Since the invention of corrugated packaging, goods have been transported from producer to consumer in a safe and hygienic way, packaged in a sustainable material.

The corrugated form of paper packaging was invented almost 150 years ago, and during this time about 70% ¹ of the world’s products have been transported, from businesses to consumers, in this packaging. Due to its adaptable nature, it can be produced in any shape and size for optimal handling and distribution, it is the perfect packaging material for all goods. It also has interlocking stacking features to minimize movement in transport and is customizable to suit the brand’s needs, such as easy opening and handling.

So, what makes corrugated packaging so sustainable?

Circular By Nature

Corrugated packaging is it’s 100% recyclable, bio-based, and biodegradable, making it a vital part of the circular economy. Once the fibers are sourced, they are manufactured into paper for corrugation and used by businesses and companies to package and dispatch goods accordingly. Once the product reaches the consumer and the packaging is recycled, the fibers of the corrugated board are recycled into new packaging. Corrugated packaging is collected and recycled all over Europe, therefore there is minimal transportation required within the recycling process.

Paper packaging is one of the most recycled paper products on the market today, with a well-established secondary raw material market. With 74% of paper and 83% of paper-based packaging is recycled into new products², it really is no wonder why so many companies are choosing to opt for paper-based packaging instead of plastic-based alternatives.

Recycled paper accounts for 89% of the raw material³ used to make new corrugated boxes, ensuring the fibers’ long life while also contributing to our economy.

What Makes It 100% Circular

• Bio-based and renewable: Corrugated paper-based packaging is almost entirely made of natural resources, and the wood used in production is sourced from sustainably managed forests.
• Recyclable: FEFCO, The European Federation of Corrugated Board Manufacturers, are constantly increasing their use of recycled fibres, which now account for 88% of new corrugated packaging raw material. The use of recycled paper as a raw material optimises the use of resources and reduces the environmental impact. Corrugated packaging has a 89%⁴ recycling rate on average. Recycling packaging keeps valuable materials in the circle and prevents incineration and landfilling.
• Prevents food waste: Corrugated packaging has unique hygiene levels that prevent cross-contamination and spoilage of fresh produce due to the production process that kills microbes.
• Adding value after use: The current market for recycled paper as a secondary raw material benefits all stakeholders throughout the supply chain.
• Built-in eco-design: Corrugated packaging can be easily shaped for cost-effective logistics, storage, recycling, saving time, energy, and money whilst also protecting the environment.

Creativity and Innovation:

Sometimes, packaging can transform into the product itself! For example, the “box chair” is brilliantly simple in its approach to transform from packaging to product. Just open the box, unfold it and connect the contents of the box to the packaging material. Another example is how homeowners can insulate their houses with a sustainable and recyclable material that is cost-efficient and easy to install.

Some artists have chosen to use corrugated packaging as their creative medium as it’s a source of inspiration and has endless creative potential. Some expose the flutings by peeling away the surface layer of paper, painting it, cutting it into pieces, and using the peeled corrugated as tiles for mosaic patterns. Some stack and glue layers of corrugated sheets and sculpt them. You can see some examples of these over on FEFCO’s website.

Product Protection

Corrugated board’s efficient design creates a sequence of interlocking arches that have the capacity to withstand heavy loads. The corrugated board has a robust and resistant structure thanks to this construction. The air moving through the flutes also acts as an insulator, providing good resistance to temperature changes.

There are many distinct varieties of corrugated board, each with varied flute sizes and profiles, allowing for a wide range of combinations to construct packaging with various features and performances. Corrugated board is a high-performance packaging material for packing, protecting, and promoting the items within.

Packaging must be efficient during transport and warehousing, but it is crucial to note that using too little packaging might result in product damage, so finding the correct balance between under-packaging and over-packaging is critical.

Informative and Promotional

Corrugated packaging increases the visibility of the supply chain. It allows for more affective product identification and reduced handling across the supply chain, which is just as vital as brand identification. Corrugated board carries all the information and data required for logistics, including signs, barcodes, matrix codes, and RFID (radio frequency identification) labels.

Corrugated packaging is an excellent marketing tool. Its use of eye-catching colours and shapes, for example, may capture and hold customers’ attention long enough for them to make the best purchasing decision.

Thanks to its ability to display attractive printed graphics, corrugated packaging creates a very effective shelf impact on consumers. When used in a shelf or floor display, it can increase in-store sales and serve as a billboard for brands. These “silent salesman” provide limitless opportunities to raise the value of products. It is affective in assisting packer-fillers in establishing brand identification. Furthermore, corrugated board provides excellent display and retail properties, providing the consumer with improved value and service. The most recent printing advances provide limitless opportunities for achieving a wide range of visual effects.

With 74% of paper and 83%² of paper-based packaging being recycled into new products, as well as all these benefits, it really is no wonder that so many companies are choosing to opt for paper-based and corrugated packaging.

Sources:

1. fefco.org, 2021
2. CEPI, 2020 & Eurostat, 2018
3. https://www.fefco.org/circular-by-nature
4. European Database for Corrugated Board Life Cycle Studies 2018.

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