For environmental protection reasons, it would naturally be optimal to do without packaging. However, this is not possible for some goods, making sustainable packaging the ideal solution.

Especially for food, packaging is important to protect products from spoilage. Other packaging also makes sense as it protects delicate products like electronics or hygiene items.

Different items require different packaging. In e-commerce, all goods must be securely and practically packaged to withstand the journey to the customer. Typically, cardboard packaging is used for this purpose. A good approach to environmental protection is to ensure sustainable packaging for these cartons.

Sustainable Packaging Carton – How Sustainable is Cardboard?

Cartons are not only extremely practical as packaging but also a sustainable alternative to plastic packaging. But how sustainable is cardboard really?

The following properties make cardboard a sustainable packaging option:

• The carton is made from a renewable raw material (wood).
• The material is biodegradable upon disposal and therefore poses no environmental burden.
• The carton is recyclable and can be processed into new products.
• Cartons can be used not just once but multiple times, thus conserving resources.

Especially the ability to recycle the carton makes it not only sustainable packaging but also brings additional environmental benefits:

• Energy and water savings during production
• No trees need to be cut down for new production
• Waste reduction

Eco-Friendly Cartons – What Makes Sustainable Packaging

Cartons as sustainable packaging are important to optimally protect shipped goods (from heat, moisture, glass breakage, or similar) and to transport them safely. They are easy to carry or stack and are sturdy enough to withstand long transport routes. Therefore, cartons are the ideal means of transport for manufacturers, shipping, and logistics.

Sustainable packaging is characterized by various properties that manufacturers of sustainable cardboard packaging pay attention to:

• No environmentally harmful substances are added.
• Only renewable and recyclable materials are used.
• Short supply chains can save CO₂.
• The cartons are still high-quality and robust.

Proper Disposal of Sustainable Cardboard Packaging

Cartons are the ideal sustainable packaging and can even be reused multiple times. However, they eventually need to be replaced and disposed of. Some small things need to be considered:

• Cartons can be easily and properly disposed of in the waste paper. However, the entire carton should not end up in the waste paper bin; it should be shredded and flattened to save space.
• If there are still stickers or other foreign substances on the carton, they must be removed and disposed of separately (plastic waste, residual waste).
• It is also important not to dispose of heavily soiled cartons in the waste paper. This mistake is often made with pizza boxes contaminated with grease and food residues.

FAQ

Where are sustainable packaging used?

These packages are popular in all industrial sectors and industries and are especially used in online retail. Often, there is also matching eco-friendly packing tape, so sustainable additional packaging is also used.

What advantages do sustainable cardboard packaging offer companies?

An important point is, of course, environmental protection, but sustainable packaging is also financially worthwhile for the company. The licensing costs for reusable cartons are cheaper than those for other packaging materials. Additionally, cartons are available in many sizes and shapes for almost all products. These packages are therefore particularly flexible to use.

Why should sustainable cardboard packaging be shredded when disposed of?

On the one hand, shredding ensures that little volume is blocked and there is enough space for more cartons. At the same time, filling with small cardboard pieces less often leads to jamming of the cardboard parts in the bin, which is important for trouble-free emptying.