Food packaging sustainability: visual elements in graphic projects

This article investigates the presence and impact of visual sustainability elements in food packaging, analyzing how graphic design contributes to environmental communication and influences consumer perception. The research, exploratory and qualitative in nature, was based on the analysis of sixteen packages sold in Brazil, categorizing visual elements into four main groups: imagery, textual, structural, and chromatic. The results indicate that certification seals, recycling icons, and the color green are widely used to reinforce the sustainable identity of products, although there are indications of greenwashing in some packages. In conclusion, the study highlights the need for greater regulation and oversight to ensure the authenticity of sustainable messages.