The UK’s annual paper and cardboard consumption!
Approximately 12.5 million tonnes a year and equivalent to the weight of 20 million polar bears (according to bins.co.uk a commercial waste removal and recycling company). Now this might conjure a whimsical image, but such a population explosion would catastrophically disrupt the delicate balance of Earth’s ecosystems! Apart from the fact that we might all be eaten. But the point is, that image is somehow very relatable.
Sadly about 7 million tons of that paper and cardboard ends up in landfill. So today, we’re diving headfirst into this topic that’s probably lurking in your garage, under your stairs, or even masquerading as a fort in your living room – the humble cardboard box! Yes, those unassuming brown squares that carry everything from our online shopping hauls to our precious memories during a house move. But what happens to them after their initial purpose is served?
Let’s chat about cardboard in the UK, the environmental impact of producing them, and all the brilliant ways we can give it a second, third or more life and keep them from that landfill as long as possible.
The Cardboard Conundrum: A UK Perspective
Now, we all know we love our online shopping, don’t we? I am definitely guilty of that. And guess what comes with most of those deliveries? Yep, you guessed it – cardboard! As we just discussed, the UK cardboard consumption is significant. Just think about the Christmas rush alone! It’s a mountain of packaging.
But here’s the thing, producing cardboard isn’t exactly a walk in the park for our planet. Let’s get down to some facts:
- Energy Consumption: Making cardboard requires a substantial amount of energy. Trees have to be pulped, processed, and formed into sheets. This process involves heating, pressing, and drying, all of which guzzle energy. Finding exact figures seems challenging – Ecobox (rentable plastic moving boxes for business and domestic) state manufacturing a single cardboard box, same size to one Ecobox takes an estimated average 4kWh of energy.
- Carbon Footprint: The energy used, often from fossil fuels, contributes to carbon emissions. Plus, transporting raw materials and finished products adds to the carbon footprint. The total carbon footprint for a cardboard box is estimated at 0.94 kg CO2e/kg. However in its defence, cardboard does have a smaller footprint than plastic or styrofoam.
- Water Usage: Cardboard production is thirsty work. Vast amounts of water are needed for pulping and processing the fibres. Again, figures vary so much but Ecobox state manufacturing a single cardboard box, same size to one Ecobox takes an estimated average of 20litres of water.
On average, one tonne of corrugated cardboard emits 538 kg of CO2e throughout its lifecycle.
But What Happens if we Recycle?
Recycling corrugated cardboard saves an estimated 403.5 kg of CO2 emissions per tonne of recycled material and saves around 7,000 tonnes of water per tonne of recycled material. So although it’s hard to accurate estimate these figures it’s safe to say that the environmental impact is considerable and recycling cardboard is crucial. Most local councils in the UK have kerbside collection or recycling centres. Flatten those boxes, remove any tape or staples, and pop them in the recycling bin.
However REUSING cardboard and cardboard boxes is even better.
Inspired by Oddbox
I love my Oddbox of rescued fruit and vegetables, it minimises plastics that are inevitable when you buy fruit and veg from the supermarket but they also do so much more. There is always a little note with the box, telling you why the fruit and vegetables are rescued – to many, too small, too odd shaped etc – but this week they talked about how the cardboard boxes they use. You put out your box, flattened, in a dry place to be picked up with your next delivery and they re-use all the boxes they can. In 2024 customers returned 322,000 boxes. They were able to use 70,000 of those boxes. Now of course, the boxes are full of heavy fruit and vegetables and as most don’t have any other packaging – well maybe a paper bag or two – occasionally the boxes get damp and I can see how they may not be able to be re-used.
What they can’t use though are sent to Reuseabox! I’d never heard of them before but fantastic idea, started in 2009 by a teenager helping his father to make ends meet. Primarily aimed at businesses, though individuals can also purchase, they have a ‘re-use’ model. They collect used cardboard boxes from companies, check they are re-usable and they can be purchased by others that need them. If you think about it most companies use a box once and then its recycled back into more cardboard boxes which still uses considerable resource – water, energy – and producing CO2 emissions.
It’s a more sustainable option having that box used for longer, reducing waste, avoiding that landfill and reducing the use of our natural resources.
Oddbox report that since they began this programme with Reuseabox in 2023, they have saved the equivalent of 68.5 tonnes of cardboard, almost 70 tonnes of carbon and 14 million litres of water!! Thats 187,000 bath tubs worth. Fabulous.
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From Rubbish to Radiant Reusing
Every individual at home can get creative and give their cardboard boxes a new lease of life with a little thought. Here are some of my favourite ways to reuse cardboard:
- Composting Companion: Did you know that plain, unlaminated cardboard can be composted? Tear it into small pieces and add it to your compost heap. It breaks down nicely, adding valuable carbon to your compost.
- Gardening Goodies: Cardboard can be used as a weed barrier in your garden. Lay it down on the soil before mulching to suppress weeds. You can also use cardboard to create raised bed planters.
- Creative Crafts: Cardboard is a crafter’s dream. Here are some ideas.
- Kids’ Creations: Build forts, castles, and rocket ships. Let their imaginations run wild!
- Storage Solutions: Create drawer dividers, storage boxes, or even magazine holders.
- Gift Boxes: Decorate and transform plain cardboard boxes into unique gift packaging. Whether that’s painting them, covering them in fabric or keeping it natural adding recycled ribbon and dried flowers each one can be transformed into something unique.
- Pet Playtime: Cats love cardboard boxes! Turn them into cosy hideaways or scratching posts. You can also create fun toys for your furry friends.
- Moving Magic: If you’re moving, save those boxes! They’re perfect for packing up your belongings. And if you have any left over, offer them to friends or neighbours who are moving.
- Posting: And of course just simply keep them aside to re-use when you have a parcel to send.
- Need a Box?: Here’s a number of places you might be able to pick up an already used box free of charge … and reuse it of course: Supermarkets, coffee shops, off-licences, any retailer, garden centre, fast food/restaurants, schools or one of the many free cycle websites. Or if you have a neighbourhood group chat like ours, someone like me, might be hoarding them just for this purpose!
A Little Thought Goes a Long Way
It’s the small changes that make a big difference, . By being mindful of our cardboard consumption and taking the time to reuse as many times as possible before recycling, and sourcing re-used boxes we can all contribute to a more sustainable future.
Links to just a Few Re-usable Box Websites To Get You Started:
- Box My Stuff: reusable moving boxes for hire, UK
- EcoBox: reusable moving boxes for hire, South Africa
- Reuseabox: Reused and reusable cardboard boxes
- BoxReuse: Reused and reusable cardboard boxes