Corrugated board has become an indispensable sustainable packaging material in the mail order business. This is because it offers both retailers and consumers numerous advantages. Until now, corrugated cardboard boxes were considered disposable packaging.
At the same time, they are often used several times in the private sector, as they are usually in a stable and good usable condition even after shipping.
It is therefore worth taking a close look at whether corrugated packaging can be used as reusable packaging in the future.
Because one thing is already certain today - packaging will continue to develop in the direction of sustainability. Therefore, the development of corrugated board packaging into reusable packaging could well be conceivable.
In the following, let's deal with a few questions regarding reusable packaging. Specifically, we want to find out whether corrugated board packaging can establish itself as reusable packaging and stand up to the demands of reusable packaging.
To do this, let's first take a look at the latest development trends in reusable packaging.
Reusable packaging - Where is the packaging trend heading?
as well as environmentally friendly packaging materials are increasingly being used.
It can be observed that reusable packaging is increasingly challenging the practical disposable packaging in terms of popularity. This is because disposable packaging, while practical, generates a lot more waste. The media in particular have made consumers aware of the effects of the environmental pollution that has already been recorded to date.
In order to counteract this problem, a regulation regarding the disposal of raw materials to be recycled was put into effect as early as 1994. As a result of the new directives, a rapid rethink took place at many companies and they turned to alternative, environmentally friendly packaging.
In the field of shipping packaging, the corrugated cardboard box has so far made its way to the very top among packaging. This is due to the fact that the corrugated cardboard box is a very environmentally friendly product.
The general trend, however, continues in the direction of reusable packaging!
Dealer and manufacturer can be greatly reduced by the use of reusable packaging. save high costs. Therefore it is not rarethat already in various industries at
- Container
- Box pallets
- Euro pallets
- Load carrier
However, the examples mentioned are usually made of wood, plastic or metal. All three materials harbor properties that make them particularly suitable as reusable packaging.
These properties include, above all, that reusable packaging after a
- repeated cleaning
- frequent repair
- uncomplicated preparation
can be used again and again.
 The properties not only highlight the special durability of reusable packaging, but also its particularly ecological and economical character. |
Which reusable packaging is known by the end consumer?
However, the advantages of reusable packaging are not only on the manufacturer and retailer side. You as the end consumer also benefit from it.
Probably the best-known uses of reusable packaging in private households are the take-back systems required by law.
This includes, for example, the return of returnable bottles and also the glass containers provided free of charge. The "yellow sack" is also a waste disposal system known throughout Germany in the "reusable" sector.
These legally required take-back systems brought the end consumer into contact with environmentally friendly waste disposal measures for the first time.
The sense to separate waste was stimulated. However, the environmentally friendly aspect is not the only reason for active participation in waste separation on the part of the population.
High waste charges and thus costs in private households can in fact be reduced by carefully separating waste and thereby preparing it for recycling, as this leaves less residual waste.
In addition to the previously mentioned types of waste, there are also containers for organic waste and paper. The disposal of paper and cardboard is free of charge for private households. In this way, environmental protection is made possible for the consumer in a cost-effective and uncomplicated manner.
How do consumers feel about sustainable packaging?
Consumers are increasingly concerned with the issue of sustainability, not only in terms of products but also in relation to their packaging. However, this does not automatically mean that every one of them has dealt with it comprehensively. Therefore, it is not necessarily clear to everyone what exactly the principle of recyclability is all about.
To get closer to its meaning, let's therefore use an example to highlight the difference between a reusable deposit bottle and a disposable deposit bottle. The situation is similar with other packaging materials.
-
The disposable deposit bottle
Non-refillable deposit bottles are usually plastic bottles. These are available either with or without a deposit for the consumer.
In this process, both types undergo the same process after disposal in the free yellow bag or after return and deposit payment.
The returnable deposit bottle is mostly already shredded in the return machine or taken as a whole to the recycling center.
There they are either processed as granulate or taken to the incineration plant for energy recovery.
-
The returnable deposit bottle
The returnable deposit bottle is usually a bottle made of glass. Since glass can be cleaned optimally, it does not matter what content is refilled after cleaning. It can be water, milk or other soft drinks.
A returnable glass bottle can be cleaned and refilled up to 50 times in total. After that, it is recycled and can be 100 percent reprocessed.
Thus, the glass bottle is ideally suited as packaging for beverages. It is also an ecologically and economically very valuable raw material.
 Reusable packaging is popular with consumers . This is particularly evident in the mail order business. In this segment, the demand for sustainability is a very important issue: resource-saving packaging and CO2-neutral shipping methods have been experiencing a major upswing in recent years. |
Reusable packaging must meet certain criteria
The term "reusable packaging" is based on fixed criteria.
In order to be recognized as reusable packaging in Germany, various criteria must be met. These requirements are regulated by the Federal Environment Agency.
In summary, the Federal Environment Agency defines reusable packaging as follows:
Reusable packaging is packaging designed with the purpose of being used several times. Its return and reuse must be ensured by sufficient logistics and an incentive to return it (for example, deposit) must be promoted.
If it does not meet these requirements, it is no longer disposable packaging.
Can corrugated board meet the requirement of reusable packaging?
Corrugated board is the most widely used of all common materials used to produce packaging (especially shipping cartons).
In addition, it is a valuable recycled product. But at present, corrugated board packaging can only live up to the claim of being particularly sustainable disposable packaging.
However, this does not mean that this will not change in the future. Developments in terms of greater sustainability are progressing steadily in many industries. It can therefore not be ruled out that packaging made of corrugated board may possibly be upgraded to reusable packaging through appropriate processing. We continue to observe this development with great interest.
Conclusion: Corrugated board - We look to what the future holds
Corrugated board is one of the most popular packaging materials currently available in Germany. It is impossible to imagine the mail order business without it due to its numerous sustainable properties.
Nevertheless, packaging made of corrugated board cannot currently satisfy the regulations laid down by law. Therefore, corrugated board can only be reused several times in private use until it is disposed of as paper waste. After disposal, it passes through the cycle of reprocessing up to 25 times.
Currently, there is only reusable packaging made of wood, metal and glass, for example. This is because these materials meet all the requirements placed on reusable packaging. They can be easily cleaned, repaired and reused for the same purpose.
In addition, incentives for return can be created through deposit payments. A well-designed return system enables uncomplicated reuse.
It remains to be seen whether the development of corrugated board will move in the direction of reusable packaging in the future.
We at Palamo are already watching the further development processes in terms of the sustainability of packaging materials with great interest - and are curious to see where the road will lead us.
 If you are interested in the topic of disposable and reusable packaging, you can find more information in our blog. We are also happy to be at your disposal personally and look forward to hearing from you. |
FAQ
Question: What is meant by reusable packaging?
Answer: Reusable packaging is packaging that is reconditioned for reuse after it has been returned only by cleaning or repair.
Question: Is there any reusable packaging made of corrugated board?
Answer: There is currently no reusable packaging made of corrugated board.
Question: Is it foreseeable that there will be reusable packaging made of corrugated board in the future?
Answer: Due to the fact that corrugated board is a very popular packaging material and environmental pollution is becoming more and more of a focus, it is conceivable that technical developments will create reusable packaging.
Question: Is reusable packaging well accepted by consumers?
Answer: So far, it can be observed that end consumers are very happy to make use of return systems. Thus, reusable packaging is meeting with great acceptance. Even the payment of a deposit is accepted without any problems.
