How Is Cardboard Recycled? A Step-by-Step Look into Sustainable Packaging
Cardboard recycling begins with collection and sorting through municipal or business systems, where contamination from grease or plastic is removed. Clean fibres are shredded, pulped, and screened to eliminate adhesives and metals. Deinking and refining produce pulp suitable for new paperboard rolls. Recycled content forms corrugated, folding, or rigid boxes meeting quality standards. Fibres are reused five–seven times before energy recovery, reducing emissions and energy use by up to 60% compared with virgin board.