Sustainable Graphic Design for Print & Packaging
Design has an impact. Even after it’s thrown away.
The way we design print, packaging, and branded materials affects more than just how things look. It affects forests, oceans, supply chains, and what ends up in landfills. That’s why I practice sustainable design: to reduce waste, avoid greenwashing, and help you make choices that are better for your business, your customers, and the planet.
My sustainable design principles
I work with clients to design beautiful, effective materials without relying on wasteful or harmful production methods. That includes:
01
Avoiding plastic and unrecyclable coatings
Plastic finishes like laminate or soft-touch can’t be recycled and contribute to microplastic pollution and chemical leaching. I’ll only recommend them when durability truly calls for it.
02
Choosing recycled or alternative paper stocks
Most paper products get tossed within days. Business cards alone account for over 6 million trees a year. Let’s use recycled, FSC-certified, or alternative papers like hemp, cotton, or seeded stock instead.
03
Skipping foils and metallics
Foils may look luxe, but they make materials unrecyclable and add to heavy-metal pollution. There are better ways to give your materials a high-end feel, such as letterpress and other sustainable techniques.
I’m certified through the Green Graphic Design Course by Little Fox Studio, which covers the real-world impact of design, from forestry and raw material extraction to climate justice. This training helps me consider every stage of a design’s life cycle, not just the final look.
Every detail reflects your values
Down to the paper it’s printed on
How you print and package things says a lot about what you stand for. Sustainable design helps you reduce waste, avoid greenwashing, and create materials you actually feel good putting into people’s hands.