What: A product that is 100% recycled, includes at least 50% post-consumer waste, and is readily recyclable (either curbside or through a thin film program).

Why it Matters: Circular packaging minimizes reliance on virgin resources, reduces carbon and landfill impact, and contributes to a truly regenerative economy. A circular economy is one in which materials are endlessly recycled back into themselves, and any new inputs come from responsible, regenerative sources. While the path to full circularity is complex, this designation signals a major step forward.

Priority: Highest. Materials circularity is foundational to our vision for sustainable packaging.

Read More: Sustainability Framework | What Is Zero Waste

What: Packaging that is widely accepted in residential curbside recycling programs across the U.S. (Check with local programs to confirm).

Why it Matters: EcoEnclose prioritizes packaging designed for recycling (versus landfilling or composting). Curbside recyclability ensures ease of disposal and promotes recovery of raw materials for reuse, helping minimize landfill waste and unnecessary virgin production.

Priority: Highest.

Read More: Recyclable Versus Compostable Packaging | End-Of-Life Hierarchy | The Problem With Landfills

What: Indicates packaging contains a defined percentage of post-consumer recycled content.

Why it Matters: PCW comes from products that have already been used and recycled. It plays a critical role in creating demand for high-quality recycling programs and infrastructure. By contrast, post-industrial waste is manufacturing scrap—valuable, but less impactful in systemic change. While all recycled content is ecologically preferred over virgin material, we prioritize post-consumer waste because it plays a critical role in creating demand for high-quality recycling programs and infrastructure and helps us achieve our collective vision for a circular economy.

Priority: Highest

Read More: Post Consumer Versus Post Industrial Waste | The Most Important Question To Ask When It Comes To Sustainable Packaging

What: Indicates packaging made with recycled materials.

Note: When we refer to 100% recycled content, we’re referring to the functional material that makes up the majority of the packaging. Additives such as adhesives, liners, pigments, and fillers are not always recycled, though we’re pushing the industry forward in these areas.

Why it Matters: Demanding recycled content supports the entire recycling supply chain, encouraging investments in sorting, remanufacturing, and consumer education. When recycled material has value, it's less likely to become litter or landfill waste.

Priority: Highest

Read More: Why Recycled Content Matters | Post Consumer vs Post Industrial Content | China's Recycling Ban | The Impact of Pigments, Adhesives, and Release Liners

What: Carbon-negative ink made with algae cells instead of fossil fuel-derived pigments.

Why it Matters: One of the most sustainable printing innovations on the market today. Algae Ink sequesters carbon while offering bold, low-impact branding.

Priority: High

Read More: The World’s Most Sustainable Ink | Guide to Sustainable Printing Inks

What: Describes products or processes that remove more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than they emit over their lifecycle.

Why it Matters: Carbon-negative innovations like algae ink help reverse climate change by actively drawing down atmospheric carbon. These solutions go beyond reducing emissions—they regenerate.

Priority: High

Read More: Algae Ink and Carbon Negative Innovation | Climate Conscious Packaging

What: Manufactured within the United States.

Why it Matters: Supports domestic supply chains, transparency, labor standards, and reduced emissions from overseas shipping. Also helps ensure recycled inputs are locally sourced.

Priority: High

Read More: Why Domestic Manufacturing

What: Sway is a cutting-edge materials company pioneering sustainable seaweed-based alternatives to traditional plastic packaging. Their proprietary resin blend, TPSea™, is largely made from regeneratively cultivated seaweed. Sway packaging currently contains at least 50% TPSea™, with a long-term goal of achieving 100% seaweed-based content through ongoing innovation and iteration.

Why it Matters: We are proud to partner with Sway to catalyze seaweed-based packaging in a way that supports healthy ecosystems and regenerative economies. Unlike conventional plastic (derived from fossil fuels) or paper (sourced from trees), seaweed is a renewable marine resource that grows quickly, requires no irrigation or fertilizers, and actively improves ocean health. TPSea™ is formulated to be scalable and naturally biodegradable. This offers a compelling and novel path toward progressively replacing extractive, carbon-intensive packaging inputs with regenerative marine-based alternatives.

Priority: High

Read More: Seaweed As a Packaging Input | Packaging Made From Seaweed

What: Manufactured in Canada or Mexico.

Why it Matters: When domestic manufacturing isn't feasible, we prioritize production in North America to reduce emissions and maintain closer supply chain transparency and accountability.

Priority: Medium

Read More: Why Domestic Manufacturing

What: This label describes packaging that, if unintentionally littered in natural environments such as oceans or land, will break down in a reasonable timeframe and will not contribute to long-term pollution. These materials are also compostable, though for eCommerce packaging, we strongly recommend recycling as the preferred end-of-life solution.

