 to 6 weeks.
Tips for Sustainable Packaging Design
To create truly sustainable packaging, it’s essential to understand the environment, materials, recycling processes (before and after use), product lifespan, secondary uses, and how it degrades.
With these factors in mind, designing sustainably becomes much more achievable.
Project Insights: Sustainable Packaging Design
During the pandemic, over 900 million single-use Covid-19 tests were used and discarded in the US alone.
The pandemic generated a massive amount of single-use, non-recyclable, and unsustainable waste.
The WHO estimates that 87,000 tons of personal protective equipment (PPE) were purchased—just imagine the numbers if your calculator can handle that many zeros.
Just the 8 billion vaccine doses produced 144,000 tons of waste from syringes, needles, and safety containers.
“Eliminating single-use products is essential”
Our sincere congratulations to Morrama design studio for this sustainable packaging design.
Interested in a similar project? Let’s talk.
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MOB BEAUTY
Sustainable packaging design by Concrete design studio
MOB Beauty partnered with Concrete to develop a brand identity and packaging system centered around their innovative, reusable, and eco-friendly approach to cosmetics formulation and packaging.
The identity and packaging system Concrete created for MOB is built on an uncompromising “post-beauty” philosophy—aimed at improving industry practices.
Tips for Sustainable Packaging Design
Food packaging is a vast field with fierce competition and overstimulated consumers. The first rule: be innovative.
Innovation is key in food packaging design, but be careful not to go overboard—too much can make your product impractical or off-putting to consumers.
Winning a packaging design award is one thing; achieving strong sales is another.
So, the best advice is twofold: be innovative, but always stay true to the brand and the product.
Project Insights: Sustainable Packaging Design
The packaging platform is refillable, minimizing waste.
MOB Beauty is the first cosmetics brand to launch refillable packaging.
Every aspect of the packaging and user experience was deconstructed and reimagined to create a truly sustainable system.
Founded by former MAC Cosmetics creators, the line features customizable, refillable color palettes.
Each palette is made with at least 50% post-consumer recycled PET, with the goal of reaching 100% in future development.
For secondary packaging, instead of standard boxes, they use compact bamboo clamshells and 100% post-consumer recycled corrugated cardboard boxes.
Our sincere congratulations to Concrete for this sustainable packaging design.
Interested in a similar project? Let’s talk.
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Our Conclusions
All references are properly credited. Code Barcelona is neither the owner nor the creator of these projects.