Sustainability
Sustainability is not a department at Eco Boxes. It is the entire business. Every box we touch, every mile we drive, and every partnership we build is measured against one standard: are we leaving the planet better than we found it?
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The Numbers Behind Our Environmental Mission
Since 2015, Eco Boxes has been measuring and reporting the environmental impact of every operation. These are not estimates or projections — they are real numbers from real boxes, tracked across our entire network.
Over two million gaylord boxes have been inspected, graded, and resold through Eco Boxes since our founding in 2015.
More than 50,000 tons of corrugated cardboard have been kept out of landfills through our reuse and recycling programs.
By reusing and recycling corrugated cardboard instead of manufacturing new material, we have helped preserve roughly 850,000 trees.
96% of all material entering our facilities is either resold for continued use or responsibly recycled into new corrugated products.
How the Circle Works
The traditional packaging model is linear: manufacture, use once, discard. Our model is circular: collect, inspect, reuse, and when the box has finally served its last shipment, recycle it into new material. Nothing is wasted.
Collection
We collect used gaylord boxes from manufacturers, distributors, and retailers across 48 states. Our logistics team coordinates pickups of any quantity, from a single pallet to multiple truckloads.
Inspection & Grading
Every box is thoroughly inspected by trained professionals and our AI-assisted grading system. Boxes are classified from A-grade (like-new) through D-grade (economy), ensuring buyers always know exactly what they are getting.
Resale & Reuse
Graded boxes are sold to businesses that need affordable, reliable bulk packaging. A box that shipped electronics in New York might ship produce in California. Every reuse cycle extends the box's life and eliminates the need to manufacture a new one.
Recycling
When a box finally reaches the end of its usable life, it enters our recycling stream. The corrugated cardboard is baled and sent to paper mills where it becomes raw material for new corrugated products, completing the circle.
The Eco Boxes Circle
Collect → Inspect → Grade → Resell → Reuse → Recycle → Repeat
Shrinking Our Carbon Footprint
The packaging industry is one of the largest contributors to industrial carbon emissions. By extending the life of existing boxes and recycling those that have reached end-of-life, we dramatically reduce the carbon output associated with bulk packaging.
Less CO2
Reusing a gaylord box produces approximately 50% fewer carbon emissions compared to manufacturing a brand-new one from virgin materials.
Energy Saved Per Ton
Every ton of corrugated cardboard recycled instead of landfilled saves enough energy to power an average American home for 5 months.
Water Conserved Per Ton
Recycling one ton of cardboard conserves approximately 7,000 gallons of water that would be needed to produce new corrugated material from tree pulp.
Landfill Space Saved Per Ton
Every ton of corrugated board diverted from landfills preserves 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space for waste that truly has no alternative destination.
Carbon-Offset Shipping Program
We recognize that transporting boxes across the country generates emissions. That is why every single shipment Eco Boxes makes is fully carbon-offset. We invest in verified reforestation projects and renewable energy credits to neutralize the carbon footprint of our logistics operations.
Beyond offsets, we actively work to reduce transportation emissions at the source. Our route optimization algorithms minimize total miles driven. Our load consolidation program ensures trucks run full, not half-empty. And we are actively transitioning our fleet to more fuel-efficient vehicles.
The result: our carbon footprint per box delivered has decreased by 32% over the past three years, and we are on track to achieve carbon-negative operations by 2030.
Programs That Keep Boxes Out of Landfills
We make it easy for businesses of all sizes to participate in the circular economy. Our waste diversion programs are designed to be simple, flexible, and financially rewarding.
Scheduled Pickup Service
We offer recurring pickup schedules for businesses that generate used gaylord boxes regularly. Whether you need weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly collection, our logistics team designs a pickup cadence that fits your operations. No minimum quantities required.
On-Demand Collection
Got a warehouse cleanout or a sudden surplus of used boxes? Call us for on-demand pickup anywhere in the lower 48. We respond fast and handle everything from loading to transportation, so your team can focus on what they do best.
Buyback Program
Your used gaylord boxes have value. Our buyback program pays competitive rates for boxes in all conditions. We inspect on-site, provide an instant quote, and pay promptly. Turn waste into revenue while doing the right thing for the environment.
Impact Reporting
Every customer receives detailed environmental impact reports showing exactly how many trees, gallons of water, kilowatt-hours of energy, and cubic yards of landfill space they have saved through their partnership with Eco Boxes. Perfect for your own sustainability reports.
Backed by Industry Standards
Our sustainability commitments are validated by third-party certifications and industry partnerships. We do not just talk about being green — we prove it through independent verification.
Sustainable Forestry Initiative
Our recycling partners are SFI-certified, ensuring that any virgin fiber used in the recycling process comes from responsibly managed forests.
EPA WasteWise Partner
We participate in the EPA WasteWise program, committing to measurable waste reduction, recycling, and sustainable practices across our operations.
Carbon Offset Verified
All shipments are carbon-offset through verified reforestation and renewable energy credit programs, tracked and audited by third-party verifiers.
Corrugated Packaging Alliance
As members of the Corrugated Packaging Alliance, we advocate for industry-wide adoption of sustainable packaging practices and circular economy principles.
ISRI Member
Our membership in the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries ensures we adhere to the highest standards in responsible recycling and material recovery.
Green Business Certified
Our facilities are certified green businesses, meeting rigorous standards for energy efficiency, waste reduction, water conservation, and pollution prevention.
The Eco Boxes Sustainability Pledge
We pledge to operate every aspect of our business with environmental responsibility as the guiding principle. This means:
This pledge is not aspirational. It is a binding commitment to our customers, our communities, and the planet. We measure our progress quarterly, report annually, and hold ourselves publicly accountable for every target.