Does cardboard decompose
However, paper mills may still have an environmental impact to consider. Like paper, there has been some effort to make the production of cardboard more sustainable in recent years. Some plastics come from recycled material, but the recycling rate of plastic in several countries can be low Plastic usually comes from non-renewable fossil fuel feedstock like crude oil and natural gas
![does cardboard decompose does cardboard decompose](https://etsus.co/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/How-Long-Does-It-Take-For-Plastic-To-Decompose-2.png)
Paper stock, paper board and corrugated cardboard are some of the different types of card board.Ĭardboard comes from either wood pulp or recycled cardboard.Ĭardboard might be more sustainable when sourced through a sustainable forestry certification or sustainable wood pulp production processĬardboard still uses a certain amount of virgin material even when using recycled cardboardĮven recycling card board only ‘halves the environmental impact’ () – Printed items and products like cards and signs – Tubes for different products like toilet rolls Overall, comparing the sustainability of cardboard and plastic is dependent on various factors such as the environmental indicator being measured, the stage of the product or material lifecycle, the type of product being used, and other variables.Ĭardboard may be more sustainable in some ways at the sourcing and waste management stages, whereas as plastic seems may be more sustainable in some ways at the production stage.Ĭardboard is a heavy duty type of paper, that is usually thicker and more durable than regular paper. Plastic might have a lower carbon footprint for packaging and for transporting and delivering goods than cardboard.Ĭardboard may have a clear sustainability benefit over plastic when it comes to disposal, waste management and end of product or material lifecycle.Ĭardboard is bio-degradable and breaks down much quicker than plastic.Ĭardboard may also have a much higher recycling rate than some plastics However, it’s unclear if recycled cardboard has a lower eco impact than plastic in terms of production Some sources indicate recycling ‘halves the environmental impact’ Recycled cardboard may cut down on the environmental footprint of cardboard compared to cardboard using completely new material.
![does cardboard decompose does cardboard decompose](https://resources.pepsicorecycling.com/app/uploads/2021/03/J10000283-shutterstock_374882032-Lesson-Plan-Natures-Recyclers-RD1-1024x576.jpg)
The production process of cardboard may actually be less environmentally friendly than plasticĪ major reason for this may be that paper mills are historically known for their water and energy use, and their use of chemicalsĪir and water pollution can also be an issue at paper mills Some may question whether we will run out of fossil fuels like oil or natural gas (used as a feedstock for plastic) anytime soon Most plastic on the other hand is sourced from non-renewable fossil fuels So, there’s sustainable elements to the sourcing of cardboard Some of the main sustainability considerations for cardboard and plastic might be:Ĭardboard is usually sourced from renewable wood pulp (processed into Kraft paper), or recycled cardboard material (cardboard has a high recycling rate).
![does cardboard decompose does cardboard decompose](https://news.oceanplastik.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/duration-to-decompose-plastic-1024x521.jpg)
However, but this guide focuses specifically on cardboard and plasticīreaking Down Which Might Be More Sustainable We’ve previous put together a guide on the sustainability of paper compared to plastic Summary – Is Cardboard More Sustainable Than Plastic? We compare some of the key factors involved in the production, usage and waste management of each. In this guide, we outline whether cardboard might be more sustainable than plastic, and vice versa.