In a time where cost savings continues to drive change, the commitment to sustainability and ecological responsibility continues to play a role. Today, we take a cross-examination of the carbon footprint advantage offered by reusable plastic containers (RPCs) over traditional cardboard boxes.
Understanding Carbon Footprint
Before we delve deeper, let’s provide a little clarity on the concept of carbon footprint. Essentially, it quantifies the total amount of greenhouse gases emitted directly or indirectly by human activities, and the typical unit of measure used is carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2 EQ). To approach our comparison in the most basic and digestible way possible, we’ll examine the carbon emissions associated with the production of each item.
The Tale of Cardboard Boxes
Cardboard boxes, more formally called regular slotted cases (RSCs), have long been synonymous with packaging. They’re lightweight, versatile, and recyclable, which contributes to their popularity. Nonetheless, the manufacturing process of cardboard involves the extraction of raw materials, energy-intensive processing, and transportation, all of which emit greenhouse gases.
Moreover, cardboard’s single-use nature often leads to a high turnover rate, requiring frequent production and disposal. While recycling helps to mitigate some of the environmental impact, it doesn’t entirely offset the carbon emissions associated with cardboard’s lifecycle.
Enter Reusable Plastic Crates
On the flip side, reusable plastic containers emerge as a beacon of sustainability. These collapsible handheld containers are designed for multiple uses and offer an average service life of 5 years with regular use, which minimizes the need for constant production and disposal. Unlike cardboard boxes, the reusable plastic crates maintain their integrity after multiple use cycles over a longer period of time, delivering dependability, longevity and durability.
The production of polypropylene plastic containers also produces carbon emissions, and at a larger amount than the production of corrugated cardboard. However, their reusable nature offsets this environmental impact over time. Studies have shown that a single plastic container can endure hundreds of use cycles, significantly reducing carbon emissions per use compared to cardboard boxes.
Crunching the Numbers
Let’s break it down with an illustrative example. Strictly from the manufacturing side, let’s compare the carbon footprint from manufacturing a double-wall cardboard box with that of a collapsible reusable plastic container. This can be achieved by ascertaining the amount of carbon equivalents associated with the production of both corrugated cardboard and polypropylene. The carbon equivalents are expressed as an amount per unit of weight (per lb., or per kg). When we multiply this number by the weight of the containers themselves, we arrive at the total carbon equivalents for each container type. This is where we can begin to see the long-term advantage of the RPC.
Despite cardboard’s lower production emissions per unit, the constant need for replacement amplifies its overall carbon footprint. In contrast, the durable nature of plastic containers minimizes the need for continuous production and disposal, resulting in lower carbon emissions per trip.
Conclusion: Reusables Are The Key To Sustainability
In the battle of sustainability, reusable plastic crates emerge as victors. While cardboard boxes can be recycled, their single-use nature contributes to a higher carbon footprint. On the contrary, reusable plastic crates prioritize durability and longevity, embodying the principles of circular economy and resource efficiency.
Once a single polypropylene RPC has been used three times, it saves 1.68 lbs. of carbon dioxide equivalents over a single-use cardboard box. For each additional use, the single RPC saves another 4.09 lbs. of carbon emissions from entering our atmosphere.
How does that scale up to a larger operation? When looking at a quantity of 25,000 RPCs, once they have been used three times, they will save 21 tons (42,000 lbs.) of carbon emissions. A quantity of 75,000 RPCs will save 63 tons (126,000 lbs.) of carbon emissions from entering our atmosphere upon the third use.
Whether you’re a consumer or a business, it’s becoming increasingly important that we make informed choices that prioritize sustainability alongside long-term cost analyses. By opting for reusables over single-use containers, we not only reduce carbon emissions but also pave the way for a more sustainable future.🌱♻️
Sources:
https://consumerecology.com/carbon-footprint-of-a-cardboard-box/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8587715/
