FBA Provides Insights On Recent CPA Lifecycle Assessment The Corrugated Packaging Alliance (CPA) recently re- leased a new comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) of corrugated packaging versus reusable plastic containers (RPCs). The study revealed significant environmental dif- ferences between packaging systems, and the Fibre Box Association (FBA) provided a deep dive into implications for packaging professionals across multiple industries. For years, packaging decision makers have heard a simple message: reusable plastic containers are better for the environment than single-use alternatives. It’s an appealing narrative that aligns with growing demands for sustainable packaging. But when subjected to rigorous analysis, the reality proves far more complex. What The Study Shows The 2025 comparative LCA, commissioned by the Corrugated Packaging Alliance and conducted by Anthe- sis Group, examined packaging systems across complete life cycles, from raw material extraction through end-of- life (Anthesis Group, 2025). This ISO-compliant study, ver- ified by an independent critical review panel, meets ISO 14040 standards for comparative environmental claims. The central finding upends simplistic assumptions: neither corrugated containers nor RPCs can claim to be the clear environmental winner. Instead, rigorous analy-
sis reveals significant trade-offs between the two systems across eight environmental impact categories. Performance: More Complex Than Expected The results challenge the narrative that reusability auto- matically equals sustainability. Reusable plastic containers create higher environmental impacts in four of the eight categories assessed, including metrics most important to corporate sustainability goals (Anthesis Group, 2025). Corrugated containers show substantially lower impacts for global warming and carbon footprint (69 percent lower), eutrophication (the nutrient pollution of waterways, 69 per- cent lower), non-renewable energy use (110 percent lower, effectively cutting the impact by more than half), and respi- ratory effects (57 percent lower). These advantages align directly with top retailer sustainability priorities identified in 2023 Deloitte research: reducing greenhouse gas emis- sions, using sustainable materials, and minimizing energy consumption. The Environmental Realities Of Reusables Reusable plastic containers perform better in three cate- gories: acidification (36 percent lower), ozone depletion (24 percent lower), and water consumption (38 percent lower). For smog formation, the difference is negligible at less than 10 percent. Corrugated’s advantages appear in the envi- ronmental indicators that typically dominate sustainability discussions and corporate commitments. The assumption that reusable automatically means CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
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