Sustainable Packaging: Are You Ready for the 2025 Standards?

“We Love Your Products—But the Packaging Has to Change.”

A few months ago, one of our smaller clients—a family-run bath and body brand—forwarded an email they’d received from a customer. The message was polite, but clear:

“Love your soaps, but I’m trying to reduce my plastic waste. Is your packaging recyclable?”

That single email turned into a moment of reckoning.

It’s not just major corporations under pressure anymore. From artisan producers to e-commerce start-ups, the call for sustainable packaging is now coming from all directions—customers, suppliers, retailers, and regulators.

And with the 2025 environmental regulations approaching fast, there’s no time to wait and see. It’s time to take action.

Why It’s Not Just About Looking Green?

Let’s be honest—there was a time when slapping a green leaf logo on a glossy box was enough to tick the “eco-friendly” box. Those days are over.

Today, packaging is about what’s beneath the surface. What’s it made from? Can it be recycled locally? Does it biodegrade or sit in landfill for 400 years?

More importantly: do your customers believe you care?

According to a recent survey by YouGov, more than half of UK consumers say they’ve actively avoided a brand because of its packaging. Meanwhile, the government’s tightening its grip with:

• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) rules – meaning you’ll soon pay for your packaging’s waste impact
• Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) – already in force for packaging with less than 30% recycled plastic
• Pressure for clearer recycling labelling and full traceability

But here’s the good news. Over the years, we’ve worked with all sorts of businesses—some just getting started, others well-established—and helped them shift to more sustainable packaging. And not once did it mean giving up on good design, reliable protection, or staying within budget.

What Sustainable Packaging Really Looks Like?

If you’re picturing flimsy brown boxes and dull branding, let me stop you there. That’s not what sustainable packaging looks like anymore.

We’ve worked with brands that wanted natural finishes, luxurious textures, or standout colour—and we delivered all of it without going near plastic films or non-recyclable foils.

Here’s what to consider:

Smart Material Choices

It all starts with your substrate. We often recommend:

• Uncoated kraft card – Rustic, tactile, and fully recyclable
• Corrugated board with high recycled content – Ideal for e-commerce and bulk packaging
• Pulp moulded inserts – A great alternative to plastic trays
• Compostable window films – Clear enough to show off your product, without the guilt

For food or cosmetics? We’ll walk you through direct contact regulations and food-safe board options.

We only work with FSC-certified packaging materials to ensure environmental responsibility and supply chain traceability.

Print That Performs (Without the Waste)

You don’t need gloss lamination or foil stamping to make an impression.

Some of our favourite sustainable finishes include:

• Water-based inks for soft colour that’s kind to the environment
• Debossed or embossed logos that add texture without plastic
• Natural matte finishes that feel high-end, without hurting recyclability

If you’re worried about colour consistency or shelf appeal, don’t be. We’ll show you what’s possible.

Real Stories from the Brands We Work With

Here’s what this looks like on the ground:

A Soap Brand in Cornwall

They were using shrink-wrapped trays and plastic sleeves. We switched them to kraft folding cartons with plant-based windows and printed them using soy ink. Their packaging waste dropped by 90%, and their customers loved the change.

A Chocolate Maker in the Lake District

Wanted to avoid glossy pouches and laminates. We helped them design mono-material sleeves with a tear-tab opening, completely recyclable. It reduced costs and doubled their retail orders.

A Gift Box Subscription in London

Premium feel, but without the plastic. We built a custom corrugated mailer with a tuck flap, printed inside and out using low-VOC inks. They now ship over 5,000 orders a month—and haven’t had a single complaint about packaging since.

The 2025 Packaging Standards: What’s Coming

Let’s be honest—2025 is going to change the game. The way we design, produce, and dispose of packaging here in the UK is about to look very different.

1. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

You’ll need to report every gram of packaging you put into the market—and pay accordingly.

What to do now: Simplify your packaging structure. Use fewer layers. Choose materials with clear recycling streams.

2. Plastic Packaging Tax

Already in effect, this tax will only get stricter. It hits any packaging with less than 30% recycled plastic content.

So, what should you do?

Have an honest look at your packaging—especially the bits that often slip under the radar. That clear plastic window on the front? The glossy finish that feels nice but doesn’t recycle well? Or those peel-off sealing tabs that seem practical but end up in the bin? Those small details are usually the culprits when it comes to sustainability slipping through the cracks.

These bits add up. Start phasing them out where you can. You don’t need to do it all at once, but small changes now will make the 2025 transition a whole lot easier.

3. Waste Labelling & Supply Chain Traceability

If you’re not already printing disposal info on your packaging—start. Not just because you’ll soon be required to, but because customers are looking for it. A simple line like “Recyclable in home bins” or “Check local facilities” goes a long way.

And don’t forget the backend: if someone asked where your board or ink came from, could you tell them? If the answer’s no, now’s the time to fix that.

What to do now: Add recycling icons. Use QR codes for digital instructions. Work with traceable suppliers (like us) who can provide material origin data.

Tips for Making the Switch (Without Blowing Your Budget)

We’ve worked with countless businesses making this change. Here’s what works:

• Start with something manageable. Don’t try to overhaul everything at once—just pick one thing. Maybe it’s removing the plastic tray inside your box, or skipping the glossy lamination. Even resizing an oversized box can make a difference.
• Stick to one material where you can. The more layers and mixed materials you add—plastic films, metallic finishes, foiled linings—the harder it gets to recycle. Simpler is almost always better.
• Don’t overcomplicate – Simple structures, clean designs, recyclable materials
• Ask for certification – Your customers will want proof
• Think local – Can your packaging be recycled kerbside?

And perhaps most importantly—talk to your customers. If you’re making sustainable changes, shout about it on the box, on social media, and in your marketing.

People want to buy from brands doing the right thing.

Let’s Get This Right—Together

I’ve been in this business long enough to remember when “eco packaging” meant grey, saggy boxes no one wanted.

That’s changed.

I’ve seen it first-hand—some of the small, independent brands we work with are making bigger waves than companies ten times their size. And it’s not by accident. They’ve committed to doing sustainability properly—not just for show, but because it means something to them and their customers.

If all this feels overwhelming, don’t worry. You don’t need to have all the answers. We’ve helped countless businesses—from artisan food producers to high-volume e-commerce sellers—work through it step by step. It starts with understanding your product, your customer, and what you want your packaging to say.

And here’s the honest truth: sustainable packaging isn’t just good for the environment.

It’s good business.

It protects your business.

👉 Let’s build something better.

📦 Get a free packaging consultation or explore our eco-friendly packaging solutions today.