Post-Consumer Paper Packaging: 7 Companies To Watch

Post-consumer waste paper refers to paper products that have been used and discarded by consumers, such as newspapers, magazines, and cardboard boxes. These materials can be collected, processed, and recycled into new paper products and packaging materials. Let’s check out some of the top companies making post-consumer recycled paper packaging.

Papair: bubble wraps from post-consumer waste

Papair was founded in 2020 by the duo of Fabian Solf and Christopher Feist. It operates out of its production site in Rethem an der Aller, Lower Saxony, Germany. With the launch of PapairWrap in 2023, the company introduced a bubble wrap made from 100% post-consumer waste paper.

Papair envisions a world free from unnecessary plastic waste. The company aspires to be a leading force in promoting alternative packaging materials.

Versatile packaging options from recycled paper

PapairWrap offers a packaging solution that stands out in the market for its innovativeness and efficiency. The products, which include PapairWrap in rolls, PapairSheet, and PapairBag, are all designed to meet the diverse needs of customers while minimizing environmental impact.

Papair is continuously working on the development and implementation of new products, packaging ideas, and innovative solutions to further enhance the sustainability and effectiveness of PapairWrap.

Tishwish: recycling paper and rebuilding the forest

Tishwish is a company that specializes in alternative packaging solutions. They focus on enhancing the customer experience through the joy of unwrapping a package while simultaneously addressing environmental concerns associated with packaging production. Tishwish offers a range of products that are made from recycled materials and are designed to be fully recyclable or compostable.

Tishwish’s Re-Leaf Project, where they plant a tree for every order placed, helps combat deforestation and contributes to carbon sequestration, wildlife shelter, soil reinforcement, and erosion control.

Making your mailers compostable

Tishwish offers a range of alternative packaging options that include compostable mailers, an alternative to traditional poly mailers, designed to break down within 3-6 months in composting conditions.

They also have tissues, stickers, and compostable bubble mailers to serve various packaging needs. Biodegradable and compostable packaging options like those from Tishwish can potentially protect wildlife by reducing the amount of plastic that can end up in natural habitats.

Salazar Packaging: packaging that communicates

The company, co-founded by Lenora and her husband in 2007, specializes in creating packaging solutions that communicate a brand's message effectively. They emphasize the importance of packaging in conveying a brand's commitment to cleanliness, green practices, premium quality, and natural products.

Their approach is highly personalized, focusing on conversations with clients to understand their unique needs and objectives. They also provide 100% recycled content packaging and ensure that all their materials are 100% recyclable.

Packaging made with post-consumer waste and water-based ink

Salazar Packaging’s Globe Guard™ corrugated boxes are constructed from 100% post-consumer waste material, offering new uses for waste materials. Salazar Packaging provides the option to customize and print on their boxes, allowing brands to communicate their message directly on their packaging.

The use of 100% post-consumer waste material for their Globe Guard™ line and the availability of FSC-certified materials demonstrate a strong commitment to environmental stewardship. Salazar Packaging also uses water-based inks for most of their printing needs, reducing the environmental impact associated with traditional inks.

EcoEnclose: enclosing products in reclaimed paper

Founded by Erin Kimmett in 2010, EcoEnclose is focused on creating packaging solutions that are part of a circular economy, where materials are endlessly recycled or made from regenerative resources.

Their vision includes a future where all packaging is recycled, no resources are wasted, and the energy used in production is sourced from renewable means.

Innovative packaging for e-commerce

EcoEnclose offers a range of sustainable packaging solutions designed for e-commerce businesses. Their products include 100% recycled poly mailers, algae-based printing inks, agricultural waste paper products, and more.

The standout feature of EcoEnclose's products is their commitment to sustainability without compromising on quality. Innovations like algae ink and ag waste paper products are quite significant. Their approach considers every aspect of the product's lifecycle—from the recycled content and post-consumer waste to the potential for reuse and recyclability.

PulpWorks: transforming molded pulp technology

PulpWorks was founded in 2011 by Elena Olivari and Paul Tasner. The company designs and manufactures packaging solutions to replace traditional packaging that contributes to global plastic pollution.

Their innovative approach transforms molded pulp technology, traditionally used for items like egg cartons, into sophisticated packaging options for a variety of consumer products.

PulpWorks uses raw and post-consumer recycled materials to create packaging that doesn't contribute to the long-term pollution problems associated with plastics. Their products cater to diverse markets, from beauty care to electronics.

Diverse material options, including post-consumer waste

PulpWorks offers a range of customizable packaging designs, ensuring that clients from various industries, including personal care, pharmaceuticals, food, and more, can find eco-friendly packaging solutions tailored to their specific needs.

PulpWorks uses 100% biodegradable and recyclable materials. Clients can choose between dry-pressing and thermoforming for molded pulp processing. They also offer additional services like laminating, green printing, and a selection of PMS colors for customization.

Grounded: custom packaging solutions for various sectors

Grounded is a company founded by Josh Kempton and Ben Grant. Grounded specializes in providing custom packaging solutions across a wide range of industries, from coffee to pharmaceuticals.

Their services are tailored to meet the unique needs and challenges of each sector, ensuring that sustainability is accessible to all. They offer a suite of materials that are plant-based, compostable, recyclable, and made from post-consumer waste.

Truly papermade

Grounded's Papermade™ series is an innovative range of recyclable products. These items are crafted from recycled paper, ensuring that every piece is not only renewable but also contributes to the circular economy. The Papermade™ line stands out for its commitment to sustainability at every stage. Each product utilizes post-consumer waste that reduces the need for virgin materials.

With this, they are setting a standard for what businesses and consumers can expect from packaging. The diverse range of formats, from coffee bags to lidding films, ensures that businesses in various industries can find a sustainable packaging solution that meets their needs without compromising on quality or functionality.

Reel: re-imagining everyday paper products

The duo of ‘Derin Oyekan and Livio Bisterzo founded Reel. The company is based in the United States, and its approach is to reimagine everyday products like toilet paper and paper towels, making them not only eco-friendly but also convenient and of premium quality.

Founded with the vision to mitigate the environmental impact of paper goods. Reel goes the extra mile by offsetting 100% of carbon emissions from overseas shipping, partnering with organizations like Flexport and the Carbonfund.org Foundation to ensure their environmental footprint is as minimal as possible.

Recycled paper and more

Reel uses recycled material with a minimum of 80% post-consumer fiber. This approach gives discarded paper a second life. Recognizing the rapid regrowth rate of bamboo, Reel also leverages this resource to create paper goods that maintain the softness and strength consumers expect from premium paper products.

Reel's journey has been marked by a series of improvements, from launching their flagship bamboo toilet paper to achieving completely plastic-free packaging, demonstrating an ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship.