Corrugated is Recyclable

Recycling Success

Corrugated packaging is an extraordinary recycling success story. In 2025, 70–75% of cardboard available to be recycled in the U.S. was recycled and turned into new products. In fact, more than 33 million tons of cardboard were recycled in the U.S. in 2025 alone. Plus, the average corrugated box is made with 52 percent recycled content. The industry’s unwavering commitment to increasing recovery has driven these results. It took a prolonged and focused effort the corrugated industry committed to over fifty years ago and has lived by ever since – that should be viewed as an example to improve recycling rates for other packaging materials. Corrugated is one of few materials that can be recovered for recycling through an established, healthy market and never needs to go to waste. The fiber in old corrugated containers (OCC) is valuable and is in high demand both domestically and overseas.

Corrugated is Recycled

Find out more about corrugated recycling here.