Recycled Content in Corrugated Packaging — Sustainability Guide

What Does Recycled Content Mean in Packaging?

Recycled content refers to the percentage of recovered or recycled paper fibers used in the linerboard and corrugating medium that make up corrugated fiberboard. A box described as having 50 percent recycled content means that half of the paper fiber by weight comes from previously used paper products rather than virgin wood pulp.

The corrugated packaging industry has one of the highest recycling rates of any packaging material. Old corrugated containers (OCC) are collected, repulped, and reformed into new recycled linerboard and medium, creating a circular material flow that significantly reduces the demand for virgin resources.

Pre-Consumer vs. Post-Consumer Recycled Content

Recycled content in corrugated packaging can come from two sources:

• Pre-consumer (post-industrial) recycled content: Paper scraps and trimmings generated during the manufacturing process that are collected and returned to paper mills for repulping. At President Container Group, we recycle 100 percent of our production waste, contributing to this stream.
• Post-consumer recycled content: Paper and corrugated boxes collected after use by consumers and businesses. This is the material recovered through curbside recycling programs and commercial waste haulers.

Many corporate sustainability programs and regulatory requirements specify a minimum percentage of post-consumer recycled content, which is considered a more impactful sustainability measure.

How Recycled Content Affects Performance

Paper fibers shorten each time they are recycled, which means recycled fibers are generally shorter and weaker than virgin fibers from kraft paper. This can result in slightly lower tear strength and moisture resistance compared to virgin fiber boards at the same basis weight.

However, modern paper mills have become highly efficient at blending recycled and virgin fibers to produce boards that meet demanding performance standards. For most commercial packaging applications, high-recycled-content board performs more than adequately. The packaging engineers at President Container account for these differences when specifying board grades for your application.

Meeting Sustainability Targets

Increasing recycled content in your packaging is one of the most straightforward ways to demonstrate environmental commitment. Many retailers, e-commerce platforms, and end consumers now expect packaging with high recycled content. President Container Group supports your sustainability goals by offering board specifications with varying levels of recycled content, from moderate blends to fully recycled options.

Beyond recycled content, the corrugated industry’s sustainability story includes biodegradability, compostability, and the fact that corrugated fiberboard is the most recycled packaging material in the United States, with recovery rates consistently above 90 percent.