Reusing boxes is easy, take a box that has been used and use it again, simple. They might be slightly damaged, dented or have tape all over them and possibly metal staples, but there is no waste as there are no trees cut down, minimal transportation and zero manufacturing, in other words they are carbon footprint of virtually zero.
We at The Box Warehouse try to get hold of as many reusable boxes as possible, but unfortunately too many boxes are being stored, transported to sorting facilities who remove all the tape string and metal staples, then they are sent to the paper pulping factory to turn the used cardboard removal boxes into paper, which is then transported to the box corrugation factory to be turned into cardboard, which is then transported to the box manufacturer where the cardboard rolls/ sheets are then made into boxes. These boxes are then stored in their warehouse until transported to wholesalers, retails and other end users, such as warehouses and retail house movers. Please tell me how much work and effort went into remaking, storing and transporting these boxes to reproduce cardboard boxes which look nice and clean yet do the same practical job as a second hand box which is reused.
I think the ‘Green’ movement has gone crazy, mad or is just plain stupid, when companies are not allowed to let people have the used boxes as the Green way is to recycle them, how stupid! We sell mostly ‘recycled’ boxes made from waste reconstituted wood pulp from previously used boxes. Our customers think they are being green asking for recycled boxes, when second had used boxes would be far greener for the ecology of the world.
Recycled compared to New wood pulp Boxes
As above, there are many processes involved in recycling cardboard to then be made into new boxes.
Boxes made from a high percentage of recycled materials are generally found to be of a lesser quality than boxes made from new wood pulp. The little know fact about making boxes direct from the trees is that all the trees that are cut down are replaced on average by around 3 new sapling which will grow into trees, this is sustainable growth, so in the long-term there will actually be far more trees growing all over Europe than we have today. So where is the ecological disaster from cutting down all those trees, there isnt one, the disaster is how huge the carbon footprint is when boxes are recycled.
In my humble opinion, the best way to save the world is to reuse everything and not recycle. In the case of cardboard, using new boxes which are superior in quality to boxes made from recycled box pulp and have a smaller carbon footprint, then newly made boxer are much greener after all.
So please don’t ask what percentage of your boxes are made from recycled paper, ask do you sell second hand boxes first and then ask for ‘new’ boxes and stop the huge waste of manpower and energy and help to actually save the planet not just be seen to be ‘doing the right thing!’
Author: Paul Hopkins, Director at The Box Warehouse Ltd

http://www.theboxwarehouse.co.uk