In a comparative life cycle analysis, the environmental impacts of cardboard cold boxes were compared to those of coolers made of expanded polystyrene (EPS). Contrary to public opinion’s expectations, cardboard cooler boxes appear to be no more environmentally friendly than their EPS counterparts. The study shows that the CO2 impact of both types of boxes is likely to be equivalent, while EPS boxes score better on the total environmental footprint and important specific environmental impacts, such as emissions to water.

Cardboard vs EPS

In the study, the ‘Papercooler’, a full cardboard cooler, and the ‘EcoCooler’, a larger variant with cardboard walls filled with cellulose insulation material, were compared to their respective EPS equivalents of the same size.

The Environmental Footprint

According to the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF), a measure that quantifies the environmental impact of products throughout their life cycle, the impact of the cardboard Papercooler and Ecocooler measured in the research is no less than 2.91 and 1.55 times that of EPS coolers. This difference becomes even clearer when we look at specific environmental impacts.

Specific Environmental Impacts

The influence on freshwater organisms of toxic substances that end up in the environment is 201 times greater with the cardboard Papercooler and with the cardboard Ecocooler 96 times greater than for EPS. Additionally, the environmental impact of potential global warming due to changes in land use is 75 and 38 times greater for the Papercooler and Ecocooler than for the comparable EPS cooling box.

View All Results in a Row?

Download our factsheet with the most important results of this comparative life cycle analysis here.

The General Perception Debunked

These results debunk the general perception that cardboard is a more environmentally friendly packaging material. The results are also in line with the increasing number of studies and reports that show replacing plastic packaging with paper is not a self-evident sustainable solution. In addition, the findings of the life cycle analysis show that the choice of packaging materials requires attention to total environmental impact throughout its entire production process.

Do you have questions about this comparative LCA study? Mail your question to r.goes@stybenex.nl.

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