New Study Highlights Corrugated’s Environmental Advantages Over Reusable Plastic

The Corrugated Packaging Alliance has released a new comparative life cycle assessment that reinforces corrugated packaging's strong environmental performance against reusable plastic containers (RPCs). The independent study by Anthesis Group found that corrugated outperforms RPCs in four of eight key environmental categories, showing 57 to 110 percent better performance in global warming, respiratory health, and non-renewable energy use. While RPCs demonstrated advantages in areas like water use and acidification, the research confirms that neither packaging type holds a decisive environmental advantage across all categories.

RPCs weigh up to four times more than corrugated boxes, which increases both freight costs and greenhouse gas emissions for retailers and CPG companies. Corrugated's advantages in local sourcing and shorter supply chains also reduce transportation impacts while allowing more pallets per truckload, delivering both sustainability and efficiency benefits that resonate with performance-driven businesses.

The Fibre Box Association created resources for members to use to take advantage of the study's findings when engaging with customers. The FBA member toolkit includes key messages, FAQs, presentation slides covering key datapoints, and social media graphics. The toolkit is available on the Members Only website. If you have any questions regarding the comparative LCA, please contact FBA Director of Communications Ashley Durkin-Rixey at arixey@fibrebox.org.

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Fibre Box Association is a non-profit trade association representing North American manufacturers of corrugated packaging. The association was founded in 1940 and strives to promote, protect, and enhance the overall well-being of the industry through member-valued programs and services.