Material Impact
Cardboard
Goals & Approach
Class Developed In: Fundamentals of Sustainable Design
Problem
The most commonly used shipping material is cardboard, due to it’s easy of manufacturing and sturdiness. Outside of logistics, cardboard can be used in packaging and item storage, also residential moves.
It can be recycled, but as paper is recycled it degrades and will need to have new paper added to the process. If the box is made from bleached materials the amount of recycled materials used will go down significantly.
Analysis
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Lifecycle Analysis
Citations
Compliance Center. “Anatomy of a Box.” Accessed December 18, 2025. https://www.thecompliancecenter.com/help-center/articles/anatomy-of-a-box/.
FV Recycling. “Beyond the Bin: The Lifecycle of Cardboard Recycling.” 2023. https://www.fvrecycling.com/blog/beyond-the-bin-the-lifecycle-of-cardboard-recycling/.
General Kinematics. “What Is Cardboard Made Of?” 2019. https://www.generalkinematics.com/blog/the-life-cycle-of-cardboard/.
IQS Directory. “Corrugated Boxes: Cardboard Boxes.” Accessed December 18, 2025. https://www.iqsdirectory.com/articles/corrugated-boxes/cardboard-boxes.html.
Uline. “18 x 12 x 12 Corrugated Boxes, 200 Test.” Accessed December 18, 2025. https://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/S-4181/Corrugated-Boxes-200-Test/18-x-12-x-12-Corrugated-Boxes.