A realignment in packaging has taken place within the last few years, which would have been anticipated five years ago only with optimism. Paper-based packaging, previously considered as an alternative to packaging made from single-use plastic, today is the preferred material for packaging across most product categories. The reason for this transition are converging factors: values of customers, legislative requirements, demands of retailers, and most importantly innovation regarding materials of paper-based packaging. It has closed the gap in terms of performance to packaging made from plastic. Companies sourcing cardboard boxes wholesale find that more than just the environmental benefit of using packaging made from paper they are presented with advantages for operations, with lower costs, and with a more positive image of a company. All this renders packaging made from plastic from now on less competitive, in contrast to mere short-term cost savings.
Paper-based packaging is becoming the mainstream material for packaging in industries around the world due to a combination of several regulatory measures from governments across the world and several retail measures from retail shops and chains of supermarkets. While the regulatory measures are in the form of imposition of plastic packaging tax by the Government of UK and introduction of extended producer responsibility by the Government of UK and several other countries in the world and introduction of mandatory recycled content requirements, the retail measures are in the form of penalties charged by retail shops and chain of supermarkets to manufacturers for not using packaging materials that are made from recycled materials and for not ensuring that the packaging materials used by them are fully recyclable.
The UK plastic packaging tax has created a significant incentive for businesses to use packaging made of recyclable paper as there is no such tax on packaging containing less than 30% recycled plastic. Other European countries are either introducing a similar tax or are in the process of developing legislation and businesses must factor in the increasing cost of compliance when comparing the cost of packaging made of paper with that made of plastic.
Extended producer responsibility requires manufacturers to pay for packaging to be collected and recycled. For recyclable paper packaging this cost is minimal and generally predictable. On the other hand, packaging made from plastic creates ever increasing costs for businesses using such packaging as extended producer responsibility legislation is rolled out in more countries around the world.
Historically, plastic packaging was touted for its many performance advantages, including moisture and grease barrier properties, durability, strength, and more. Many paper-based packaging solutions have historically not been able to compete with these characteristics. However, advances in technology have resulted in a wide array of recyclable and biodegradable paper-based packaging materials that possess equal or better performance characteristics than their plastic counterparts. Bio-based coatings can now provide moisture and grease barrier characteristics equal to polyethylene-based coatings for packaging food and beverages. Similarly, packaging materials and structures have been developed to provide strength and durability equal to or greater than plastic packaging. The performance gap has all but closed and, in many instances, the material characteristics of paper packaging are superior to plastic.
Coatings made from bio-based sources such as plants can be applied to paper packaging to make it moisture and grease resistant. Such coatings have similar properties to those made from polyethylene and provide the same level of protection for food and beverages. The big difference, however, is that bio-based coatings do not contaminate the fiber stream and therefore do not compromise recyclability. This means that packaging made from coated paper can be fully recycled, providing the same performance as plastic packaging without the negative environmental impact.
Advances in packaging engineering have led to developments of new forms of packaging made from paper which have greater strength-to-weight ratio than their plastic counterparts. Cardboard packaging of all forms, including corrugated, laminated paperboard and molded fiber, offer superior performance and greater sustainability than plastic packaging for similar applications. Not only do these packaging solutions offer improved structural properties that can withstand the rigors of transportation and storage but they are also significantly lighter than alternative plastic packaging forms. This means that not only do they offer improved performance but they also reduce the overall weight of the packaging and therefore the cost of distribution.
Even as most businesses use cardboard boxes for making simple cardboard boxes, they are finding new uses for corrugated packaging. They are making packaging solutions for all sorts of industries and product categories that were until recently thought to be the exclusive domain of plastic packaging. The cardboard revolution is being fueled by the improvements made in cardboard packaging materials and the cost effective nature of cardboard packaging.
Food service packaging has seen many developments in recent years enabling the use of cardboard where previously it would not have been suitable due to the packaging coming into contact with grease, moisture or heat. Such packaging has food-grade barrier treatments to ensure food safety whilst also being fully sustainable as an alternative to plastic packaging. Customers comment on the packaging in very positive terms with sustainability being a key brand value that is perceived by customers and which generates immediate satisfaction and also leads to repeat business through strong brand loyalty.
Changes are taking place in retail packaging for the beauty, electronics and general consumer goods markets. In place of the familiar plastic clamshell or blister pack, the packaging is now more likely to be made of cardboard, often specially designed to give the same level of product visibility and protection as its plastic counterpart. The packaging provides an opportunity for the brand to project a premium image while at the same time meeting their environmental requirements and supporting a higher price.
