An increase in the use of recycling in the corrugated products industry has allowed it to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by an astonishing 32% between 2006 and 2010, according to a report issued recently by the Corrugated Packaging Alliance.
The first-ever life cycle assessment, which was conducted by the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, examined the environmental impacts of a 1 kg industry-average corrugated product manufactured in 2010 compared to the same product manufactured four years earlier. The study also saw a 22% decrease in the effects of nutrients released on receiving waters and soils and a 14% decrease in the effects of particular matter emissions and respiratory effects.
Much of the improvement is due to the wider use of recycling, according to the report. The recovery rate for old corrugated containers increased from 72% in 2006 to 85% in 2010. The more corrugated materials that are recovered, the less goes to landfills reducing methane emission.
Corrugated products manufacturing facilities also contributed to the decrease in environmental impact by reducing greenhouse gas emissions by cutting overall use of fossil fuels and switching to less carbon-intensive fuels like natural gas.
The study examined the relative impact of industry-average corrugated products, which contain 46% recycled fiber, and 100% recycled corrugated products manufactured in 2010. It looked at seven environmental impact indicators: Global warming potential, eutrophication, acidification, smog, ozone depletion, respiratory effects, and fossil fuel depletion. It also looked at four inventory indicators: water use, water consumption, renewable energy demand, and non-renewable energy demand.