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Most businesses want to reduce their packaging footprint, but measuring that impact can be a challenge. Reuseabox is changing that with its Environmental Calculator—a free tool that tracks the carbon, water, energy, and tree savings from reusing cardboard boxes. Founder Jack Good shares how collaboration, smart logistics, and simple swaps can make circular packaging both practical and cost-effective—without disrupting supply chains. Sometimes the most sustainable solution is the one already sitting in your warehouse.
How can companies measure the environmental impact of their packaging choices, and how does the Reuseabox environmental calculator help?
From our understanding, there are no other packaging suppliers out there offering a service to track the environmental impact of packaging in the way we do. While many companies offer Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) to measure the carbon footprint of a product, those tools often focus on broader product-level data rather than packaging specifically. The challenge is that impact reporting legislation is still in its infancy. That means businesses have to tread carefully when making claims, as standards can vary widely.
The Reuseabox Environmental Calculator Tool was the first tool designed specifically to measure the environmental impact of manufacturing, reusing, and recycling cardboard boxes. It’s completely free for companies that order and reuse boxes from us. The calculator automatically generates reports showing how many trees, and how much carbon, energy, and water have been saved by reusing boxes instead of recycling them.
What key challenges do businesses face when implementing circular packaging solutions, and how can they overcome them?
The biggest blocker is return logistics. In many cases, returning and reusing packaging is technically possible, but it’s not always cost-effective. That’s where many businesses struggle.
How can businesses collaborate with suppliers and partners to create a more circular packaging supply chain?
Creating a truly circular packaging system takes collaboration across the entire value chain. For example, the government needs to introduce legislation that encourages reusable packaging and return systems, rather than just defaulting to single-use.
Return logistics providers need to develop infrastructure so that it's easier for companies to offer packaging return/reuse services. Right now, there aren’t many off-the-shelf solutions, so most companies are forced to figure it out themselves.
On top of that, packaging manufacturers are still producing mostly single-use options. We need more reusable packaging options readily available on the market. Retailers also have a role to play. Think back to 40 years ago, when major supermarkets all offered bottle return schemes. That’s all disappeared, but it shows it can be done. And finally, consumers. We need to help shift consumer behaviour so that returning packaging becomes second nature.
What incentives or government policies exist to support businesses in adopting circular economy packaging practices?
There are a few notable ones. The Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging (SSPP) Challenge is government funding designed to help businesses create reusable packaging initiatives. We also have the Plastic Packaging Tax that was introduced in April 2022 which has been designed to push companies toward packaging with less virgin material. Then there’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging where businesses that handle over 50 tonnes of packaging must pay fees based on material type and volume.
How can businesses communicate the sustainability benefits of packaging reuse to customers and stakeholders?
The key is going beyond carbon stats and making the impact relatable. At Reuseabox, we translate the data into everyday equivalencies, so it’s easier for people to understand. For instance, if you’ve reused 10,000 boxes, that saves around 14 tonnes of carbon, 2.8 million litres of water, and 233,000 kWh of energy. That’s the equivalent of:
- 22 return flights from London to New York
- Powering 16 homes for a week
- Taking 7 cars off the road for a week
- Filling over 35,000 baths
We also gamify the experience. Our clients get an online profile where they can track and publish their environmental savings, which they often share on social media.
What are the operational requirements for integrating reusable packaging solutions into existing logistics and warehousing systems?
It depends on the industry. We’re service providers, so for our customers, it’s just like ordering new boxes. Nothing changes in terms of warehouse or logistics processes, except the boxes have had a previous life. In other industries, especially where hygiene is critical (like bottles for drinks), businesses might need specialist equipment for cleaning and sterilising.
How can companies apply circular economy principles to other aspects of their packaging strategy beyond cardboard?
Collaboration is key. Talk to suppliers and customers. Find out how packaging can be reused, returned, or recycled, and build systems together that make it easy for everyone involved.
What role does B Corp certification play in demonstrating a company’s commitment to circular economy principles, and how can it benefit business growth?
The B Corp philosophy is all about collaboration. It’s all about businesses working together to have a positive impact on people and the planet. Although there are no circular economy requirements for B Corp accreditation, the circular economy does require businesses, consumers and the wider society to work together. In the case of Reuseabox, it is to keep cardboard boxes in use for longer.
How can businesses transition from single-use packaging to a circular model without disrupting their supply chain?
There’s usually an onboarding period. Take a deposit return scheme for glass bottles, there’s planning, infrastructure, and investment required.
But Reuseabox is an exception. From a practical standpoint, using our reused boxes is no different to ordering new ones. It is just that businesses can often save money by using what already exists instead of creating new ones.
What are the cost savings and financial benefits of reusing cardboard boxes instead of immediately recycling or purchasing new ones?
For every box reused, companies can save between 30-50% on packaging costs, because they’re not having to pay for manufacturing.