Cylindrical shaped packaging such as Cylindrical shaped packaging such as paper tube packaging is increasingly is increasingly becoming a sustainable packaging solution for various industries. This form of packaging has many advantages when it comes to comparison with plastic tubes. Firstly, paper tubes are extremely strong and can withstand a lot of pressure and thus can withstand any kind of external force that may cause damage to the packaging. Additionally, these tubes are 100% recyclable, which is one of the biggest reasons why many industries are now opting for these over plastic tubes.
When switching to paper tubes for packaging, cosmetic and personal care products are finding that they have an even greater impact on customers than they had previously thought. When consumers see that a brand is using paper tubes for their cosmetics, they immediately get the impression that that brand is made up of people who care greatly about the environment. This gives customers immediate confidence in a brand and can lead to a high amount of loyalty from customers. Paper tubes can even give a brand the ability to charge more for a product as they give the brand a very premium look and feel. This can help to offset the increased cost of the material.
A further sector for use of paper tubes is spirits, confectionery and speciality food. Such products have a brand image and are sold through a variety of outlets. High end products are packaged in paper tubes and sold through specialist outlets, whilst more mass market products are sold through supermarkets and hypermarkets. This form of packaging gives a premium and distinctive look to products on the point of sale. Such tubes are printed with continuous wrap around print giving the maximum branding opportunity.
Rollup packaging for various products including rolled goods, documents and products in cylindrical shape that until now have been packaged with plastic tubes can now be packed with high-quality paper tubes that possess the same strength as plastic and at the same time are fully returnable and can be disposed of through the standard paper collection. This differentiates significantly from plastic tubes that are generally not returnable and whose disposal is problematic in many countries as they are not collected separately in waste sorting centers.
There is a cultural shift occurring towards products that are authentic, crafted and responsible towards the environment. In packaging terms this manifests itself in consumers being able to see the natural fiber of packaging, to see the packaging is made of natural unbleached materials. In short, packaging should look natural and not have been processed to look artificial. This aesthetic appeals particularly to consumers in premium food, artisan and other sustainable products.
When businesses source When businesses source kraft boxes wholesale they are gaining an innovative way of they are gaining an innovative way of communicating values to customers through the packaging. The kraft boxes material has inherent marketing values due to its natural brown color, the visible fibers and the low level of material processing. As opposed to using cardboard packaging that has been bleached and processed, using kraft cardboard boxes sends a more authentic and effective environmental message to customers. This form of packaging will allow businesses to reach customers and portray their commitment to environmentally friendly practices.
Paper packaging is now affordable for growing businesses who need to invest in branding whilst also managing costs in order to sustain growth. The lower base material cost of kraft packaging unbleached paper as opposed to heavily processed packaging materials such as folding cartons, plastic tubes and PVC blister packs enables professional packaging for brands that cannot yet afford to invest in premium packaging for all of their products. Many businesses are thus able to invest in packaging for the first time and enter into the premium, sustainable packaging market.
The advantage of paper packaging to recycle over plastic packaging to recycle is not a theoretical issue, but one of practical reality. On the one hand, there is an established recycling infrastructure for paper packaging around the world, which is a vital factor in its ability to be recycled in high quantities in developed markets. On the other hand, plastic packaging has failed to develop recycling infrastructure on a similar scale, despite years of investment and the backing of governments around the world.
Behaviour towards recycling of paper and cardboard is well established amongst consumers. These materials are clearly identified as being recyclable, which is in contrast to plastic which often creates confusion with regards to which types can be recycled, and where they can be recycled. The resulting wishful recycling of non-recyclable plastics, or disposal of recyclable plastics in general waste, has a negative impact on recycling rates.
Investing in the best paper packaging solutions for your products creates brand equity that will last for years to come and in reality will be difficult for competitors to catch up with. The brand already has sustainability credentials that are recognised, trusted and even more importantly commercially valued by a significant and highly valuable customer segment. This segment is able to spend more on the brands they love, are more likely to be brand loyal and, if given the choice, will choose more sustainable brands.
It is vital to distinguish between material chosen to genuinely deliver sustainability communications and those chosen as a means of implementing green packaging primarily utilised in the form of packaging changes for high visibility products whilst maintaining use of conventional packaging for the rest of a brand's product range. As such, using 100% natural, 100% recyclable paper-based packaging throughout a brand's entire product range will continue to deliver strong sustainability communications and associated commercial benefits to a brand.
As retailers increasingly become more environmentally responsible and implement measures throughout their supply chains to meet their own sustainability targets, packaging is likely to become an important factor when considering whether to work with a supplier or not. In terms of the discussion with retailers around packaging, those companies that use paper packaging across their entire product range will find the conversation easier and more commercially advantageous than those companies using predominantly plastic packaging.
24 July 2026
24 July 2026
24 July 2026
24 July 2026