The advantages of corrugated packaging versus plastic is an age-old debate.

Both are valuable materials with its own sets of benefits and drawbacks, making it a complex argument. So when it comes to you and your business, how do they stack up?

We all have choices, but before you make make your decision it’s important to understand the trade-offs. We’re unpacking it all in a head-to-head examination of the advantages of corrugated packaging and plastic. Read on as we get to the bottom of things, settling the debate once and for all.

What is packaging?

Before we begin, let’s define what exactly packaging is. While it may seem obvious, the term can actually cause confusion at times. For our purposes, packaging is a container that is intended to keep contents safe, facilitate transportation and – in some cases – inform consumers.

This is different from storage. Why? Because those are containers designed to, well, store things. We don’t mean during the supply chain process that begins with manufacturing and ends upon receipt by the end user. This type of long-term refers to months, years or even decades sitting on a shelf, which carries different demands than safe transport.

Now that we’ve gotten those basics out of the way, let’s take a look at exactly what sets corrugated packaging and plastic apart.

Advantages of Corrugated Cost vs. Plastic

As a business owner, the cost of materials makes a significant impact on your bottom line. So when it comes to understanding your shipping options, you deserve the facts.

Nearly all plastic packaging is made from chemicals sourced from fossil fuels. We’ll get into the environmental impacts of this later in the discussion. For now, it’s important to understand that the newer the input, the more time – and resources – are required to before an output is produced.

The sheer magnitude of converting a fossil fuel into plastic is a process not for the faint of heart. It takes time to do and it’s expensive. This means added costs that are passed along to you, the consumer.

Post-manufacturing, plastic solutions are often heavier and denser than their corrugated counterparts. This can lead to hidden downstream costs as well, such as more paid in freight and shipping. For businesses sending out hundreds, if not thousands, of packages per day, these expenses can quickly become significant.

Corrugated packaging, on the other hand, has been the long-time leader in cost efficiencies. Beginning with material sourcing, cardboard is made from recycled pulp and post-consumer materials. In fact, the average box is comprised of 70-90% recycled inputs. Fewer raw materials result in less manufacturing energy required. These savings that are passed on to end users.

The result is an economically priced container that has almost universal applications. Covenant Packaging makes it easy to select a right-sized package in the exact dimensions you need for superior product protection. And fluting between every layer of corrugate uses air itself to – quite literally – create added, shock absorbing protection.

While the actual cost of a cardboard container is less than a plastic container of the same dimensions, it also delivers some hidden efficiencies as well, giving corrugated packaging the edge when it comes to cost. Click here to read more about cost advantages of corrugated.

Check back soon for more advantages of corrugated packaging vs. plastic. 

Covenant Packaging is your hometown partner for a world-class experience. Contact our team today for a no obligation consultation. We cannot wait to serve you!