Why it Matters: While eCommerce packaging is not a major contributor to land or marine litter, growing awareness of plastic pollution has inspired many brands to prioritize plastic-free and ocean-safe packaging. For some, this commitment is core to their business model or mission. Naturally biodegradable options are ideal for these companies, as they offer an added layer of environmental security in the rare event that packaging escapes waste management systems.

Note: We never use the term “naturally biodegradable” to describe bioplastics—even if they are certified compostable—because these materials do not break down in natural environments and can still contribute to microplastic pollution.

Priority: Medium

Read More: Compostable Does Not Mean Naturally Biodegradable | Bioplastic Is Not Plastic-Free | Compostable Plastic Does Not Solve Plastic Pollution (Natural Biodegradability Does)

What: At EcoEnclose, we define “plastic-free” packaging as material constructions that contain no synthetic polymers in the primary packaging substrate—regardless of whether those polymers are derived from petroleum or plants.

Note: That said, plastic-free packaging may still contain minor synthetic components—such as acrylic or hot melt adhesives, silicone-based seal strips, or tear strips—that are currently difficult to replace without compromising function.

Why it Matters: All of our naturally biodegradable products are also plastic-free, but the two terms serve different purposes. “Naturally biodegradable” refers to how packaging behaves at the end of its life, especially if littered. “Plastic-free,” on the other hand, describes what materials go into the packaging itself.

We use both labels because different brands prioritize different values—some focused on marine safety, others on eliminating fossil-based inputs entirely. This icon is helpful for companies aiming to reduce or eliminate synthetic polymers from their packaging choices.

Priority: Medium

Read More: Learn about prAna's Responsible Packaging Movement | The Right Way to Go Plastic-Free

What: Packaging with a second adhesive strip, allowing it to be reused for returns or a second shipment.

Why it Matters: Reusing packaging even once can significantly reduce its environmental footprint compared to single-use disposal. If all shipping materials were reused just once before disposal, we would dramatically reduce our need for raw resources, energy consumption, transportation emissions, and more.

Note: To date, our research has shown that in most instances, durable ecommerce packaging designed for dozens of reuses (what many people envision when they see "reusable packaging") typically has a higher carbon footprint and creates more waste than single-use counterparts. While we offer some reusable shipping options for brands well-positioned to take advantage of this model, we encourage brands to conduct rigorous lifecycle analyses before implementing durable reusable packaging.

Priority: Medium

Read More: Definitive Guide to Reusable Packaging for eCommerce | How to Reuse Our Poly and Bubble Mailers

What: This icon indicates that a packaging item is recyclable through a source-separated thin-film stream—typically available at most grocery and big-box retailers—or through EcoEnclose’s film take-back program.

Why it Matters: Plastic film (like polyethylene mailers) is technically just as recyclable as rigid plastics like milk jugs or soda bottles, but it can’t be processed in most curbside systems. That’s because thin films easily jam the sorting equipment used at most Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), leading to costly delays and contamination issues.

Because of this, polyethylene films (typically labeled #2 or #4) must be recycled separately, via designated drop-off bins at retail locations. A few municipalities, such as Los Angeles, do accept thin films curbside—but this remains the exception, not the rule.

To make things easier, EcoEnclose also offers a mail-in take-back program for customers and brands who don’t have convenient access to a retail drop-off site.

Priority: Medium

Read More: EcoEnclose’s Poly Mailer Take Back Program | Why We Don’t Recommend Compostable Poly Mailers

What: Made from used, excess, or waste materials reclaimed for a new product or purpose.

Why it Matters: Upcycled products create new value for materials that would otherwise be waste or of low value. Upcycling extends the life of raw materials, reduces demand for virgin resources, and lowers overall environmental impact.

Priority: Medium

Read More: Inspiring Upcycling Companies and Takeaways

What: Printing inks that use water instead of VOC-emitting solvents.

Why it Matters: Safer for workers and the planet. Releases fewer pollutants and is a significant upgrade from conventional inks. While these water-based inks are not as sustainable as Algae Ink, they are the most eco-friendly options for printing color and substrate.

Priority: Medium

Read More: Guide to Sustainable Printing Inks

What: Packaging bearing the RCS100 logo is certified by a third party to contain 100% recycled content in the functional material. Textile Exchange issues this certification under its Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) framework.

Why it Matters: RCS100 provides independent, verified proof of recycled content, helping build customer trust and confidently market packaging’s environmental benefits. Unlike generic “recycled” claims, this certification is traceable and backed by chain-of-custody documentation from source to finished product.

Priority: Medium

Read More: Guide to Sustainable Certifications | Our Certifications | RCS100 Mailer

What: Packaging that is RCS Blend certified contains a specific percentage of recycled content (less than 100%) verified by a third-party auditor, with full traceability and chain-of-custody oversight.

Why it Matters: RCS Blend helps companies accurately communicate partial recycled content in a standardized, trustworthy way. It creates transparency in the recycled material supply chain, while providing flexibility in packaging design and performance needs.

