Every year on April 22, Earth Day reminds us of our responsibility to protect and preserve our planet. Designers and artists play a vital role in shaping a more sustainable future by creating work that raises awareness, reduces waste, and promotes eco-friendly solutions. 

This Earth Day, we’re exploring the stories behind innovative and environmentally conscious projects on Behance, from vegan leather made from food scraps to inspiring biodegradable packaging solutions.

Mohawk—Paper With a Plan—Sustainable by Hybrid Design and Olivia Ward

Industrial designer Gaurav Wali spent his college years living and working alongside local communities in the Himalayan region of India. “I saw firsthand the devastating impact of forest fires, the struggles of rural unemployment, and the slow disappearance of traditional craft practices,” he recalls. “These weren’t just abstract issues—they affected real people, their livelihoods, and the environment they depended on.”

“My father once told me, ‘There are two ways to face a problem—you either endure or do something about it.’” Gaurav chose to do something about it.

Cheer Project: From Earth, To Earth by Gaurav Wali

Taking inspiration from the pine forests of the Himalayan foothills, Gaurav developed a method to transform the overabundant pine needles of the area into pine fiber, which is then mixed with natural binders to create pine composite, a 100% biodegradable, water repellent material. This pine composite can in turn be used by local artisan to create sustainable products. “Cheer Project’s production process unveils the dormant potential of pine needles while also empowering indigenous communities by creating livelihood opportunities for them,” explains Gaurav.

“Sustainability and creativity are two sides of the same coin,” says Gaurav. “A well-designed product shouldn’t just solve a user’s need—it should also consider the maker, the material, and the environment.”

Cheer Project: From Earth, To Earth by Gaurav Wali

Amsterdam’s Agarcia Studio also looked to sustainable solutions when creating the packaging design for their client Makaria Pasta. Their solution had to be not just eco-conscious but also be scalable, production ready, and incorporate the philosophy, brand identity, and history of the brand.

“When the Greeks founded Naples, they adopted a local pasta recipe made from flour and water, dried under the sun,” explains Alvaro Garcia, the studio’s founder and partner. “This historical connection became the foundation of the brand’s concept.” Alvaro and his team took inspiration from ancient Greek pottery and its characteristic high-contrast engravings to create a distinctive but flexible visual system for the brand. 

Makaria Pasta by Agarcia Studio

For the packaging, the studio opted for biodegradable packaging made from wheat straw, a common agricultural waste. “This material not only reduces environmental impact but also strengthens the connection to the product’s essence—wheat as the core ingredient of pasta,” adds Clara Vendrell, the studio’s Industrial Design Engineer. “The packaging is more than just a functional container; it embodies Makaria’s philosophy of respecting tradition, nature, and future generations.”

Makaria Pasta by Agarcia Studio

Designers are rethinking not only the materials we use, but the entire lifecycle of a product. One such pioneer in material innovation is hida LAB, a CMF (Color, Materials, Finish) brand under South Korean manufacturing company Intops.

hida LAB is experimenting with eco-conscious materials such as recycled bioplastic, vegan leather derived from discarded apple peels and mushrooms, and terrazzo made with ground seashells. Their tactile innovations prove that sustainable materials can also be beautiful and production-ready.

“As industries advance and competition among companies and brands intensifies, there’s a growing focus on design differentiation for competitive products. CMF (Color, Material, and Finish) is at the heart of it.” says Junwoo Oh, who leads the Creative Communication Team at Intops. “For these companies, it's not enough for the processes, technologies, and materials used in their products and services to be eco-friendly—the emotional aspect of design must also reflect sustainable values in order to enhance brand value.”

3D forming with vegan leather by hida Lab

Sustainable design is a long-term commitment, and every designer has a part to play. The first step? Stay curious and keep learning.

“For designers looking to incorporate sustainability into their work, the first step is research,” says Alvaro. “The field of sustainable materials is constantly evolving, and staying informed about innovative options—such as algae-based paper, biodegradable coatings, and eco-friendly inks—can open up new creative possibilities.”

Beyond material innovation, Gaurav urges us to think holistically about the nature of production and consumption: “It’s not just about eco-friendly materials but rethinking product life cycles—focusing on longevity, repairability, and emotional attachment rather than disposability.”

Junwoo agrees: “The role of planners and designers is extremely important. In addition to materials and processing technologies, factors such as packaging, transportation, and disposal after use must also be taken into account.”

STRIPE IT — sustainable packaging for fruits & vegetables by Jolanta Mart

Earth Day is a reminder that we all have a part to play in building a sustainable future. For designers, this responsibility also comes with an opportunity: to lead by example and reimagine the impact of creativity.

“It is not just about making small, sustainable choices within existing frameworks but about redefining design itself as a force for environmental and social progress,” says Alvaro. “As designers, we have the ability—and the responsibility—to shape this greener future.”

Obakki by Arithmetic

Sustainable Design Projects on Behance

Search for more eco-conscious design projects or browse our curated moodboard of inspirational sustainable design projects on Behance.