This review discusses the valorization of agro-food waste for sustainable bio-based packaging. The increasing generation of agro-food processing waste, combined with uncontrolled disposal and inefficient recovery methods, has raised concerns. The development of sustainable, biocompatible, and biodegradable materials is urgent due to their significant environmental and economic impacts. Research has focused on developing new packaging materials from renewable sources, such as agro-food waste, contributing to the circular economy. However, most novel agro-food-waste-based packaging solutions remain at a laboratory scale, highlighting the need for further understanding and investigation to scale up these products. The review covers the main agro-food wastes and by-products currently recovered for sustainable packaging systems, including techniques for their valorization, recent applications in films and coatings, and toxicological and safety approaches. It also addresses challenges and future perspectives. Current research faces challenges in transitioning novel findings to commercial scale, primarily due to safety factors, high production costs, performance deficits, legislative ambiguities, lack of consumer awareness, and inadequate governmental regulations. Therefore, significant investments in research and development are needed to achieve optimized, safe, and cost-effective solutions. The review also discusses the potential uses of typical agro-food waste/residues for the development of sustainable bio-based packaging, including plant-based, cereal and legume residues, and animal-based wastes. The review highlights the importance of nanotechnology in enhancing mechanical and barrier properties of biodegradable materials. The study emphasizes the need for further research and development to recover agro-food waste into valuable and sustainable materials for society.This review discusses the valorization of agro-food waste for sustainable bio-based packaging. The increasing generation of agro-food processing waste, combined with uncontrolled disposal and inefficient recovery methods, has raised concerns. The development of sustainable, biocompatible, and biodegradable materials is urgent due to their significant environmental and economic impacts. Research has focused on developing new packaging materials from renewable sources, such as agro-food waste, contributing to the circular economy. However, most novel agro-food-waste-based packaging solutions remain at a laboratory scale, highlighting the need for further understanding and investigation to scale up these products. The review covers the main agro-food wastes and by-products currently recovered for sustainable packaging systems, including techniques for their valorization, recent applications in films and coatings, and toxicological and safety approaches. It also addresses challenges and future perspectives. Current research faces challenges in transitioning novel findings to commercial scale, primarily due to safety factors, high production costs, performance deficits, legislative ambiguities, lack of consumer awareness, and inadequate governmental regulations. Therefore, significant investments in research and development are needed to achieve optimized, safe, and cost-effective solutions. The review also discusses the potential uses of typical agro-food waste/residues for the development of sustainable bio-based packaging, including plant-based, cereal and legume residues, and animal-based wastes. The review highlights the importance of nanotechnology in enhancing mechanical and barrier properties of biodegradable materials. The study emphasizes the need for further research and development to recover agro-food waste into valuable and sustainable materials for society.