{"id":31800,"date":"2025-11-24T10:45:33","date_gmt":"2025-11-24T10:45:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/packit.eu\/shrink-packaging-as-a-sustainable-alternative-to-the-familiar-cardboard-box\/"},"modified":"2025-11-27T13:33:46","modified_gmt":"2025-11-27T13:33:46","slug":"shrink-packaging-as-a-sustainable-alternative-to-the-familiar-cardboard-box","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/packit.eu\/en\/shrink-packaging-as-a-sustainable-alternative-to-the-familiar-cardboard-box\/","title":{"rendered":"Shrink Packaging as a Sustainable Alternative to the Familiar Cardboard Box"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShrink film might not be the first thing that comes to mind when we talk about sustainability. The perception of many consumers is still that cardboard is ‘more sustainable’, but this assumption is certainly not always justified. The actual environmental impact depends on various factors, including the origin of raw materials, recyclability, and the function of the packaging.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Box\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Less packaging material<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe most ‘tangible’ difference between shrink film and a cardboard box is the weight. While shrink film weighs only 1.1 grams, a recycled cardboard box weighs 15 grams. Much less material is needed for shrink film. This results in less volume, allowing more SKUs to fit in an outer package, which contributes to fewer transport movements. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Packaging as an information carrier<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTo provide the shrink wrap with the correct (mandatory) information, we work with a paper ‘insert sheet’. Here you can include important information and icons, such as waste separation icons. In this case, the film should go with plastic waste and the paper with old paper. Additionally, there are special icons for products that come into contact with food. The exact rules differ per country, but we are naturally happy to advise you in this area as well. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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“Packaging tells more than you think. With an insert sheet, we clearly communicate mandatory information and waste separation. But did you know that the rules differ per country? Cindy explains it in this document.<\/span><\/a>“<\/p>

– Cindy Musters-Artwork Coordinator<\/strong> –<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Comparison <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The difference in weight also results in a lower CO2 equivalent for shrink film. 21 grams\u00b9 CO2-eq versus 90 grams\u00b2 CO2-eq for recycled cardboard per roll.
But how do the packages score on other impact factors? Cardboard breaks down faster than plastic and both products are equally recyclable. The production of cardboard requires more water and energy than the production of plastic shrink film. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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———————————<\/p>

\u00b9 2.4 g (weight shrink film) * (6 kg CO2-eq \/ 1000 g) = 0.0144 kg CO2-eq or 14.4 g CO2-eq + 1.1g (weight insert sheet) * (6 kg CO2-eq \/ 1000 g) = 0.0066 kg or 6.6 g CO2-eq = 21 g CO2-eq.<\/strong>
\u00b2 15 g (weight box) * (6 kg CO2-eq \/ 1000 g) = 0.09 kg or 90 g CO2-eq.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Doosje,\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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LCA<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBased on this data, shrink film emerges as the ‘best’ option, but do you want to be absolutely certain which of the two variants has the lowest environmental impact in your specific situation? Then an independent LCA provides the answer. An LCA inventories all inputs (raw materials, energy) and outputs (emissions, waste) in every life phase and translates these into potential environmental impact. We can naturally assist you with this. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Hygiene<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFinally, what should not be overlooked in this comparison is the function of the packaging in terms of protection and hygiene. A box offers more protection than shrink film and is generally more hygienic in use. Therefore, the advice is to also offer a holder in the case of shrink packaging. Nowadays, various trendy film dispensers are available. In our opinion, this is a promising addition to the category. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\n\n <\/path><\/path><\/svg><\/span> \n More information? Click here. <\/span>\n\n <\/div>\n\t <\/a>\n <\/div>\n \t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Shrink film might not be the first thing that comes to mind when we talk about sustainability. The perception of many consumers is still that cardboard is ‘more sustainable’, but this assumption is certainly not always justified. The actual environmental impact depends on various factors, including the origin of raw materials, recyclability, and the function […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":31735,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[61],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-31800","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-producten"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/packit.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31800","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/packit.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/packit.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/packit.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/packit.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31800"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/packit.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31800\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32274,"href":"https:\/\/packit.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31800\/revisions\/32274"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/packit.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/31735"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/packit.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31800"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/packit.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31800"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/packit.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31800"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}