Paper-Based Packaging Is All the Rage—but Is It Really the Most Sustainable Solution?

As the consequences of the climate crisis become more top of mind for consumers, brands in different categories are looking for ways to reduce their ecological footprint by making adjustments to their packaging.

They’re taking one of two routes: creating reusable packaging that can be maintained by the same consumer or manufacturing single-use products with highly recyclable materials, like paper.

However, paper still comes from a limited natural resource—trees—and can require a fair amount of manufacturing to shape into a material that can contain things like soap, milk, deodorant or even whiskey.