PRO Carton, the European association of cartonboard and carton manufacturers, has announced that the carton packaging industry has achieved an 8% reduction in cradle-to-gate fossil carbon emissions since 2021.
The research, conducted by the Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE) and independently verified by Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung (ifeu) in Germany, confirms that the annual carbon footprint dropped from 929kg CO2e to 854kg CO2e per tonne.
Pro Carton said this reinforces carton packaging as a low-carbon solution for brands transitioning away from fossil-based materials and marks a successful decoupling of industry growth from fossil fuel reliance, providing verifiable data required to meet Scope 3 climate targets.
Pro Carton’s 2025 Carbon Footprint of Carton Packaging Study also takes a look at the sector’s environmental performance between 2021 and 2024. The report draws on data from 70 sites representing 60% of European cartonboard production and 16% of Europe’s folding carton production sites.
The 8% reduction in fossil emissions is said to be a direct result of the industry’s collective investment in decarbonisation. Between 2021 and 2024, European mills moved further away from traditional energy sources, reducing the share of fossil fuels in their energy mix from 46% to 39%. By prioritising wood-based biofuels and renewable heat generation, manufacturers avoided approximately 60kg CO2e of fossil emissions per tonne of production.
At the same time, the sector has overhauled electricity procurement. The share of low-carbon electricity used at mills nearly tripled to 66%. This shift has been driven by investment in green infrastructure and power procurement.
Pro Carton added that the report also highlights the advantage of fibre-based packaging within the natural carbon cycle. Because cartonboard is derived from sustainably managed European forests, it acts as a physical store for atmospheric carbon dioxide.
The study confirms fibre supply for packaging is linked to sustainable forest management practices.
The research also examines the efficiency of the converting process, where cartonboard is shaped into final packaging. While converting accounts for 21% of the total cradle-to-gate footprint, direct on-site emissions from print drying and heating represent are only 2%.
Horst Bittermann, director general of Pro Carton, said, “The 8% reduction we see today is the hard-earned result of years of investment and a fundamental rethink of our sector’s energy needs. By transitioning to biofuels and securing low-carbon electricity and investing in photovoltaic systems, our members are providing brands with a packaging medium that meets the highest environmental standards.”
The complete study is available on the Pro Carton website here: https://www.procarton.com/pro-carton-releases-their-carbon-footprint-study-2025/
