5 Key Categories of Sustainable Packaging: A Simple Framework

I want to try my best to simplify sustainable packaging in a way that anyone can understand.

Because I get it: When exploring sustainable packaging options, it's easy to get overwhelmed. With countless materials, certifications, and environmental claims, how do you make sense of it all?

I've organized sustainable packaging into five main categories. These aren't mutually exclusive paths (many solutions combine multiple approaches), but rather distinct strategies to understand the sustainable packaging landscape.

1. Recyclable Packaging

This category includes packaging designed to be processed through recycling systems and turned into new products. The key point here is that recyclability alone isn't enough—there must be demand for the recycled material.

A clear PET bottle has high recyclability value because there's strong market demand for recycled PET. Conversely, some technically "recyclable" materials have such low demand that they end up in landfills despite being placed in recycling bins.

There are two main types to consider:

• Curbside recyclable: Materials accepted in standard residential recycling programs (blue bins)
• Store drop-off recyclable: Materials that must be returned to special collection points like grocery stores

Remember that recycling infrastructure varies significantly by location. What's easily recyclable in one region might not be in another.

The environmental benefit only happens when recyclable packaging actually gets recycled and transformed into new products. This brings us to our second category...

2. Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) Content

This category represents the success story of recycling. It's packaging made partially or entirely from materials that have already been used by consumers and recycled.

Examples include:

• Coca-Cola bottles made from 100% recycled PET
• Boxes made with 50% recycled cardboard
• Pouches incorporating recycled plastic content

PCR packaging creates demand for recyclable materials, completing the cycle begun in the first category. When you purchase products in PCR packaging, you're supporting the recycling ecosystem and reducing demand for virgin materials.

This category shows that recyclable packaging (Category 1) is actually making a difference, as those materials are being given new life.

3. Compostable Packaging

Compostable packaging breaks down into non-toxic components that can become nutrient-rich soil. This category primarily includes:

• Bio-based resins and bioplastics
• Specially treated paper products
• Plant-based materials like bagasse or mushroom packaging

There are two main certification standards:

• Industrial compostable: Requires commercial composting facilities with controlled conditions
• Home compostable: Can break down in backyard composting systems

There's ongoing debate about whether industrial composters actually want compostable packaging in their facilities, as it can be difficult to distinguish from conventional plastics. However, as the founder of TIPA Packaging noted on my podcast, this is like criticizing the early Model T—we're just at the beginning of the compostable revolution, and infrastructure will develop as the movement grows.

4. Reusable Packaging

This category returns to the "milkman model" where packaging is designed to be used multiple times rather than discarded after a single use. Unlike recycling, which involves breaking down materials to create new products, reusable packaging is simply cleaned and refilled.

This includes:

• Durable containers designed for many uses
• Return systems where packaging goes back to the manufacturer
• Consumer-reusable packaging that has second-life applications

A powerful subcategory is refill systems, which are growing in popularity across many CPG industries. These systems typically involve:

• A durable, high-quality initial container
• Lightweight refill packs that use significantly less material
• Subscription models for regular refill delivery

The environmental impact of refill systems can be dramatic—potentially reducing packaging waste by up to 90%. For example, a heavy glass jar of supplements might be refilled using a lightweight paper sachet, or a durable soap dispenser could be refilled using concentrated pods.

5. Reduction of Other Environmental Stressors

This final category encompasses sustainable packaging approaches that focus on reducing environmental impacts beyond material choice alone. This might include:

• Plastic-free options to address ocean plastic concerns
• Low carbon footprint materials (which, ironically, can sometimes be plastics, according to certain life cycle assessments)
• Packaging produced using renewable energy
• Water-conserving production processes
• Sustainably harvested natural materials

This category recognizes that sustainability isn't one-dimensional and that different brands might prioritize different environmental concerns based on their values and customer base.

Why This Framework Helps

Breaking sustainable packaging into these five categories provides a manageable framework for understanding your options. Rather than trying to process hundreds of different sustainability claims, you can first identify which of these categories aligns with your environmental priorities.

Could we technically add a sixth or seventh category? Probably. But the goal here isn't to create an exhaustive academic taxonomy or to satisfy every sustainability expert's classification system. The purpose is to give you a practical, actionable framework to understand the landscape and make better decisions.

Most of us can easily remember and work with five categories. Once you grasp these fundamentals, you'll have the confidence to explore more nuanced aspects of sustainable packaging if needed for your specific situation.

These categories aren't isolated paths—many excellent sustainable packaging solutions combine multiple approaches. For example, you might have a reusable container (Category 4) made from post-consumer recycled content (Category 2), manufactured using renewable energy (Category 5).

By breaking down sustainable packaging into these five manageable categories, you can build confidence in your understanding and take meaningful action to reduce your environmental impact without getting lost in overwhelming complexity.