It’s finally summertime: families spend long, sunscreen-filled days at the pool, teenagers hit the mall to cool off in the air conditioning and spend money they’ve made at their summer jobs, and work often takes a backseat to well-earned vacations.
What doesn’t slow down is the demand for consumer packaged goods. While consumers are more conscious of their spending than in recent years, the seasonal increase in demand for certain areas – think ice cream, sports drinks, grilling supplies, and sunscreen – means brands won’t see much of a dip, but instead a spike in product sales in the next few months. And the most forward-thinking brands are keeping one key aspect of their products at the top of the priority list: sustainability. As sustainability continues to take center stage, packaging leaders across consumer packaged goods (CPG) industries are exploring solutions to reduce their reliance on plastic.
In celebration of Plastic Free July, we are exploring seven high-performing packaging materials that offer viable, scalable alternatives to plastic when it comes to consumer goods. We’ll spotlight brands using each solution to show what plastic-free packaging looks like in action. Let’s dive in.
Why Explore Alternatives to Plastic Packaging Now?
The global plastic packaging market size is projected to reach over $584 billion by 2032, but less than 9% of plastic actually gets recycled. The rest often ends up in landfills or oceans, with long-term effects on ecosystems and human health. Many countries and states within the US are now passing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation or plastic bans, pushing brands to act—and act quickly.
Shoppers are increasingly aligning their purchases with their values. In fact, 74% of consumers say they would pay more for sustainable packaging, according to Trivium Packaging’s Global Buying Green Report. For brands, moving toward plastic free packaging is a smart business decision for staying ahead of regulation and consumer expectations.
7 Alternatives to Plastic Packaging Every Packaging Leader Should Know
With so much information available and a rapidly evolving landscape of plastic free packaging companies, it’s hard to navigate the available options for alternatives to plastic packaging. Each of the following materials offers unique benefits depending on your product and sustainability goals. Here’s what to consider:
1. Best for direct-to-consumer refillables: Water-Soluble Materials
Water-soluble paper, like the proprietary material created by SmartSolve, disperses in cold or warm water and is certified compostable, drain-safe, and non-toxic. It’s especially impactful for household cleaning and beauty refills.
SmartSolve is introducing the first product in our PureNilᵀᴹ line: PureNilᵀᴹ 0, a breakthrough technology that is completly Plastic Free! PureNilᵀᴹ 0 contains Zero Plastics, is fully dispersible, fully flushable, and 100% bio-based. Feminine care brands like Daye are already using SmartSolve’s dissolvable sachets to reduce plastic waste while enabling efficient, small-format shipping. Other strong use cases include laundry and dishwashing sachets—just ask PVA Hygiene, a SmartSolve customer already leading the way in the cleaning industry.
2. Best for luxury beauty and wellness: Bamboo packaging
Bamboo is a fast-growing renewable resource used to make jars, caps, and compacts. It’s biodegradable, durable, and adds a natural aesthetic—ideal for brands prioritizing both sustainability and premium design.
Zao Makeup uses bamboo-based containers for its foundations and eyeshadows. Beyond just packaging, bamboo reflects a brand ethos of sustainability and renewal.
While a great option for premium beauty and wellness packaging, bamboo does offer a couple of drawbacks – it can be susceptible to damage from moisture and humidity, especially if not properly treated, and considerably more expensive than traditional plastic, with the cost often passed down to the consumer.
3. Best for lightweight e-commerce shipping: Mycelium and mushroom packaging
Mycelium, the root structure of fungi, is a biodegradable packaging option that can be grown into molds and used as a cushion or container. It’s an alternative to Styrofoam and can be composted at home.
While still emerging, brands like Dell and IKEA have piloted mycelium packaging for shipping, and more CPG brands are exploring this option for secondary packaging.
4. Best for refill pouches: Paper-based laminates
Paper-based laminates combine multiple thin layers of paper and other compostable coatings to create lightweight, durable pouches. These are ideal for refill pouches for liquids like soap, cleaning concentrate, or lotion.
Brands such as Blueland and Grove Collaborative are already embracing this format to minimize plastic waste. SmartSolve also has a new patented innovation in the R&D process called ReSolveᵀᴹ. This material is engineered so that the paper layer disperses in water, leaving behind a recyclable plastic film—enhancing recyclability while maintaining barrier performance.
5. Best for sustainable cosmetics packaging: Glassine
Glassine is a smooth, glossy paper that’s resistant to air, water, and grease—making it ideal for beauty products like balms, powders, and creams. It’s fully recyclable, biodegradable, and often made from wood pulp.
Cosmetic brands like Elate Beauty and Kate McLeod use glassine pouches or wraps to package their products without plastic. These choices not only eliminate waste but also offer a premium, minimalist aesthetic. While glassine is a great alternative to traditional plastic packaging when comparing end-of-life and circularity, it’s often more expensive than plastic and can be prone to tears and punctures.
6. Best for dry food and supplements: Compostable PLA bioplastics
Polylactic acid (PLA) is a plant-based plastic alternative made from fermented starch, typically corn. It looks and functions similarly to traditional plastic but is compostable under industrial conditions.
Brands in the snack, supplement, and powdered beverage categories often use PLA pouches or wraps. While it’s not perfect (it requires specific composting infrastructure) it provides a familiar packaging format with a better end-of-life footprint.
7. Best for plastic-free films: Sustainably sourced seaweed
One alternative to plastic packaging that’s ideal for swapping out the thin film covering on many dry foods like oats, rice and snacks in seaweed packaging. Unlike fossil fuel-derived plastics, seaweed packaging is made from regenerative ocean crops that require no freshwater, land, or synthetic fertilizers to grow. Brands like Sway are proving how bio-innovation has the potential to reshape the future of sustainable packaging.
From Plastic Free July to Year-Round Sustainability
Switching from plastic doesn’t mean sacrificing performance, shelf appeal, or cost-efficiency. With the rapid evolution of alternatives to plastic packaging, CPG brands have more options than ever to meet their environmental goals.
Incorporating plastic free packaging builds consumer trust, prepares your business for regulation, and sets your brand apart in a crowded marketplace. As we celebrate Plastic Free July, there’s never been a better time to explore sustainable packaging.
At SmartSolve, we’re proud to work with brands pushing the boundaries of sustainable packaging design. From dissolvable paper sachets to recyclable pouch materials, we offer customizable solutions to reduce your environmental footprint without compromise.
Ready to get started? Contact us today.
Marketing Manager