Priority: Medium

Read More: Guide to Sustainable Certifications | Our Certifications

What: FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council) certification confirms that paper-based packaging is made from responsibly sourced forest materials. There are multiple FSC claims—Mix and Recycled—that indicate different sourcing compositions.

Why it Matters: FSC® certification helps combat deforestation and illegal logging by promoting ethical forestry practices that protect ecosystems, workers, and Indigenous rights. It ensures your packaging supports responsible forest management and aligns with global environmental standards.

Note: FSC® is our preferred forestry certification due to its worldwide scope, rigorous standards, and global reputation.

Priority: Medium

Read More: Guide to Sustainable Certifications | Our Certifications | Deforestation and Forestry Certifications

What: FSC® Chain of Custody is a rigorous tracking system that verifies FSC®-certified materials are sourced responsibly and handled with integrity at every stage of the supply chain—from forest to final packaging. EcoEnclose is proudly Chain of Custody certified.

Why it Matters: Chain of Custody certification ensures that the FSC® claims on a product are legitimate. It requires every company involved in the product's processing, manufacturing, and distribution to be certified and audited. This transparency gives you and your customers confidence that the material comes from responsibly managed forests or recycled sources, not just marketing claims. It’s the backbone of the FSC® system and a critical safeguard against greenwashing and deforestation-related fraud.

Priority: Medium

Read More: Guide to Sustainable Certifications | Our Certifications | Deforestation and Forestry Certifications

What: FSC® Mix indicates that packaging is made with a blend of FSC®-certified virgin fiber, recycled materials, and/or controlled wood. This controlled wood must meet strict standards to prevent deforestation and forest degradation.

Why it Matters: When virgin content is required for functionality, FSC® Mix gives manufacturers flexibility while still ensuring responsible sourcing. This certification verifies that any virgin content used comes from well-managed forests with environmental and social safeguards in place.

Priority: Medium

Read More: Guide to Sustainable Certifications | Our Certifications | Deforestation and Forestry Certifications

What: FSC® Recycled certifies that packaging is made entirely from recycled fiber, either post-consumer or pre-consumer, and has been verified through chain-of-custody audits.

Why it Matters: This certification supports circularity and reduces demand for virgin forest resources. It ensures that recycled inputs meet FSC®’s rigorous environmental and social criteria, offering the highest level of sustainability among FSC® designations.

Priority: Medium

Read More: Guide to Sustainable Certifications | Our Certifications | Deforestation and Forestry Certifications

What: This icon indicates that a packaging item can break down in an industrial or home composting facility. We only apply this term to bioplastics when they have undergone rigorous testing and achieved relevant certifications.

Why it Matters: Our naturally biodegradable, plastic-free packaging is also technically compostable. However, for eCommerce packaging, composting is rarely the preferred end-of-life path. Here’s why:

• Recycling is almost always better. Recycling typically yields greater environmental benefits by preserving and reusing raw materials when a package is both recyclable and compostable.
  
  

• Compost facilities don’t want packaging. Most industrial composters only accept food waste and certified compostable food service items. Even clean paper mailers and boxes are often rejected, especially if they contain inks, adhesives, or labels.
  
  

• Bioplastics are a complex solution. Many bioplastics are sourced from unsustainable feedstocks, and some fail to actually break down as advertised.

Our guidance is simple: If your packaging is recyclable, encourage customers to recycle it. Composting should be considered only when recycling isn't possible, and any compostable materials should be thoroughly vetted before use. We vet the use of bioplastics carefully and pilot promising solutions thoughtfully to ensure they will not cause greater harm to the environment or create problems for recycling or composting facilities.

Priority: Low (for eCommerce packaging)

Read More: Composting Versus Recycling | Why Most Composting Facilities Don’t Want Packaging

What: Manufactured outside of North America.

Why it Matters: Typically results in higher carbon emissions, lower visibility, and more extractive production practices.

Note: A very small set of our offerings are manufactured in Europe and one (our Glassine Bags) are manufactured in China. Typically, our overseas manufacturing is driven by the fact we haven't yet found an aligned partner in North America.

Priority: Low

Read More: Why Domestic Manufacturing

What: Packaging made with plastic collected from coastal areas (typically within 50 km of shorelines) where waste is at high risk of entering the ocean due to inadequate waste management.

Why it Matters: Diverting plastic before it enters the ocean can sound like a win, but without transparency and third-party verification, “ocean-bound plastic” claims can be misleading.

At EcoEnclose, we focus on upstream solutions like recycled content and improved domestic waste systems. These strategies reduce the need for virgin plastic and prevent pollution before it starts. While OBP may offer short-term benefits, it can also distract from more scalable, systemic approaches to plastic waste.

We do not currently offer OBP-based packaging, as we prioritize efforts that build circularity and reduce plastic dependency at the source.

Priority: Low

Read More: Ocean Plastic Pollution and Ocean-Bound Plastic