Corrugated packaging carbon footprint reduced by 4.8% over three years

Submitted by: The Two Sides Team April 9, 2013

FEFCO publishes new data used to calculate the environmental impact of Corrugated Packaging in its newest 'European Database for Corrugated Board Life Cycle Studies'

FEFCO (European Federation of Corrugated Board Manufacturers) is proud to announce that a further decrease of the Carbon Footprint by 4,8% has been achieved over the past three years (from 2009 to 2011), on top of a reduction by 11,7% from 2006 to 2008. During the last three years, the average carbon footprint of Corrugated was reduced from 784kg/t to 746 kg/t. The main reason is a considerable drop in electricity usage, mainly due to the reduction of electricity bought by kraftliner producers.

Pulp and paper mills with kraft cooking, as used by all kraftliner producers, have invested heavily the last 4 to 5 years on the energy conservation side of their processes. New big boilers for bark and other biofuels combined with steam turbines are used for electricity production. The Corrugated industry intensifies the use of recycled fibers for the production of Corrugated Packaging: the input of recycled paper into new corrugated increased from 82% in 2009 to 85% in 2012. The Corrugated Industry and its suppliers continue exploring ways to reduce the environmental impact of their products. Corrugated Packaging proves again to be a sustainable material, which is highly appreciated both by the supply chain and consumers. According to recent studies, consumers prefer paper-based packaging over other material. Corrugated is economical, can be 100% recycled and perfectly protects goods on their entire journey to the consumer.

FEFCO  was established in 1952 and represents the interests of the European Corrugated Board Manufacturers. Headquartered in Brussels, FEFCO has 24 active members, all European national corrugated packaging organisations. The role of the Federation is to investigate economic, financial, technical and marketing issues of interest to the corrugated packaging Industry, to analyse all factors which may influence the industry, and to promote and develop its image.

Share this story