The corrugated packaging industry has reduced its carbon footprint by 12%. According to the FEFCO database compiled by an independent consultant, in 2008 the CO2 equivalent of corrugated packaging (its carbon footprint) was 887kg/tonne of board leaving the factory gate. In 2010 the CO2 equivalent had dropped to 784kg, a 12% decrease. The savings were largely a result of less energy usage in the paper mills.
"This means that the corrugated industry has already exceeded, way ahead of schedule, the 10% target currently being called for by Courtauld Commitment 2," says Andrew Barnetson of the Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI). "This is an important fact to communicate because we feel the focus on packaging in Courtauld Commitment 2 is excessive when the real problem lies elsewhere. Packaging is designed to prevent damage to products – damage which is ten times more environmentally significant."
Mr Barnetson adds: "What we want to do now is move the debate on in such a way that everyone begins to understand that the right corrugated packaging can create huge environmental savings through its overall performance, such as making better use of space to take lorries off the road, not to mention its superb record on recycling rate and recycled content."
External weblinksConverting Today is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.CPI
