Eco-Friendly Benefits of Corrugated Shipping Boxes

Corrugated cardboard is used in shipping for approximately 90% of all products in America. That is partly because more and more companies are noticing a demand for eco-friendly packaging materials and are making an effort to comply with customers' requests while meeting their own company's needs.

However, while cardboard is the predominant packaging material in the US, the term corrugated cardboard is often used as an umbrella term for any type of paper packaging material and that is simply not the case.

This article will discuss the green benefits of corrugated shipping boxes (and corrugated cardboard in general), before explaining the difference between corrugated cardboard packaging and regular paper packaging. Thus, let us start by talking about how this type of packaging is eco-friendly.

1. Corrugated Cardboard Is Made from Renewable Materials

The majority of corrugated cardboard is made from birch or pine tree pulp. These types of trees are generally very easy to plant and can thrive in a variety of environmental conditions. They're faster growing than other types of trees and are readily available. The trees used in corrugated cardboard can be sustainably harvested from forests that are managed properly.

2. You Can Recycle Corrugated Cardboard

Corrugated cardboard is one of the most commonly recycled materials in the world. Corrugated cardboard is 100% recyclable, unlike other types of packaging that are often only 70%-90% recyclable. It can be made without using any dangerous chemical bleaches or dyes. You can rest assured that using corrugated cardboard is a great way to reduce your environmental footprint, as it is considered to be one of the most 'green' packaging solutions available.

3. Corrugated Cardboard Boxes Can Be Used Multiple Times for Packaging

Most cardboard boxes do not get disposed of as soon as they are used. When you receive a package delivery in a corrugated cardboard box, are you just going to throw away the box after you open it? Probably not.

Corrugated cardboard is designed to be collapsible and used again and again. They can withstand a variety of weather conditions and are surprisingly durable. Corrugated cardboard boxes can be reused for countless purposes.

Moving is one of the biggest reasons to save cardboard boxes - instead of having to buy environmentally harmful plastic bins that will be left for hundreds of years in a landfill, you can reuse cardboard boxes until they are basically falling apart. After that, just throw them into the recycling bin and they will be sent to be made into more environmentally friendly materials.

What Is Corrugated Cardboard? - the Difference with Regular Cardboard Boxes

Cardboard can refer to any type of paper stock made from heavy pulp. Anything from playing cards to cereal boxes, and of course shipping boxes, can be made from cardboard. It is so common that most people likely pay no attention to it.

Corrugated paper refers to the construction process and the way the materials are assembled. Corrugated boxes are made from three sheets - two on the outside and one in the middle. The outside ones are flat, while the one in between is rippled.

Thus, you can have cardboard boxes and boxes made from corrugated shipping materials, but these factors need to be combined to get a corrugated cardboard box. While this might seem like splitting hairs, it is a crucial distinction that any company that deals with shipping and packaging needs to take special care of.

Why Is a Corrugated Box So Popular for Shipping?

Corrugated cardboard boxes are so popular in shipping because, eco-friendliness aside, they are extremely durable, versatile, and lightweight, relatively cheap to produce, and can be made into many different shapes.

On top of that, any company can make them into custom shipping boxes; in other words, corrugated cardboard boxes are easy to paint, print on, and design to specific needs. Although customizing the boxes in this way made introduce materials that make them non-recyclable.

Shipping With the Environment in Mind

If you are searching for a company that will make sure your packages are delivered safely and on time, while keeping the environmental impact in mind, contact Unival Logistics. We will always choose the quickest and most direct routes for your packages, lowering the shipping costs and the carbon footprint.

Additionally, you will be provided with full-value insurance coverage at premium rates, the possibility of API integration, and package tracking in real-time. Contact us if you are searching for a logistics company that can take care of all of your shipping needs.