Pro Carton, the European association of cartonboard and carton manufacturers, has announced that the carton packaging industry has achieved an 8% reduction in cradle-to-gate fossil carbon emissions since 2021.
The research, conducted by the Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE) and independently verified by Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung (ifeu) in Germany, confirms that the annual cradle-to-gate fossil carbon footprint dropped from 929 kg CO2e to 854 kg CO2e per tonne, reinforcing carton packaging as a low-carbon solution for brands transitioning away from fossil-based materials.
This transition marks a successful decoupling of industry growth from fossil fuel reliance, providing brand owners with the verifiable data required to meet increasingly stringent Scope 3 climate targets.
Pro Carton’s 2025 Carbon Footprint of Carton Packaging Study also offers a closer look at the sector’s environmental performance between 2021 and 2024. Drawing on data from 70 sites representing 60% of European cartonboard production and 16% of Europe’s folding carton production sites, the report provides a transparent account of the industry’s progress toward a low-carbon, bio-based economy.
Green energy is the industry’s engine
The 8% reduction in fossil emissions is a direct result of the industry’s collective investment in decarbonisation. Between 2021 and 2024, European mills moved further away from traditional energy sources, reducing the share of fossil fuels in their energy mix from 46% to 39%. By prioritising wood-based biofuels and renewable heat generation, manufacturers avoided approximately 60 kg CO2e of fossil emissions per tonne of production.
At the same time, the sector has overhauled its electricity procurement. The share of low-carbon electricity used at mills nearly tripled, rising from 23% to 66%. This shift, driven by direct investment in green infrastructure and power procurement, shows the industry is no longer waiting for grid decarbonisation but actively accelerating it.
Circular across entire value chain
Pro Carton’s report also highlights the proven advantage of fibre-based packaging within the natural carbon cycle. Because cartonboard is derived from sustainably managed European forests, it acts as a physical store for atmospheric carbon dioxide. Data reveals that the carbon absorbed during forest growth by the wood used in production significantly exceeds the fossil emissions generated during production.
Crucially, the study confirms that fibre supply for packaging is linked to sustainable forest management practices. European forests, which act as carbon sinks, continue to grow and expand.
In addition to cartonboard production, the study examines the efficiency of the converting process, where cartonboard is shaped into final packaging. While converting accounts for 21% of the total cradle-to-gate footprint, direct on-site emissions from print drying and heating represent only 2%, highlighting strong process efficiency. This resource efficiency, combined with a European recycling rate of 87% (Eurostat, 2023), ensures that cartonboard remains the leading example of a functional circular economy.
“The 8% reduction we see today is the hard-earned result of years of investment and a fundamental rethink of our sector’s energy needs,” said Horst Bittermann, Director General of Pro Carton. “By transitioning to biofuels and securing low-carbon electricity and investing in photovoltaic systems, our members are providing brands with a packaging medium that meets the highest environmental standards. This data offers the verifiable evidence that brands, retailers and policymakers require for regulatory compliance, supporting a truly sustainable fibre-based future for the entire value chain.”
