With increasing population density, we humans are producing more and more trash. In the Pacific Ocean alone, a considerable amount of plastic and other waste has accumulated to form veritable garbage whirlpools. One of these has an area almost five times the size of Germany.

But not only the oceans, but also our forests are affected by environmental pollution. This affects the tropical rainforest even more. Clearing to make way for the cultivation of monocultures for soy or palm oil is causing it to shrink further and further.

Corrugated board - the material cycle

Before we can explain the corrugated board material cycle to you in more detail, let's first be more specific about what corrugated board is and what it is produced from.

Particularly because this results in numerous other aspects that have made corrugated board a particularly environmentally friendly packaging material.

Corrugated board is basically a purely natural product, as it is made from renewable raw materials. Thereby its main component in the amount of 80 percent is already recycled cardboard, waste paper or used corrugated board.

20 percent of corrugated board consists of so-called virgin fibers. Fresh fibers, which are used for the production of corrugated board, also have a special feature that is very ecological.

This is because virgin fibers are made from wood, or more precisely, from broken and thinned wood. However, only virgin fibers that originate from sustainably managed forests are used.

This means that only the wood is used, which would otherwise be a waste product. Thus, corrugated board is not only a material that is particularly environmentally friendly due to the raw materials used for its production, but also because it is valuable raw materials that were taken from the forest solely to maintain it.

In addition, this responsible forestry secures the tree population and at the same time contributes to its increase throughout Europe.

However, alternative raw materials can also be used to produce corrugated board, such as grass or grass paper. This consists of 30 percent grass pellets and 70 percent waste paper.

Packaging materials made of corrugated board are particularly sustainable in many respects. The raw materials used in their production and the way they are extracted already speak for this.

The corrugated board material cycle under the microscope

Now that you have learned what corrugated board actually is, you can find out below what the corrugated board material cycle is all about and what it actually means.

Since there is a very well functioning waste separation system in Germany, corrugated board can be considered an excellent closed-loop packaging. This is because corrugated board is almost completely recyclable and it is a material that is considered single-material packaging.

This results in the possibility of uncomplicated disposal for the consumer. But these are not the only advantages that corrugated board packaging offers.

Furthermore, the collected and disposed corrugated board is recycled. Thus, packaging made from this raw material is basically not waste, but a valuable material in further paper production.

Due to the fact that corrugated board has an almost 100 percent recycling quota, it fulfills the requirements of environmental policy as a sustainable recycled product without any problems. This is because since 2001 it has been subject to a legal requirement regarding the recycling rate.

For cardboard, board and paper, this is 65 percent. It is worth mentioning that corrugated board already met these requirements in 1991 - a long time before the new regulation came into force.

The return to the material cycle takes place in the following steps:

1. The consumer disposes of the packaging in his
   
   Paper containers or directly at the recycling center.
2. The corrugated board is pressed and delivered to a paper mill for recycling.
3. In the paper mill, it is easily and quickly processed into base paper, for example. This in turn is used to produce corrugated board packaging.

Since the corrugated base papers produced in Germany are on average made from a high proportion of recycled waste paper, they may also be referred to as recycled paper. However, paper is also produced abroad that is largely made from virgin fibers.

Sustainable packaging from corrugated board

Packaging made of corrugated board consists of a high proportion of recycled paper, i.e. materials of natural origin. In addition, there are other factors that make corrugated board a sustainable material for the packaging industry:

1. The adhesive for the production of corrugated cardboard boxes

   Even the adhesive used to process the cartons is usually made from sustainable and renewable natural products. These are, for example:

   • Glue from corn or potatoes
   • Glue from wheat
     
     
2. Corrugated board is compostable

   Although corrugated cardboard boxes are recyclable packaging, it should be mentioned here that they can also be disposed of in the home compost, as it is biodegradable. In addition, corrugated cardboard can also be used to cover a bed or find use as a mulch material in the garden.
   
   

bio-based	recyclable	Biodegradable
The material consists entirely of renewable raw materials. In addition to the substances for the production of corrugated board, the glue is also usually made from natural substances (potatoes, corn or wheat).	Cardboard is recyclable if it can be recycled or reprocessed. For efficient recycling, the materials must be separated by type as far as possible. The recovered base paper can be reprocessed into corrugated board.	Since corrugated cardboard packaging is a purely natural product, it is biodegradable even on the home compost and harmless to the environment.

Why is corrugated board still suitable for sustainable packaging?

In addition to the information already mentioned, we would like to point out other attributes through which corrugated board fully meets our requirements for sustainable packaging.

Packing and protection of goods

Cartons made of corrugated board are not only simple packaging, but due to their processing at the same time protect the packaged goods. This property results from the excellent stability of corrugated board. The secret is not in the material itself, because the fibers of recycled paper have already been broken several times and are no longer as long and therefore tear-resistant as virgin fibers. The reason for the stability, the high load-bearing capacity with low dead weight, and the protection against pressure and impact lies in the flute.

The corrugation of the paper, which is glued between two smooth outer webs, creates cavities. These in turn result in efficient protection against pressure. This is because the energy from impacts is absorbed by the air cushions and distributed over the entire surface of the carton.

The following applies: the larger the flute inside the board, the higher the load-bearing capacity and the spring effect. However, the smoothness of the surface structure decreases with size, which means that printed images can no longer be printed without loss. For cartons with high load-bearing capacity and very good printability, however, two flutes can be combined.

As a rule, the inner flute then has large shafts and thus a high load-bearing capacity. The outer corrugated board can be printed without loss of quality due to the smaller flutes. Mans then refers to this as double wall corrugated board.

Corrugated cardboard boxes - sustainable and stable

As already mentioned, corrugated board is available in various thicknesses, sizes and shapes. The stability of corrugated board packaging is determined by the number and height of the corrugations.

There are different types of waves:

• A-flute with a dimension of 4.0 to 5.0 mm
• B-flute with a dimension of 2.2 to 3.1 mm
• C-flute with a dimension of 3.1 to 4.0 mm
• D-flute with a dimension of 1.9 to 2.2 mm
• E-flute with a dimension of 1.0 to 1.9 mm
• F-flute with a dimension of 0.6 to 1.0 mm

Conclusion: corrugated board packaging offers numerous advantages

It is not surprising that corrugated board packaging is so popular in Germany as a sustainable packaging material. After all, it fulfills all the requirements that an environmentally friendly product should entail.

Cartons made of recycled corrugated cardboard are also a purely natural product. That is why they can be optimally disposed of and recycled. Even on the home compost they can be disposed of without any problems or used for mulching the beds.

Since corrugated cardboard packaging is available in various sizes, shapes and thicknesses for packaging purposes, any goods can be safely and sustainably packed in them.

Whether it is a piece of furniture or a fragile glass vase; in a package made of corrugated cardboard it is environmentally friendly and at the same time safely packed.

FAQ

Question: What can be packed in corrugated boxes?
Answer: All goods can be safely packed and shipped. Whether stationery or pieces of furniture does not matter. Since this packaging material is available in various sizes and designs.

Question: Can fragile items also be safely packed in a carton and shipped unbreakable?
Answer: Basically, packaging is designed to protect against pressure etc.. In the case of particularly fragile products, appropriate padding should possibly not be dispensed with.

Question: Is the environment affected by cardboard boxes?
Answer: No, the environment is not affected by packaging made of corrugated cardboard, because it is made from 100 percent natural raw materials.

To learn more about recycling and sustainability, please contact us!