What Elevate Packaging does

Elevate Packaging Solutions, Inc., operating as Elevate Packaging, is a Chicago-headquartered, privately held manufacturer and direct-to-consumer retailer founded in 2000 by Rich Cohen. The company produces certified compostable flexible packaging — including stand-up pouches, flat pouches, cellophane bags, poly bags, coffee bags with compostable one-way degassing valves, poly mailers, packing tape, stretch wrap, and compostable gloves — designed to serve as drop-in replacements for petroleum-based plastics across food, beverage, cannabis, apparel, e-commerce, and food-service end markets. Its proprietary PURE Labels sub-brand is positioned as the first and only certified compostable pressure-sensitive adhesive label in North America, with both facestock and adhesive certified under ASTM D6400 and EN13432, augmented by BPI, CMA, FDA 21 CFR Part 175, FSC, and multiple international compostability standards.

The business model is primarily e-commerce-driven via a BigCommerce storefront, with one-time unit sales of standard SKUs, tiered bulk discounts (e.g., 3% off for 10-24 units, 5% off for 50+ units on pouches), and free shipping on Continental USA orders over $350. A custom-printed packaging offering requires a 5,000-unit minimum and runs on multi-year project cycles, targeting SMB and mid-market brands seeking full-color compostable packaging for differentiated shelf or unboxing presentation. Distribution is exclusively direct-to-consumer within the United States, supported by content marketing, organic social, SEO, and email channels. A closed-loop take-back partnership with the Compost Stewardship Institute provides verified end-of-life composting, reinforcing circular-economy claims that few competitors can match. The company is founder-owned with no disclosed institutional capital or external funding.

Name

Elevate Packaging

Legal name

Elevate Packaging Solutions, Inc.

Website

https://elevatepackaging.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Elevate Packaging is a Chicago-based, founder-owned manufacturer and D2C e-commerce retailer of certified compostable bags, pouches, coffee bags, labels, and shipping supplies, serving SMB and mid-market brands in food, beverage, cannabis, apparel, and e-commerce verticals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Compostable Packaging & Labels

NAICS

Plastics Bag and Pouch Manufacturing (326111)

SIC

Plastics, Foil & Coated Paper Bags (2673), Miscellaneous Plastics Products (3080)

akta.pro primary industry

Compostable & Bio-Based Packaging (PLA/PHA, Starch Blends, Cellulose Films) (IMALAMAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Compostable Materials & Certified Compostables (IMAEAOAC)

Keywords

• Compostable packaging
• Compostable labels
• Compostable pouches
• Compostable shipping supplies
• Custom printed packaging

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Product Sales (Bags, Pouches, Labels): One-time transaction sales of compostable packaging products including bags, pouches, labels, and shipping supplies through the e-commerce platform. Products are sold in standard packs with bulk discounts available for larger orders.
2. Custom Packaging: Custom printed compostable packaging solutions with minimum order quantities of 5,000 units for custom printing and dimensions. Provides full-color custom product packaging that is 100% certified compostable.
3. Printed Samples: Custom compostable packaging sample packs available for purchase to allow customers to evaluate products before bulk ordering.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Elevate Packaging manufactures and sells certified compostable packaging products—including stand-up pouches, flat and gusset cellophane bags, poly bags, coffee bags with compostable valves, poly mailers, stretch wrap, packing tape, cellophane sheets, gloves, and labels (sheet, roll, and PURE Labels™)—through its own e-commerce storefront, with shipping across the USA. The company also offers custom-printed compostable packaging with full-color printing at a 5,000-unit minimum order quantity, and a take-back program in partnership with the Compost Stewardship Institute. All products meet ASTM D6400 and EN13432 compostability standards and are FDA-compliant for food contact.

Product overview

Elevate Packaging is a leading provider of compostable packaging and labels, offering a comprehensive portfolio of sustainable packaging solutions. The core product line includes Compostable Stand-Up Pouches (available in sizes from 1oz to 3lb in Kraft, White, and Transparent variants), Compostable Cellophane Bags, Compostable Poly Bags, and Compostable Coffee Bags with compostable valves. The company's proprietary PURE Labels sub-brand is the first and only certified compostable label in North America, offering both facestock and adhesive that are fully compostable. Additional offerings include Blank Labels on Sheets and Rolls, Adhesive Stickers, Compostable Poly Mailers, Compostable Stretch Wrap, Compostable Packing Tape, and Compostable Cellophane Sheets. The product ecosystem is unified by strict compostability standards - all products meet ASTM D6400 and EN13432 certifications and are suitable for industrial composting, with many also certified for home composting. Custom packaging services allow for full-color printing on compostable substrates, enabling brands to achieve sustainability goals while maintaining visual appeal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PURE Labels: The first and only certified compostable label in North America. Both the label and adhesive are compostable, designed for eco-friendly product labels, shipping labels, and stickers.
• Compostable Cellophane

