Reusable Plastic Crates vs. Single-Use Cardboard Boxes

The report compares two packaging systems: reusable plastic crates and single-use cardboard boxes. Commissioned by the Stiftung-Initiative-Mehrweg (SIM), it responds to studies by the European Federation of Corrugated Board Manufacturers (FEFCO) that claim corrugated cardboard packaging is superior. The report challenges this view, arguing that high reutilisation rates, which favour reusable systems, are critical for a circular economy. It highlights the environmental benefits of reusable packaging, particularly its role in reducing dependence on imports and promoting technological sovereignty. The report also calls for maintaining the waste hierarchy and using life cycle analyses to justify deviations from it.