A recent study by the University of Freiburg proves this: Corrugated cardboard trays cause less harmful greenhouse gases over their entire life cycle than a similar tray made of PET.
The results of the CO2 footprint analysis show that the life cycle of a corrugated cardboard tray generates 0.017 kg of CO2 equivalents, whereas the PET variant generates 0.036 kg of CO2 equivalents. The climate effects of a PET tray are therefore more than twice as high as that of a corrugated cardboard tray, measured in each case from the production of the packaging to its End of Life.
The scientists explain the lower greenhouse gas emissions primarily with the high recycling rate of corrugated board compared to plastic and the ability to store CO2 of the most important raw material for corrugated board, wood. Substitution would have measurable positive climate effects. If PET fruit trays were replaced by corrugated cardboard throughout Germany, the annual CO2 emissions for the production of fruit baskets could be reduced by 34 per cent, according to the scientists' publication.
Better fruit trays in an ecological comparison
„The findings of the University of Freiburg are particularly revealing when viewed in the context of a study published in October 2019. Study by the Society for Packaging Market Research (GVM),“ says Dr Oliver Wolfrum, Managing Director of the Association of the Corrugated Board Industry.
GVM had determined that, according to the current state of the art every fifth tonne of packaging plastic in Germany, Austria and Switzerland could be replaced by corrugated board; in the fruit and vegetable sector, the figure is as high as 64 per cent.
„The study by the University of Freiburg gives us a concrete example of the ecological potential of substituting corrugated cardboard for plastic.“ Dr Oliver Wolfrum, Managing Director of the Association of the Corrugated Board Industry (VDW)
The life cycle assessment comparison of the fruit trays was carried out by the research group „Circulus - Transformation Pathways and Obstacles to a Sustainable Circular Economy in the Bioeconomy“ at the University of Freiburg. The researchers also derive recommendations for policymakers from the findings: corrugated cardboard should be favoured as a packaging material, if the sale of loose fruit and vegetables is not possible.
In general, the production of all types of packaging should Recyclates if possible The company believes that corrugated cardboard should be used more frequently, in line with the incentives set out in the Packaging Act. Wolfrum comments: „When it comes to recycling, corrugated board is clearly ahead. While packaging made from recycled plastics is rare, on average around 80 per cent of corrugated board packaging used in Germany consists of raw materials that have already been recycled several times in some cases.“
Source: Association of the Corrugated Board Industry (VDW)
