Economical
corrugated shipping boxes
are designed to be recyclable, with lightweight and durable features for safe
product shipments. The amount of recycled content in the boxes will depend on
the type of products to be carried and the raw materials that were used for
their production. Being made mostly with paper, corrugated boxes are highly
recyclable and reusable, reducing their contribution to wastage despite the
large volume of use.
As the name suggests,
corrugated boxes or rigid film cartons are generally built from paperboards, with
a single or more layers of paper folds and air columns that serve as cushions,
while the boards support the box’s stability. Some corrugated cartons produced
by packaging companies like World Packaging Co., Inc. have one-layered boards
which are mostly used for lighter items, while multiple-faced cartons are used
for larger and heavier merchandise.
As corrugated boxes make
use of paperboards, they will almost always contain reusable components and
materials. Ridged paperboard facings may be made of either virgin or recycled
fibers, but the use of one or the other will often not make a difference it
appearance. The choice between virgin and recycled materials, however, will
depend on the box’s use.
Longer and
tougher, virgin fibers are generated through a process called chemical pulping
wherein chemicals are used to heat wood to extract the fibers. With better
interweaving qualities, virgin fiberboards are often used for to pack expensive
or fragile end-products like electronics. Meanwhile, relatively sturdy items that
do not require much protective support can greatly benefit from recycled
fiberboards. Either way, users should get their boxes from established
suppliers of high-quality industrial packaging supplies to ensure the safety of
their products.
According to
the CPA, corrugated boxes impact the environment in each of the 4 phases in
their lifespans. The first is from pulping and papermaking, which make use of
either virgin or recycled fibers, then the conversion of the boards into boxes,
followed by the use of the boxes, and finally their recovery for either
recycling or disposal in landfills/incinerators. The present industry average
product composition of 46% recycled content has resulted in significant
decreases in harmful gases emissions and fossil fuel depletion, although box
users and makers are saying that 100% virgin fibers are still needed for
certain products.
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