Cardboard is something that we all come across on a daily basis. That’s definitely the case for us anyway! Being one of the most widely used materials in the packing industry, it is used to make a range of products. As for items we use every day corrugated cardboard is most commonly found in boxes and cartons, such as cereal and juice. Because we use it so often it is important to make sure we dispose of it properly, and by that we mean recycling. There are many ways to recycle and put your cardboard to good use. Here we have outlined why, how and ways to reuse your cardboard most effectively.
Why should companies recycle?
Industries such as warehouses and shipping companies rely heavily on cardboard boxes to store and transport products. Recycling all their waste can help them save money on the disposal costs of their waste. When industries such as these recycle their cardboard it reduces the amount of waste being sent to landfills. Landfills damage the environment through contaminating the air and water and causing pollution. This all contributes towards global warming. We can help slow this process down by recycling our waste correctly.
It is more important now than ever to recycle whenever and wherever we can. Due to the current pandemic we have been using more corrugated cardboard than ever with increased online orders due to shops being temporarily closed. Takeaway has become a popular option for many over lockdowns, as we all know restaurants and cafes have been closed so getting the food delivered to your front door has been the only option. This has meant that restaurants have had to get creative and box their food up when they would normally serve their food on crockery. Resulting in the use of a lot more cardboard worldwide. All that extra need for materials soon adds up, and the production of all this is a contributing factor to deforestation. According to the World Bank “we’ve lost 1.3 million square kilometers of forests since 1990 – an area larger than South America”.
Consider reusing before disowning:
Reusing cardboard will reduce the amount of waste being manufactured in the future. It also lessens the need for other materials which can be substituted for this cardboard. The first thing we do after opening a package is throw the cardboard away, right? But have you considered there may be other options for utilizing this packaging for other projects around the house?
- The easiest way to conserve and reuse packaging is to save it for another time. Keep it tucked away somewhere until a celebration arrives that requires sending a gift, for example a birthday or an anniversary.
- Using boxes as storage containers is a great alternative to throwing them away. Simply decorate the box to fit with your aesthetic and pop in all your bits and bobs. This idea can make your space look tidier as well as brighten it up.
- Have you got a cat or dog? Another creative way to reuse your boxes is to make them into a cosy pet bed. Simply pad it out with a blanket and a few toys and your pet will feel right at home.
How to go about recycling:
When recycling cardboard there are a couple of things you need to do before taking them to the bin. Here are some steps to follow so that your waste doesn’t end up in the landfill!
- Remove all food, wrapping and tape from the box. These things cannot be recycled properly and could result in producing card of a lesser quality.
- Break down the cardboard into flat smaller pieces so you can place more in the official bin, or in your car to take to your local recycling center.
Here at ABC Pack we’re committed to ensuring all the packaging we produce is recyclable so when you purchase from us you’ll be happy to know that you’ll be providing recyclable packaging for your customers. We feel strongly about keeping our planet as healthy as we can, if you’d like to find out more about how we do this visit our environmental page for more information.