Billerud outlines the next phase of sustainable packaging development

Billerud has released a new report identifying six trends expected to shape the future of packaging, highlighting a shift from sustainability commitments towards practical solutions that balance environmental goals with technical performance.

The packaging producer argues that the next generation of sustainable packaging will depend on a combination of material efficiency, circularity, regulatory readiness and the ability to maintain product protection throughout the supply chain.

Rather than focusing on a single material solution, the report presents sustainability as a broader design challenge involving manufacturers, brands, retailers and consumers.

Lightweighting must maintain packaging performance

One of the key trends identified by Billerud is the continued drive towards lightweight packaging.

Reducing material use can lower resource consumption, transport emissions and overall packaging footprint, but the company highlights that weight reduction cannot come at the expense of functionality.

Packaging must continue to provide the necessary protection against damage, moisture, oxygen and other external factors throughout distribution and use.

Circularity becomes a design requirement

The report highlights circularity as a fundamental consideration in future packaging development.

This means designing packages that are easier to recycle, use renewable resources where appropriate and fit within existing recovery systems.

For brands and converters, circular design increasingly requires decisions to be made earlier in the development process, including material selection, structure, decoration and end-of-life considerations.

Regulation accelerates packaging redesign

New packaging regulations are becoming a major driver of change across global markets.

Requirements around recyclability, recycled content, material reduction and producer responsibility are forcing companies to reconsider packaging formats that were previously accepted as industry standards.

Billerud highlights that regulatory compliance should not be treated as a final step, but integrated into packaging development from the beginning.

Material choices depend on application needs

The report argues against the idea that one material can become the universal solution for sustainable packaging.

Different products require different levels of barrier protection, mechanical strength, shelf-life extension and processing performance.

As a result, future packaging development will increasingly focus on selecting the right material and structure for each application rather than replacing one material category with another in every situation.

Supply chains influence packaging decisions

Packaging sustainability is also becoming increasingly connected to supply-chain resilience.

Material availability, energy consumption, logistics efficiency and production reliability all influence the overall environmental impact of a packaging solution.

Companies are therefore looking beyond the package itself and considering how materials move through the entire value chain.

Performance remains central to sustainable packaging

Billerud’s report emphasises that sustainability and performance cannot be separated.

A package that uses fewer resources but fails to protect the product may create additional environmental impacts through food waste, damaged goods or inefficient logistics.

This is particularly important in food and consumer goods applications, where packaging plays a critical role in maintaining quality and extending product usability.

The future of packaging requires integrated thinking

The trends identified by Billerud reflect a broader change in the packaging industry: sustainability is moving from a material-focused discussion towards a system-level approach.

Future packaging solutions will need to combine lightweighting, recyclability, resource efficiency and industrial practicality.

As brands face increasing regulatory and consumer expectations, the most successful packaging strategies will be those that balance environmental objectives with real-world performance requirements.