For decades, many of us, both consumers and businesses, have defaulted to the traditional ‘take, make, dispose’ approach, also known as the linear economy.

The linear model seems straightforward:

• Raw materials are extracted
• Products and packaging are manufactured
• They are used once, then discarded

On the surface, this looks efficient. In practice, however, it puts pressure on natural resources, exposes businesses to rising material costs, and leaves behind a trail of waste.

Recycling is often seen as the best solution to deal with waste, but it comes with its own challenges. It requires transport, energy, and water, and most materials cannot be recycled endlessly without losing quality. Of course, recycling still plays a role, but it should not be treated as the only solution.

How the circular economy changes things 

The circular economy is different. Instead of a straight line, it creates a closed loop where products are kept in use for as long as possible. This is entirely possible within packaging.

Closed loop packaging explained

Closed loop packaging is designed to stay in circulation. Rather than being used once and discarded, it is collected, reused, and redistributed within a closed system.

Cardboard boxes are an ideal example. A box does not need to be pulped after a single delivery. With careful handling, it can be reused multiple times before recycling becomes necessary. This approach maximises the resources used to create the box and can help to reduce waste.

Closed loop packaging systems also offer businesses greater security. By reducing reliance on brand-new packaging, companies are less vulnerable to raw material shortages and price spikes.

For businesses, this means less waste, lower costs, and a reduced carbon footprint. For the planet, it means fewer resources consumed and less packaging ending up in landfill.

Why reusing cardboard boxes makes sense

Switching to used boxes may seem like a small step, but it delivers significant benefits:

• Financial savings – quality used boxes are often far cheaper than buying new, often up to 50% less
• Sustainability impact – every reused box saves raw materials, water, and energy compared with manufacturing a new one
• Customer trust – consumers increasingly expect brands to take sustainability seriously. Reusing boxes demonstrates real action, not just words
• Scalability and simplicity – reuse systems are easy to implement and can make an immediate difference at scale

Instead of sending boxes for recycling after just one use, businesses can give them another journey, maintaining performance while avoiding the environmental costs of producing new packaging.

Case Study: How Oddbox keeps packaging in the loop

A great example of closed loop packaging in action comes from Oddbox, the fruit and veg subscription service fighting food waste. Every week, Oddbox delivers fresh, wonky, and surplus produce to households across the UK, handling huge volumes of cardboard boxes.

To make their packaging more circular, Oddbox has created a two-step system:

• Reuse first – customers are encouraged to return their delivery boxes so Oddbox can reuse them repeatedly within their own supply chain
• Redistribute what cannot be reused internally – any boxes no longer suitable for Oddbox’s operations but still strong enough for other uses are passed on to us at Reuseabox. From there, they are redistributed to other businesses that need quality boxes

The results speak for themselves:

• In 2024, Oddbox sent 239,701 boxes to Reuseabox, keeping them in circulation for longer
• This saved over 300 trees, 80 tonnes of carbon, 17 million litres of water, and 1.4 million kWh of energy simply by delaying these boxes from being recycled
• Adding value from surplus packaging, as boxes that might have been considered waste become a resource for others
• A fully circular model where Oddbox tackles both food waste and packaging waste in a joined-up approach

By working with Reuseabox, Oddbox proves that packaging does not have to be single-use. With the right system, it can flow from one business to another, creating value at every step.

Are you ready to rethink packaging?

The circular economy is not just about protecting the planet; it is also about building stronger, more resilient, and cost-efficient businesses.

So next time you need boxes, ask yourself: Does it really have to be new?

Switch to used cardboard boxes today and reduce your costs and your environmental impact.