Products and services

• Compostable Stand-Up Pouches Reclosable zipper pouches made from compostable laminated film, available in sizes from 1oz to 3lb and in Kraft, White, and Transparent variants, with excellent oxygen and moisture barrier properties. Sold to businesses packaging food, coffee, tea, and specialty products.
• Compostable Cellophane Bags Compostable cello bags made from renewable wood cellulose fibers (>90%) in flat and gusset styles, providing moisture and oil resistance as an eco-friendly alternative to petroleum-based plastics. For bakeries, gift packaging, and retail applications.
• Compostable Poly Bags Plant-based poly bags made from corn starch, used for fashion garment bags, produce bags, and general packaging; pre-printed with suffocation warnings and compost symbols.
• Compostable Coffee Bags Kraft paper coffee bags with compostable one-way degassing valves for CO2 release, in side-gusset and block-bottom configurations. For coffee roasters requiring compostable packaging that preserves freshness.
• PURE Labels™ The first and only certified compostable label in North America, with both facestock and adhesive fully compostable. Available in rectangle, square, and circle shapes, on substrates including sugarcane and recycled PCW paper, for product labels and shipping stickers.
• Blank Compostable Labels on Sheets Print-your-own compostable product labels, shipping labels, and stickers on 8.5" x 11" sheets, available in rectangle, square, circle, and full sheet formats. For businesses printing labels in-house.
• Blank Compostable Labels on Rolls Compostable labels on rolls for high-volume printing operations, including direct thermal labels for shipping and product labeling.
• Adhesive Stickers Pre-printed compostable adhesive stickers including compost stickers, hygiene liners, and seal closures for various packaging applications.
• Compostable Poly Mailers Compostable shipping mailers for e-commerce order fulfillment, providing a sustainable alternative to traditional polyethylene mailers.
• Compostable Stretch Wrap 80 gauge green-tinted compostable pallet stretch wrap for warehouse and shipping applications, with excellent cling and high clarity for barcode visibility.
• Compostable Packing Tape 2" x 87 yard compostable packing tape for securing boxes and packages during shipping.
• Compostable Cellophane Sheets Pre-cut compostable cellophane sheets made from FSC-certified sustainable wood cellulose fibers, for wrapping deli sandwiches, gifts, baked goods, and floral arrangements.
• Compostable Gloves Food-grade, powder-free compostable gloves as a sustainable alternative to traditional latex or vinyl gloves, for food service and handling applications.
• Custom Printed Compostable Packaging Custom printed compostable packaging service delivering vivid full-color printing on 100% certified compostable substrates, with a 5,000-unit minimum order quantity for custom printing and dimensions. For brands seeking sustainable custom primary packaging.

Quantifiable outcome

• Only 5% of plastic gets recycled (EPA) - compostable packaging provides an alternative that diverts waste from landfills
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered founding and core.

• Northwestern University - Paula M. Trienens Institute for Sustainability and EnergyfoundingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 May 2025Founding member of the Industry Affiliates Program (IAP), a collaboration platform connecting industry leaders with university researchers to advance the global energy transition. Provides access to cutting-edge research, faculty expertise, and student recruiting, while receiving seats on the Institute's executive council. Focus areas include electrification, digitalization, and decarbonization.
• Compost Stewardship Institute (CSI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative take-back program that meticulously collects and sorts all packaging from clients, ensuring it is safely composted. Represents the circular economy in action - a working solution that benefits the environment while supporting the growth and profitability of composting operations.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sustainable Packaging Industries: Manufacturer of compostable flexible packaging films and bags (PLA-based). Comparable in compostable flexible packaging manufacturing and food-contact certifications.
• EcoEnclose: Direct-to-consumer sustainable packaging e-commerce brand offering recycled and compostable mailers, poly bags, and shipping supplies to SMBs. Closely comparable product mix and GTM motion to Elevate's e-commerce shipping line.
• noissue: Sustainable custom packaging e-commerce company selling compostable mailers, tissue, and tape to SMB and DTC brands. Comparable in custom packaging MOQ-driven model and D2C GTM targeting similar customer segments.
• World Centric: Compostable foodservice packaging manufacturer with strong certification portfolio (BPI, CMA, ASTM). Comparable in compostable foodservice and packaging offerings, including bags and containers, with overlapping customer base.
• Good Start Packaging: Compostable foodservice packaging distributor serving restaurants, schools, and stadiums. Comparable in certified compostable foodservice offerings including cutlery, cups, bags, and gloves.
• Vegware: Specialist manufacturer of compostable foodservice packaging (cups, containers, cutlery) with a multi-standard certification portfolio. Comparable in certified-compostable focus and food-service vertical, though primarily serving institutional rather than SMB.
• BioBag: Manufacturer of compostable bags and films made from plant-based resins. Comparable in core compostable flexible-packaging manufacturing, ASTM/EN certifications, and food/produce bag product lines.
• TIPA: Developer of fully compostable flexible packaging films for food and fashion. Closely comparable technology (home- and industrial-compostable films with barrier properties) and comparable end markets in coffee, produce, and apparel packaging.

Broad incumbents

• Sealed Air: Global packaging conglomerate with protective and food packaging including sustainable options. Comparable as a broad incumbent in food and shipping packaging but operates at substantially larger scale and broader scope than Elevate's compostable niche.
• Novolex: Large diversified packaging manufacturer with a portfolio that includes compostable and recycled-content product lines. Comparable in flexible packaging and foodservice categories but at much greater scale and broader product breadth.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ElevatePack
• Facebookfacebook.com/ElevatePackaging
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/elevatepackaging
• Instagraminstagram.com/elevatepackaging
• Pinterestpinterest.com/elevatepackage

Compliance12 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Elevate Packaging