Last chance to save $100! Cutting-edge Trends for Every Industry at PACK EXPO Southeast
Discover packaging & processing solutions for all industries at the all-new PACK EXPO Southeast in Atlanta, GA, March 10-12, 2025
LAST CHANCE! Register ASAP for $30

Corrugated industry makes strides in reducing environmental impact

A new life-cycle assessment from the Corrugated Packaging Alliance notes advancements made between 2006 and 2014 in GHG reduction, recovery rates, water usage, and more.

The recovery rate for OCC increased from 72% in 2006 to 89.5% in 2014.
The recovery rate for OCC increased from 72% in 2006 to 89.5% in 2014.

The Corrugated Packaging Alliance has released a new U.S. corrugated industry life-cycle assessment (LCA), which shows the corrugated industry’s environmental progress.

“The LCA results demonstrate the efforts our mills and converting facilities are making to reduce the industry’s supply chain impact on the environment,” says CPA Executive Director Dennis Colley. “Sustainable forest procurement, along with the high old corrugated containers [OCC] recovery rate provide for a well-balanced system of fiber and supports the sustainability of our industry’s products.”

The LCA examined the effects of a 1-kg industry-average corrugated product manufactured in 2014 on seven environmental impact indicators, including global warming potential (greenhouse gas emissions), eutrophication, acidification, smog, ozone depletion, respiratory effects, and fossil fuel depletion, and four inventory indicators, including water use, water consumption, renewable energy demand, and non-renewable energy demand.

The corrugated industry reduced its GHG emissions by 35% between 2006 and 2014. The reduction was driven by increased OCC recovery and use of energy generated from renewable, carbon-neutral biomass and decreased overall use of fossil fuels.

The recovery rate for OCC increased from 72% in 2006 to 89.5% in 2014. As more is recovered, less goes to landfill, thereby reducing methane emissions.

Other notable improvements between 2006 and 2014 include a 29% reduction in the effects of nutrient releases on receiving waters and soils (eutrophication); a 23% reduction in photo-chemical ozone creation; a 21% reduction in water use; and a 21% reduction in respiratory related effects.

The peer-reviewed study, commissioned by the CPA and conducted by the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement is the third study in a series of industry LCA’s. It was conducted in accordance with ISO 14040/44 standards and guidelines for life-cycle assessment studies.

LAST CHANCE TO SAVE $100! New Trends for All Industries at PACK EXPO Southeast
The exciting new PACK EXPO Southeast 2025 unites all vertical markets in one dynamic hub, generating more innovative answers to your production challenges. Don’t miss this extraordinary opportunity for your business!
REGISTER ASAP FOR $30!
LAST CHANCE TO SAVE $100! New Trends for All Industries at PACK EXPO Southeast
New e-book on Flexible Packaging
In this e-book, you’ll learn key considerations for vertical and horizontal f/f/s and how to choose between premade bags and an f/f/s system. Plus, discover the pitfalls to avoid on bagging machinery projects.
download
New e-book on Flexible Packaging