The redesign of plastic products requires considering the choice of material, the form of the product, and their interactions. The choice of material decides the range of material properties available. The macroscopic form of the product controls its SA/V and, thus, its environmental lifetime. Microstructuring (e.g., foaming) expands the range of material properties and increases the surface area, realizing material efficiency and SA/V optimization. Together, these qualities can yield designs that inherently minimize many environmental impacts of plastic use.