For large consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies, reducing the carbon footprint of packaging is becoming an increasingly important part of achieving corporate Scope 3 emissions goals. The challenge is moving beyond simply measuring and reporting emissions to making purchasing decisions that can actually reduce them.

Paper-based packaging—including corrugated boxes and folding cartons—can represent a meaningful component of a CPG company’s purchased goods and services. Understanding the Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) of these materials, therefore, matters. But not all containerboard and cartonboard are produced with the same carbon intensity.

Two mills producing similar grades can have significantly different carbon profiles because of differences in energy efficiency, fuel and electricity sources, fiber furnish, mill configuration, pulp integration, geography, and other manufacturing factors. As a result, using a broad industry-average emissions factor may not reveal potentially important differences within a company’s packaging supply chain.

This is where mill-level data can help. 

Turning Packaging Carbon Data into Better Purchasing Decisions