Industry is “doing more with less”
THE Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI) has claimed the UK corrugated industry is helping retailers to reduce their carbon footprint.
This is reportedly down to those businesses developing packaging solutions that “maximise storage and reduce transport costs”.
According to the CPI, consumers are helping to drive the trend towards sustainable business practices as they become more aware than ever of the environmental impact of goods.
“The environmental impact of food waste is 10 times as significant as packaging, and well-designed packaging is the best way to protect food from getting damaged or spoiled,” the CPI said.
“In addition to protecting the contents, packaging can also look to reduce its own impacts and, as an example, effective steps taken by the corrugated industry have seen a steady reduction in average board weight over the last 10 years.”
CPI reported that the total area of corrugated board produced by its members rose by 4% in 2015 compared to 2010.
However, the weight of paper used to make this increased amount of corrugated board decreased by 3% during the same period.
In other words, less paper was used to meet a significantly increased demand from consumers.
Andy Barnetson, CPI’s director of packaging affairs explained, “Corrugated box makers are helping to meet demand from consumers and retailers for attractive and sustainable packaging. The industry is doing more with less by taking effective steps to hold its own in a fiercely competitive global market.
“New technological advances have enabled papers to be made stronger, meaning that lighter weights can be used for the same roles.
“Combined with novel fluting grades, this makes for significant space savings in transit and storage. Corrugated will continue to evolve and adapt to the challenges ahead.”
