Menu Lifestyle
By Lucy Bennett
Updated: Dec. 19, 2020
Originally Published: Dec. 18, 2020
This year has brought with it a unique set of items we’ll remember for a long time: disinfectants, masks, hand sanitizer, and of course, cardboard shipping boxes. At first glance, one of these items stands out. Can you guess which one? That’s right—cardboard boxes aren’t used for cleaning or minimizing the spread of illness like the others are.
Despite not being exclusively linked to the pandemic, cardboard shipping boxes have become essential during this time. They’ve enabled many of us to receive necessary items from the outside world while maintaining safety. Instead of venturing out and risking exposure, countless people opted to order in, resulting in a surge of deliveries neatly packaged in cardboard. A heartfelt thank you goes out to all delivery personnel who made this possible.
The reliance on these boxes was particularly evident during Cyber Monday, which marked a record-breaking online shopping day. According to Adobe Analytics, shoppers spent a staggering $12 million per minute during peak hours, leading to an avalanche of cardboard boxes arriving at doorsteps nationwide.
This surge has also led to an increase in waste. Fortunately, cardboard boxes are recyclable, and most American households do recycle them. However, recycling is just one of many options. As Mary Anne Johnson, President of the Paper and Packaging Board, highlights, these boxes can be upcycled into creative and functional projects.
What is Upcycling?
Upcycling refers to the process of transforming waste or unwanted materials into new products of better quality or environmental value. As Johnson states, “Upcycling everyday shipping boxes gives them a new life, even before placing them in the recycling bin.” The Paper and Packaging Board encourages people to join the Upcycled Gift Box Challenge, which invites you to creatively repurpose your cardboard boxes.
Upcycling Ideas
Ideas for upcycling cardboard shipping boxes include creating an advent calendar, a plant station, or a decorative wine gift box. Detailed instructions for these eco-friendly projects can be found on the Paper and Packaging Board’s website.
A quick online search reveals that many people have repurposed their boxes for pets, creating dog houses or cat scratching posts, as storage solutions, or even as stylish home decor. Anyone who has given a child a toy that came in a large cardboard box knows that the box often provides just as much joy as the toy itself. With a bit of creativity, boxes can be turned into forts, playhouses, or even a glowing planetarium with glow-in-the-dark paint.
For the more artistically inclined, cardboard boxes can morph into child-sized cars, life-sized gingerbread houses, airplanes, or even personalized mailboxes. Kids can also utilize these boxes in imaginative ways, such as making astronaut helmets, tunnels for toy trains, robots, or treasure chests.
Additionally, these boxes can serve therapeutic purposes. For example, one parent shared how their child used a decorated box as a tool to manage emotions, filling it with items to help when feeling overwhelmed. Another parent noted that their child with ADHD enjoys destroying the boxes with a rubber mallet before recycling them, often asking to be filmed while doing so.
As we navigate this unprecedented year, it’s essential to recognize that while online shopping keeps us safe, it also increases waste. Even with challenges like COVID-19, we must remain mindful of our environmental impact.
This article was originally published on Dec. 18, 2020.
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Summary:
Cardboard shipping boxes have become a staple of pandemic life, providing a safe way to receive goods while minimizing risk. As online shopping surged, so did the waste generated by these boxes. Rather than simply recycling them, many are getting creative and upcycling their cardboard into fun and useful projects, from pet shelters to children’s playhouses. It’s a reminder that even in challenging times, we can find innovative solutions to reuse materials and reduce our environmental footprint.
Keyphrase: Upcycling cardboard boxes
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