With sustainability now a key measure of corporate responsibility, cardboard recycling offers businesses a straightforward yet meaningful way to strengthen their ESG (environmental, social and governance) credentials. Whether you’re an SME or a multinational, how you handle cardboard waste can speak volumes about your commitment to the environment. Read on to discover why this simple action can support bigger sustainability goals.
Small steps, big impact
ESG frameworks are now central to investment decisions, stakeholder expectations and public perception. While the big-ticket items like carbon offsets and net zero targets matter – it’s also about demonstrating tangible, consistent action across day-to-day operations – including waste management.
Cardboard is one of the most common waste materials in commercial settings. From packaging and deliveries to internal storage and shipping, it builds up quickly. The good news? Putting robust cardboard recycling in place can directly support your environmental goals – helping to lower emissions, reduce landfill use and contribute to a circular economy.
Cardboard vs paper recycling: why it’s not the same
It’s a common misconception that paper and cardboard are interchangeable in the recycling world. They’re not – and mixing them up can cause more harm than you might expect.
Corrugated cardboard, especially the type used for boxes, is thicker and more durable than standard office paper. While both materials are recyclable, they follow different processing routes and must be sorted correctly. Cardboard contaminated with food, oils or non-recyclable materials (like plastic coatings or tape) can compromise an entire recycling batch – meaning it’s sent to landfill instead.
Understanding these differences ensures your business doesn’t inadvertently contribute to recycling contamination, which affects both cost and environmental outcomes.
When cardboard goes to waste
Improper disposal or contamination of cardboard waste is more than just an operational oversight. It’s a missed opportunity with real consequences. When cardboard is sent to landfill or incinerated:
- Valuable material is lost from the circular economy.
- Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is released as it decomposes.
- Your business’s environmental footprint increases.
On the flip side, when cardboard is correctly recycled, it can be reprocessed into new packaging or paper-based products multiple times – reducing the demand for virgin materials, conserving resources and lowering emissions. Getting it right matters – for your business and our planet.
Circular economy in action
Recycling cardboard is a key part of the circular economy – a model that designs out waste and keeps materials in use for as long as possible. Instead of being discarded after a single use, cardboard can be collected, processed and turned into new products, often within weeks.
For businesses, contributing to this cycle isn’t just environmentally sound, it’s fast becoming an operational standard. More supply chains are prioritising partners that can demonstrate circular thinking, and recycling metrics are often a part of ESG reporting and audit requirements.
Make it work for your business
Here’s how to make cardboard recycling a strategic part of your ESG commitments (and how to do it well):
- Audit your waste streams
Understand how much cardboard your business generates – and where it ends up. - Educate your team
Clear signage and training go a long way in reducing contamination and improving recycling rates. - Partner with the right waste provider
Look for a service that offers tailored solutions, reliable collections and reporting support. - Track and report progress
Include cardboard recycling figures in your ESG reporting to show real, measurable impact to stakeholders.
In a nutshell
Cardboard recycling may not be headline-grabbing, but it’s one of the simplest (and most visible) ways to build a sustainable business. It demonstrates that your ESG strategy isn’t just a box-ticking exercise – it’s a commitment to doing things right, right down to what’s happening with the packaging in your bins.
Ready to improve your business’s recycling performance and meet your ESG goals? We’re here to help. Get in touch for a tailored waste audit or cardboard collection service that works for your business.