Use only the material the product needs
Board grade and structure should reflect weight, protection, handling and presentation requirements.
Sustainable packaging guidance
Sustainable Packaging for Modern UK Businesses
Sustainable packaging starts with better decisions: choosing the right board, removing unnecessary material, designing around the product and considering what happens to the packaging after use.
01
Custom sizing
Reduce unnecessary board and void space.
02
Material choice
Select board around the real application.
03
Production planning
Match printing and finishing to the job.
A more useful way to think about sustainability
Sustainability Isn't Just About Kraft Paper
Brown board can communicate a natural appearance, but the colour of the packaging does not tell you whether the whole specification is efficient. Material use, box dimensions, coatings, shipping volume and the end-of-life route all matter.
01
Common assumption
“Brown packaging is automatically the sustainable option.”
Kraft board can be a strong choice, but a poorly sized kraft box can still use more material and transport volume than necessary.
Material
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Structure
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Print
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Transport
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End use
Better sustainability decisions come from looking at the complete packaging system rather than one material label.
Our packaging principles
Six practical principles behind better packaging decisions
These principles help us review packaging around performance, material use, presentation and production practicality.
Design around the real product dimensions
Correct sizing can reduce excess board, unnecessary internal space and inefficient outer packing.
Keep recycling routes in mind
Material combinations, coatings and finishes should be considered alongside how the packaging may be handled after use.
Match printing to the production requirement
Print coverage, colour, run requirements and board surface affect the most appropriate printing route.
Avoid decorative features without a purpose
Finishes should support presentation, communication or protection rather than simply being added by default.
Plan for storage, packing and delivery
Flat packing, carton efficiency and shipping configuration influence the wider packaging footprint.
Material comparison
Compare sustainable packaging materials by application
No single board is right for every product. Strength, appearance, print coverage, food suitability, stacking and transport requirements can all change the correct choice.
Material
Best suited to
Appearance
Key consideration
Kraft board
Natural brown appearance
Retail cartons, sleeves, gifts, cosmetics and selected food applications.
NaturalDark board colour affects ink appearance and may require white ink.
Recycled board
Fibre content varies by grade
Folding cartons and applications where recycled fibre content is a priority.
Recycled fibreSurface appearance and strength can differ between board grades.
Paperboard
Smooth printable surface
Cosmetics, retail, food cartons and applications requiring strong print reproduction.
Print focusedBoard source, coating and end-use requirements should be specified clearly.
Corrugated board
Fluted protective construction
Ecommerce, shipping, heavier products and protective outer packaging.
ProtectiveFlute grade and board combination should match product weight and transport conditions.
FSC-certified options
Available where specified
Projects where responsible fibre sourcing is an explicit procurement requirement.
SourcingAvailability should be confirmed against the exact board grade and project specification.
Packaging decision tool
Send your specification
Start with the product, then narrow the material and structure
A sustainable packaging decision is easier when the questions are asked in the right order. Use this framework to prepare the information needed for a packaging specification.
Specification first
Product requirements should guide the material,
structure, print and finish.
SUSTAINABILITY DECISION PATH
Work from use case to specification
5 decisions
Product
Start here
What are you packaging?
Record dimensions, weight, fragility and any food-contact or storage requirements.
Use
Use case
Retail, ecommerce, gifting or delivery?
The selling environment changes the protection, handling and presentation requirement.
Structure
Structure
How much board is actually required?
Compare folding cartons, mailers, sleeves, corrugated formats and presentation structures around the actual product.
Print
Print
What branding must the packaging carry?
Consider print coverage, white ink, colour requirements and how much printed area is genuinely necessary.
Finish
Finish
Does the finish have a clear purpose?
Add lamination, foil, embossing or other treatments only where the packaging specification genuinely calls for them.
OUTPUT
A clearer material, structure, print and finishing brief
STRUCTURAL EFFICIENCY
Compare the space around the product
Right-size first
More board and more unused space around the product.
Board and internal space are designed more closely around the product.
Structural efficiency
01
02
03
04
Designing packaging that uses less material
Reducing material does not mean making a box too weak. The objective is to remove board and volume that do not contribute to protection, presentation or handling.
Correct internal dimensions
Build clearances around the product instead of starting with an unnecessarily large box.
Efficient inserts
Use inserts where they control movement, improve presentation or provide necessary product protection.
Flat-pack structures
Where appropriate, flat packing can improve storage and transport efficiency before the packaging is used.
Outer-carton planning
Finished pack dimensions affect how efficiently individual units can be packed for transport.
