BOXES.
The Most Extraordinary
CORRUGATED RECYCLING is a resounding success story.
Now you can help write the next chapter!
Boxes might look ordinary—but they’re extraordinary when it comes to the role they play in recycling. Discover how increasing recovery and reuse of Old Corrugated Containers (OCC) helps create a cleaner, more sustainable planet…and learn how you and your customers can help!
“It’s recyclable…
but is it being recycled?”
News reports about tons of plastic debris in our oceans have caused consumers to be skeptical.
But when it comes to Old Corrugated Containers (OCC), the answer to that question is a resounding...
“YES!”
When they hear 8 million metric tons of plastics enter our ocean every year, it’s no wonder they wonder!
In 1970, a corrugated company introduced the “chasing arrows” recycling symbol.
The “Corrugated Recycles” symbol—introduced in 1994 in the U.S.—is on a majority of corrugated packaging today.
In fact, we’ve been building the infrastructure for recycling for more than FIVE DECADES!
OCC:
a Recycling Success Story
Made predominantly from trees, corrugated packaging is the most recycled packaging material in the world!
of all corrugated produced in 2019 was recovered for recycling...
Recycled OCC is transformed into NEW corrugated boxes.
That’s more than 32 million total tons!
The average corrugated box contains 50 percent recycled content
Around the
Loop
Most everyone contributes to this recycling success—but many people don’t understand where these boxes go or how new ones are made.
Old corrugated containers travel in a CONTINUOUS loop
After being used for their intended purpose…
they’re collected and compacted, transported to a paper mill, put into a repulper, agitated to form a slushy pulp, and cleaned of contaminants.
The box’s “new life” begins when…
the corrugated board is formed using 3 or more pieces of paper, sandwiched together with adhesive, cut into sheets, and passed through machines that make them into new boxes.
That clean fiber pulp is…
sent to the paper machine, poured onto a moving screen, and formed into a continuous fiber mat that’s pressed between rollers to remove more water. It moves through the dryer section, is rolled onto a large spool, then slit and rewound into new paper rolls, which are shipped to box manufacturers.
Grocery Retailers–
RECYCLING HEROES
of boxes are used to package food and beverage products.
Much of that ends up in grocery stores—which means YOU play an essential role in the circular loop of renewal!
The Customer
Connection
Today’s shoppers are more concerned than ever about the environment...
of consumers say it’s at least moderately important that brands are sustainable and environmentally responsible.
say they’re looking for brands that support recycling.
of consumers are willing to change their purchasing habits to help reduce negative environmental impact.
...and they’ll support retailers who show they are, too.
So let customers know
you recycle.
…and encourage them to recycle
the boxes they receive, too.
Together, you will help the industry create boxes from those boxes…and, in the process, support a truly circular, sustainable economy.
Visit www.corrugated.org to find out how boxes can improve your business.
Sources: 1 Ocean Conservancy 2 American Forest & Paper Association 3 “Meet the 2020 consumers driving change,” IBM Institute for Business Value and National Retail Federation
Ordinary Thing in the World
77%
76%
57%
1
2
3
THE BIG QUESTION...
Click on the stages of the recycling loop to learn more
40%
40%
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
2020
MORE
MORE
MORE
MORE
MORE
MORE
3
3
3
Boxes might look ordinary—but they’re extraordinary when it comes to the role they play in recycling.
Discover how increasing recovery and reuse of Old Corrugated Containers (OCC) helps create a cleaner, more sustainable planet…and learn how you and your customers can help!
92%
92%
Learn more by scolling below
(click the timeline for key milestones)
1
2
MORE
2
Approximately
40%
