The review discusses the current advancements in using agro-food waste for sustainable bio-based packaging. It highlights the environmental and economic impacts of conventional synthetic packaging and the urgent need for sustainable alternatives. The paper covers various agro-food wastes and by-products, such as fruits, vegetables, cereals, legumes, and animal wastes, which are being valorized through extraction of valuable compounds or waste treatments for incorporation into packaging materials. Techniques for waste valorization, including mechanical, thermal, chemical, and biological methods, are discussed, along with their benefits and challenges. The review also addresses the toxicological and safety aspects, legislative ambiguities, and consumer awareness, emphasizing the need for further research and investment to optimize, safe, and cost-effective solutions. Despite significant progress, novel agro-food-waste-based packaging solutions remain largely at the laboratory scale, highlighting the need for scaling up and broader engagement across various fields.The review discusses the current advancements in using agro-food waste for sustainable bio-based packaging. It highlights the environmental and economic impacts of conventional synthetic packaging and the urgent need for sustainable alternatives. The paper covers various agro-food wastes and by-products, such as fruits, vegetables, cereals, legumes, and animal wastes, which are being valorized through extraction of valuable compounds or waste treatments for incorporation into packaging materials. Techniques for waste valorization, including mechanical, thermal, chemical, and biological methods, are discussed, along with their benefits and challenges. The review also addresses the toxicological and safety aspects, legislative ambiguities, and consumer awareness, emphasizing the need for further research and investment to optimize, safe, and cost-effective solutions. Despite significant progress, novel agro-food-waste-based packaging solutions remain largely at the laboratory scale, highlighting the need for scaling up and broader engagement across various fields.