Printing and finishing
Responsible printing starts with choosing only what the design needs
Print method, ink coverage, board surface and decorative finishes all form part of the specification. The most appropriate route depends on both visual requirements and production.
Digital printing
Useful where the production requirement suits digital output and flexible artwork handling.
Lithographic printing
Appropriate for detailed printed work where colour and surface presentation are central to the specification.
Flexographic printing
Often considered for corrugated and selected packaging applications where the structure and run suit the process.
White and custom inks
White ink can be important when printing bright colours onto natural kraft board.
Packaging life cycle
Think beyond production and consider the full packaging journey
Material decisions make more sense when sourcing, manufacturing, packing, transport, use and recovery are viewed as one connected system.
Sustainability questions
Questions businesses ask when reviewing packaging materials
Sustainability terminology can become confusing quickly. These answers focus on practical packaging decisions rather than broad environmental promises.
Discuss your packaging specification01 Can kraft packaging always be recycled? +
Plain paper-based kraft packaging is often suited to paper recycling streams, but coatings, windows, adhesives, food contamination and mixed-material components can affect the final recycling route.
02 Can printed cardboard boxes still be recycled? +
Printing alone does not automatically prevent a paper-based box from being recycled. The complete construction, including coatings, films, windows, adhesives and contamination, should be considered.
03 Is recycled board always the best choice? +
Not necessarily. Recycled fibre content is one consideration, but strength, print surface, product protection and the amount of board required can also influence the overall specification.
04 Can FSC-certified board be specified? +
FSC-certified material options can be discussed where responsible fibre sourcing is part of the project requirement. Availability depends on the exact board grade and production specification.
05 Does using less material make packaging weaker? +
It should not. Structural efficiency means removing unnecessary material while still meeting product protection, stacking, storage and handling requirements.
06 How should paper packaging be stored? +
Paperboard and corrugated packaging should generally be stored in clean, dry conditions away from excess moisture, heat and conditions that could distort the board.
Industry applications
Sustainable packaging priorities change by industry
The best specification depends on what the packaging has to do. A shipping box, food carton and premium gift box should not be judged by exactly the same criteria.
Retail packaging
Balance shelf presentation, print quality, protection and efficient board use.
Ecommerce packaging
Prioritise product protection, right-sizing and efficient outer shipping volume.
Food packaging
Material selection must also reflect direct or indirect food-contact requirements.
Cosmetic packaging
Structural fit, print quality and finish selection often need to work together.
Apparel packaging
Folding structures, sleeves, mailers and presentation boxes can be sized around the product.
Gift packaging
Premium presentation can still be approached with controlled material and finish choices.
Manufacturing approach
Sustainability decisions continue through production
A good specification reduces uncertainty before production starts. Board, print, finishing and construction are reviewed together so the manufacturing route matches the packaging requirement.
01
Specification
Confirm size, structure and material
02
Artwork
Prepare the production-ready layout
03
Printing
Apply the selected print method
04
Converting
Cut, crease, fold and glue
05
Inspection
Review the finished packaging
06
Dispatch
Pack efficiently for transport
DESIGN PRINCIPLE
Prevent unnecessary complexity before it reaches the production floor.
Sustainability resources
Continue building your packaging specification
Use these guides to move from broad sustainability goals into specific material, printing, structural and production decisions.
01
Kraft Packaging
Explore kraft box styles and applications.
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02
Packaging Materials
Compare board options by use case.
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03
Printing Methods
Understand the main print routes.
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04
Finishes & Add-ons
Review optional decorative treatments.
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05
Manufacturing Process
See how packaging moves through production.
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06
Box Templates
Compare structural packaging formats.
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07
Dieline Guidelines
Prepare structural artwork correctly.
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08
Artwork Guidelines
Prepare files for packaging production.
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Sustainability in practical terms
Four areas worth measuring on every packaging project
We avoid invented sustainability percentages. The useful measurements are the ones attached to the real specification.
01
Material use
Board grade, thickness and total area.
02
Pack dimensions
Internal fit and finished shipping volume.
03
Production complexity
Print, finish and converting requirements.
04
End-of-life route
Reuse, recycling and material separation.
Build a better packaging specification
Let's design packaging around what your product actually needs
Send your product dimensions, box style, material preferences, printing requirements and artwork status. We can review the specification and help identify where the packaging can be made more efficient without compromising its purpose.
Custom dimensions
Built around your product.
Material guidance
Choose board by application.
Artwork support
Prepare files for production.