How to exchange hard to recycle packaging for corrugated

As Recycle Week 2021 gets underway, this is how we can help exchange hard to recycle packaging for corrugated

The emphasis on the removal of hard to recycle materials from our packaging streams continues to be a huge topic for so many businesses, especially those that have seen a shift in demand, or consumer purchasing habits in recent months.

Coupled with directives from the Government such as the 25 Year Environmental Plan originally launched in 2018, and the commitment displayed from the likes of FEFCO and its Circular Economy campaign, the need to source packaging materials that can be easily recycled is at an all-time high.

This is where corrugated comes into its own. You probably know all about its recyclable qualities and how its made from at least 80% recycled material but, what you may not know, is that it has amazing versatility and can be design engineered to suit a vast range of uses and applications. So much so, that our corrugated packaging solutions can negate the need for, or reduce, the use of single use plastic and other hard to recycle material whilst still protecting product, supporting CSR policies and pleasing product recipients and consumers.

Corrugated packaging has the potential to remove certain elements of hard to recycle materials from packaging solutions due to the strength, flexibility, and environmental credentials it offers. And, as an ever-increasing number of businesses look to remove unnecessary materials from all elements of their business, we are working with new and existing customers to support this desire through innovative designs.

“We recognise that the use of some hard to recycle materials remains critical to the products of many businesses such as those transporting liquids yet, the pressure is growing on consumers and businesses to eradicate those materials from our lifestyles and products wherever possible,” said Gareth Stell, UK Sales Director, Boxes and Packaging. “We are working with a variety of industries to remove certain elements of packaging solutions such as plastic handles, plastic crates, void fill and dividers and fittings which could be transferred to corrugated with ease and simplicity in many instances.”

Adept at finding new solutions to existing packaging solutions where plastic and hard to recycle components are currently utilised, teams at Boxes and Packaging sites across the UK have challenged myriad of packaging designs. Ranging from heavy duty global transit solutions to bespoke gift packaging to create an unboxing experience for the consumer, our solutions can be as simple as a substitution or as a complex as a full packaging audit and review. One thing is for sure: all deliver significant environmental benefits helping businesses achieve their targets to reduce the use of single use plastic and hard to recycle materials, perhaps even reducing their carbon emissions and making the business more sustainable.

Gareth appraised the situation by saying; “Boxes and Packaging is about so much more than just a regular brown box – our teams balance this essential packaging with creativity that knows no bounds in terms of how flexible corrugated material can be in protecting products, integrating with supply chain solutions and challenging the perception of plastic components in packaging.

“We urge buyers and packaging professionals to question the use of single use plastic and hard to recycle materials in your packaging and contact your nearest Boxes and Packaging team to ascertain if this could be eliminated.

“With guidelines on the reduction and removal of such materials expected to become more robust in the coming years, a pro-active stance is quite possibly the most sensible approach.”