Alternatives to Cardboard Boxes (2024)

FAQs

What is an alternative to cardboard boxes? ›

Ways to Reuse Cardboard in Your Home:

For added decoration, you can paint the cardboard to make it more fun! Paint cardboard boxes or line with fabric to make nice storage containers. Cut out small circles and paint them to make coasters. Cut into small pieces and use as furniture sliders to protect your floors.

Plastic bins are stronger and more stable than cardboard boxes, which means they will sit flush atop one another and hold more weight than their cardboard cousins. However, plastic is also smoother than cardboard, which means there is less friction between bins.

The corrugated industry has the best recycling rate of any packaging material used today. In fact, the fibers from corrugated fiberboard can be recycled up to 25 times. This means that most corrugated boxes are composed of 70% to 100% recycled materials.

Sustainable: Cardboard has a clear sustainability benefit over plastic as it is biodegradable and breaks down much quicker. Reusable: One of the greatest advantages is that cardboard boxes can be used again, and with the corners of the boxes being flexible, they can be collapsed when not in use.

In today's economy, businesses and institutions recycle items like cardboard because it often saves them money on waste disposal costs. Recycling is also good for the planet and local communities because it helps conserve valuable resources, reduces pollution from production of new materials, and creates jobs.

Is cardboard reduce reuse or recycle? ›

Much of that cardboard is recycled after a single use, making mixed paper, of which cardboard boxes are a major component, the number one material processed in recycling facilities. When taking cardboard out to the curb, remember Reduce, Reuse and Recycle – in that order.

The good news is that we can easily recycle and reuse these cardboard boxes. Cardboard is a paper-based material made from wood pulp and other plant fibres, making it recyclable. However it is more eco-friendly to reuse or repurpose it if possible.

Put together three or four boxes for each room of your apartment or house. Put those three or four boxes in each room and begin filling them with items that you need to bring with you but you're certain you won't need to use before the move.

If you're planning to start packing soon, ditch the cardboard boxes. Whether you're packing for a move to a new home or a move into storage, you can use several other packing materials besides cardboard. Pack using plastic bins, suitcases, and hampers that you probably already have on hand to save money and space.

Cardboard is one of the most sustainable packaging materials because it is made from the renewable raw material wood. This makes it particularly eco-friendly with respect to extraction and production, as well as use and disposal.

It is one of the materials with the least environmental impact. Its manufacture means a reduction of up to 60% in CO2 and oil emissions compared to other materials. 2. It is 100% recyclable and biodegradable.

Plastic bins are ideal boxes for storage, as they're easily stackable and better protect your belongings from moisture, heat, and anything else that might be trying to get inside. You also don't have to worry about packing tape, since plastic bins are self-sealable.

What are the 5 common eco-friendly packaging materials? ›

Cellulose packaging

Cellulose packaging is made from natural sources like hemp, wood, and cotton. The material is biodegradable and compostable, making it a sustainable alternative to plastic. Food brands, in particular, prefer cellulose packaging because of its moisture-resistant properties.

Because if it is put in landfills, as it deteriorates and chemically breaks down, cardboard contributes to global warming leading to climate change. This occurs as decomposing cardboard releases methane. Methane impacts the environment over 20 times more than carbon dioxide.

Less food waste is generated, and packaging waste disappears altogether. Lightweight packaging can be effective as a short-term solution to reduce waste but can quickly become unsustainable as global recycling rates improve.

Making the pulp from trees for use in corrugated cardboard creates sulfur dioxide pollution. Recycling corrugated cardboard into new products cuts the pollution generated by half.

After sorting is done, the next step is shredding, and then pulping follows. Shredding is done to break down the cardboard paper fibers into minute pieces. Once the material is finely shredded into pieces, it is mixed with water and chemicals to breakdown the paper fibers that turn it into a slurry substance.

Recycle Cardboard Boxes Right

Here's how to do it right: First, empty your box to remove packing materials, such as Styrofoam or packing peanuts. Flatten your cardboard box to save space. Put it in the recycling bin.

Cardboard is the most recycled packaging material in the U.S. More than 35 million tons of cardboard – what the industry calls corrugated – was recovered for recycling.

UPS packaging is provided free of charge to UPS account holders for selected air and UPS Worldwide Express^® services. Other packaging supplies are sold at The UPS Store^® and UPS Customer Centre locations.

How do you pack random things when moving? ›

Suitcases and duffel bags: An excellent alternative to cardboard boxes that can help to pack folded clothes and shoes. Vacuum bags: These are a great way to condense clothing items, especially bulky ones like jackets and winter coats.

Free Shipping Supplies Can Help Lower Shipping Costs

The USPS will keep you well-stocked with boxes, stickers, forms and more for free. These pre-printed envelopes, Tyvek® mailers and boxes can be used to send items through Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express, and they're eco-friendly.

What USPS Boxes and Envelopes Are Free? All USPS Priority Mail boxes and envelopes are completely FREE. This is not to be confused with USPS's ReadyPost boxes and envelopes which you have to buy. To be clear, not all USPS boxes and envelopes are free, just their Priority Mail packaging.

No cost to you whatsoever. As long as you're after USPS Priority Mail packaging, you can either pick up free boxes by walking into your local Post Office, or you can order them online on the USPS website.

Pack Decor & Books

Items that are in your home purely for aesthetic purposes are good items to pack first when moving. This might include artwork, decor, books, magazines, and the like. These items are easy to pack first because chances are you won't need them during the move or the weeks preceding it.

Roll your clothes. This helps to maximize space and minimize wrinkles. Use packing cubes. These smaller bags help you keep your clothes compact and your outfits ordered.

Neatly stack a bunch of hangers*. Loop a rubber band around all the hooks, wrap under the hypotenuse of the hangers, and loop back over one or more of the hooks. Don't over-stretch the rubber bands; adding explosive power to your hangers only exacerbates the packing problem.

Are plastic boxes OK for moving? ›

Plastic containers can generally be bigger than cardboard boxes, but that's not always an advantage. Large totes packed high with items can be too heavy to lift, move, or stack properly. If you choose plastic containers for a move, make sure to choose smaller, easier to move styles rather than large tubs.

“Plastic totes keep out water, smoke, critters of any kind – it's an issue that a lot of people deal with – and it's a lot harder for those thing to get into a box with a lid,” said Shaner. But if you're moving during dry days or in a temperate climate, then cardboard boxes are the best option.

Three-bedroom home: Assuming there are four people living here, you'll need to consider packing up three closets' worth of four people's stuff, as well as a living area, kitchen, and miscellaneous rooms. We suggest about 30 small boxes, 40 medium boxes, 20 large boxes, 3 extra large boxes, and 6 wardrobe boxes.