September 26, 2025 – Global consumers are increasingly demanding eco-friendly packaging to tackle issues such as food and material waste. Innovations in upcycled materials are thus redefining sustainability, to address these concerns. From creating circular systems to innovations using produce scraps for packaging, brands are looking for ways to reduce environmental impact and rethink material use in the global food and beverage industry. Innova’s report “Trending in Upcycled Materials in Packaging” explores the emerging trends and consumer preferences that are driving upcycled materials in global food and beverage packaging.
From Passive to Proactive Innovations
There are opportunities for brands to rethink packaging with innovations, such as color-changing freshness indicators that aim to reduce waste and address the food safety concerns of consumers. For example, scientists from the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore have introduced a biodegradable food wrap made from discarded fruit seeds, such as avocado, durian, and jackfruit, which changes color to signal food spoilage. In addition to contributing to waste reduction, the avocado seed extract in the food wrap contains catechin and chlorogenic acid, which both prevent oxidation and the growth of harmful bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus. Therefore, the harmful toxins that lead to food poisoning are prevented, and innovations like this highlight the growing interest in intelligent, eco-conscious packaging on the global packaging stage.
Link Labels to Lifecycle
Digital tools can be leveraged to connect product labels with data-driven insights about recyclability and circularity. For example, technologies like radio-frequency identification (RFID) and QR codes provide brands with opportunities to track, validate, and improve the sustainability of their packaging, alongside growing regulatory and consumer expectations.
In addition, pressure-sensitive labels, with clean-release functions, can play an important role in achieving circular packaging, as they enable the easy separation of labels and ink during the recycling process. These labels also allow brands to track products across the supply chain, guide global consumers on proper recycling or reuse methods, and support circularity in packaging.
Replacing Single-Use Plastics
For consumers looking to balance convenience with environmental responsibility, compostable cutlery options could be the key to replacing wasteful single-use alternatives. For example, the brand Taylor Farms recently launched six new chop salad kits, and each bowl includes a sustainable, upcycled fork made from renewable materials. These forks offer consumers a bio-based alternative to plastic that is also certified compostable in both home and industrial composting systems. They are also made with cellulose from upcycled agricultural waste streams, which helps facilitate a truly circular supply chain.
Regenerative Packaging
Brands can motivate consumers to take sustainability to a new level, by incorporating regenerative packaging into their brand strategy. For example, Sprout by Pat Mangulabnan offers consumers a sustainable packaging concept made from discarded pineapple leaves. Designed for food use, the eco-friendly material features seeds embedded within the packaging, and the company encourages consumers to plant these seeds after use. Thus, this is an example of how sustainability can be merged with regenerative action.
Upcycled Food Waste
New frontiers in sustainable packaging are emerging. These innovations are transforming agri-food waste, like fruit peels and vegetable residues, into biomaterials that can be used for edible, biodegradable, and compostable films. These new packaging materials are designed to keep the entire lifecycle in mind, from production to disposal, paying close attention to compostability and end-of-life considerations. The ENEA Laboratory for Innovation in Agri-food Supply Chains in Italy is pioneering these projects in response to EU Regulation 2025/40, which aims to reduce packaging waste through reuse and recycling. As a result, brands can look to innovations like these to rethink sustainability through smart packaging.
Olive stone powder, made from the byproducts of olive oil production is another example of food waste that is being reshaped into sustainable packaging solutions. The brand BioPowder is using this powder to improve the performance of biodegradable packaging, and it is suitable for numerous packaging products like barrier coatings, transparent films, and solid containers. According to BioPowder, the olive stone powders are compostable, durable, and low-density, making them ideal for lightweight applications like food packaging. Upcycling olive stones, therefore, promotes a circular economy and reduces waste, and the manufacturing process also benefits from the carbon capture of olive trees, which lowers emissions.
What’s Next in Upcycled Materials in Packaging?
Design elements are essential to the future of packaging made from upcycled materials. Packaging should clearly reflect a brand’s commitment to sustainability. Using natural textures, earthy tones, and eco-conscious design cues creates instant recognition and resonance with environmentally conscious consumers. Digital integration, like using QR codes, can also provide easy traceability of materials and allows consumers to better understand the environmental impact a product has. To boost consumer interest and elevate packaging relevance, collaborating with material scientists, designers, or local upcycling initiatives can help boost engagement.
This article is based on Innova’s Trending in Upcycled Materials in Packaging – Global report. This report is available to purchase or with an Innova Reports subscription. Reach out to find out more