The packaging world is getting “cleaner,” and it’s about more than just the materials. I’ve put together an overview of the key trends that will define the industry in 2026.
Key Highlights:
Eco-Fonts: How Ryman Eco and Ecofont save up to 33% on ink without sacrificing quality.
Italian Sustainability Trend in Packaging Design: Why Italy’s bioplastic sector is leading the EU and how the Biorepack system works.
New Rules of the Game: The PFAS ban and mandatory “Digital Product Passports” (DPP).
The future of packaging is a blend of minimalism and new technology. Now is the time to prepare your business for the new EU standards.
Key categories and examples of sustainable typefaces
Eco-fonts are sustainable typefaces were created to minimize ink and toner consumption, resulting in significant resource and cost savings.
- Ryman Eco: It is considered one of the most efficient in the world. Its letters consist of thin lines that blend together at standard print sizes, appearing solid, yet consuming 33% less ink than standard fonts. You can download it on the official website Ryman Eco.
- Ecofont Vera Sans: This font is based on the popular Vera Sans, but it contains small holes inside the letters. These openings are invisible to the naked eye on paper, yet they allow for savings of up to 28% ink. Ecofont offers both individual fonts and software for eco-printing.
- Century Gothic: Thanks to its thin lines, this font consumes approximately 30% less inkthan Arial, although it takes up slightly more space on the page due to its width.
- Traditional Narrow Fonts (Light & Condensed): Using styles with thinner lines (for example, Helvetica Light, Courier, or Garamond) naturally requires less dye. In particular, Garamond is often recommended for printing large volumes of text due to its delicate structure.
Tips for Eco-Printing
- Lightweight Fonts: Use Light and Thin styles. Avoid bold fonts and ‘reverse type’ (light text on a dark background) to minimize the total ink coverage area.
- Dithering Instead of Solid Fills: Replace solid color fills with a fine dot grid or patterns. This visually preserves the color while saving up to 30% of ink.
- Minimalism and ‘Air’: Leave more of the raw material (paper or bioplastic) unprinted. The less ink there is on the packaging, the easier it is to recycle.
- Color Separation (GCR): Configure the layout so that dark shades are formed primarily with black ink (K) rather than a CMY mixture. This reduces the chemical load.
- Vector Graphics: Use thin-line contour illustrations instead of filled objects and heavy raster images.
- Avoiding Decorative Finishes: Replace metallic foils and lamination with embossing or eco-friendly water-based or vegetable-based inks.
- Digitization: Move bulky instructions and detailed ingredient lists into a QR code to reduce the packaging size and the total amount of text printed on it.
Regarding eco-packaging, in 2026, Italy remains one of the European leaders in the field of sustainable packaging thanks to its powerful bioplastics sector and rapid adaptation to new EU regulations.
Key Technological Trends 2026
- Next-Generation Biopolymers (PHA and PLA): In Italy, the production of bioplastics from renewable raw materials (such as corn starch and sugarcane) is actively developing. A particular emphasis is placed on PHA and PLA blends, which are fully biodegradable and used for flexible packaging, bags, and containers.
- Fiber-based Packaging: This is becoming the new standard for secondary and protective packaging. Cardboard, molded paper fiber, and honeycomb structures are displacing plastic in logistics and e-commerce.
- Digital Product Passports (DPP) and Smart Labeling*: Italian companies are actively implementing digital solutions to track the packaging life cycle. This is in preparation for the mandatory introduction of passports in 2027, which will allow consumers to learn about material composition and recycling instructions via QR codes.
*The Digital Product Passport (DPP) is a central element of the EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), which entered into force on July 18, 2024. It acts as a digital “identity card” for a product, containing essential sustainability and circularity data accessible via a data carrier (such as a QR code or RFID tag).
- Optimizing packaging weight (lightweighting) and ensuring maximum recyclability at the design stage.
Italian specifics and recycling success stories
- Italy has already moved ahead of the EU schedule for 2024–2025, reaching a bioplastic recycling rate of 57% (the target for 2030 is 55%).
- The country is home to over 270 companies specializing in biodegradable materials, with an annual turnover exceeding €1.1 billion.
- The Biorepack Consortium: Italy boasts Europe’s first Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system specifically dedicated to the organic recycling of bioplastic packaging alongside food waste.
Regulatory Changes for 2026
PPWR (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation): Effective August 12, 2026, stringent new regulations will come into force in Italy, as across the entire EU:
- PFAS Ban: A permanent ban will be imposed on the use of “forever chemicals” in all food-contact packaging.
- Minimum Recyclability: All packaging must be designed for recyclability at an industrial scale.
- Reusability: Cafes and restaurants will be required to allow customers to use their own containers for takeaway orders.
- Plastic Tax:Italy plans to finalize the implementation of its national tax on non-recycled plastic packaging in 2026, incentivizing businesses to transition to secondary raw materials.
Many Italian brands have already aligned their packaging designs with ESPR requirements and here are just a few notable examples:
Pastificio Liguori (IGP Gragnano): an Italian pasta manufacturer utilizing FSC and Aticelca 501-certified paper packaging, featuring minimalist printing to facilitate cellulose recycling. By using unbleached cardboard and limiting the palette to 1–2 colors, they significantly reduce the chemical footprint.
Pasta Agnesi: the company has replaced 42 million plastic bags with 100% compostable packaging. Their FSC-certified paper packaging ensures responsible forest management aimed at protecting flora and fauna, respecting the rights of indigenous peoples, and ensuring the safety of forestry workers.
Davines: utilizing recycled plastics and bio-based plastics sourced from renewable materials. The company has eliminated over 160 tons of plastic in recent years through “lightweighting” (optimizing bottle design). The strategy features minimalist labeling with plant-based inks and the removal of secondary cardboard packaging wherever feasible.
Ready to make your packaging sustainable?
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