Hood Container has joined Box to Nature program – Paper and Packaging Board’s (P+PB) residential recycling program. Developed by P+PB in collaboration with participating paper and corrugated manufacturing companies and industry partners, Box to Nature is an initiative where box manufacturers work with e-commerce brands to print a graphic on their boxes that encourages consumers to recycle.
The Box to Nature graphic provides specific instructions on how to easily recycle (empty, flatten, recycle), and features a QR code that directs them to Box2Nature.org where they will find memorable, easy-to-recall messages to encourage recycling habits. When the message was tested before launching the program, 75% of consumers indicated they would be more likely to recycle their e-commerce box after exposure to the graphic.
The goal is to increase the estimated 40% residential box recycling rate 1 (The Recycling Partnership) and recapture more fiber to make new paper-based products. Brands also get a positive lift in perception among consumers due to the association with their choice to use sustainable, recyclable paper-based packaging.
“Putting the Box to Nature graphic on every box, not only helps your customers understand how easy it is to recycle properly and thanks them for doing so, but it also shows them that the brand is taking a positive step towards sustainability,” said Mary Anne Hansan, president of P+PB. Increasing e-commerce deliveries have made residential recycling more important than ever for the industry at large. However, research found that two out of three consumers confess to not always recycling.2 We want to change that and make recycling a habit. Our partnership with Box to Nature is a big step in the right direction.