Interest in corrugated box reuse has enjoyed a significant surge in the past year, according to Sadlers, a UK-based provider of used cardboard boxes.
According to Sadlers, a UK-based packaging provider, the global interest in used cardboard and recycled boxes has seen a significant surge in the past year, with increases of 115% and 92%, respectively. Sadlers, a retailer specializing in both new and once-used cardboard boxes, has recorded a year-over-year increase of 29% in the number of companies offloading surplus cardboard boxes via their reuse scheme in 2023. The company anticipates that the combination of an economic squeeze and a heightened focus on corporate sustainability could propel brands emphasizing reuse into a promising future.
Google Trends data reveals that interest in used cardboard within the US soared by 352% from July 2022 to June 2023. In the UK, recycled boxes have continued to grow in popularity, with an overall rise of 110%.
“The surge in interest in our used cardboard products not only underscores the growing desire other businesses have to align their operations with sustainable practices, but also highlights the power of economic influence in driving environmental change,” observed Lauren Sadler, Head of Sustainability & Communications at Sadlers.
“The company has been growing steadily over the last 15 years, seeing an industry-wide boom in growth during the Covid pandemic,” she added. “With widely reported cardboard shortages Sadlers was well placed to provide a solution in the form of used boxes; the reuse of existing material was not subject to the manufacturing shutdowns that occurred during the crisis. The popularity of cardboard box reuse grew from there.”
Operating a stock purchasing scheme, the family-owned firm purchases redundant and surplus stock from manufacturing and distribution companies throughout Western Europe. Simultaneously, it retains its position as the UK’s largest processor of used cardboard boxes.
“For many businesses, the first instinct is to scrap things like used cardboard sheets and layer pads, but we have created a reuse market for this material,” Sadler continued. “At a point in time when financial forecasts and budgeting are more riddled with anxiety for some organisations than they have been in decades, it’s important that more companies are aware they can make money back by selling used or obsolete packaging stock.”
Site visitor data from Sadlers.co.uk shows a 51% year-over-year increase in users landing on the website through used cardboard box categories during May and June this year. This coincides with global data demonstrating an increasing interest in affordable and sustainable packaging products across all industry sectors. With a 29% rise in companies selling surplus and second-hand cardboard via Sadlers’ reuse scheme, the company is hopeful about another prosperous year ahead.
“Corporate sustainability and ESG initiatives are now a daily discussion for many major businesses,” Sadler noted. “Whether that’s because they care deeply about their green credentials or because they want to impress consumers, the end result is a greater number of organisations switching to reused packaging and taking advantage of buyback schemes.”
Google Trends also indicates a 51% rise in popularity for ‘ESG’ and a 140% boost for corporate sustainability over the past 12 months.
For more information about Sadlers’ buyback scheme, click here.
About Sadlers
Sadlers specializes in supplying once-used cardboard boxes, offering cost-effective and environmentally-friendly packaging solutions. The family-owned enterprise also initiates cardboard box reuse schemes with large-scale producers of cardboard waste. Lauren Sadler serves as Sadlers’ Head of Sustainability and Communications. She is an MSc holder in Sustainable Development, is deeply passionate about the circular economy, and enjoys writing on the topics of packaging, business, and sustainability – especially zero waste and reuse.