Every new piece of IT equipment arrives wrapped in packaging that is used for minutes but took resources to produce and creates waste that must be managed. For organisations processing large IT procurement orders, packaging waste from new equipment can be a surprisingly significant waste stream. Understanding its scale, composition, and management options helps organisations reduce waste, support recycling, and account for this often-overlooked aspect of the IT lifecycle environmental footprint.
The Scale of IT Packaging Waste
The packaging for IT equipment is designed to protect high-value, fragile electronics during shipping and handling. This means it tends to be more substantial than packaging for many other product categories. A single business laptop arrives in packaging that typically includes a corrugated cardboard outer box, inner cardboard supports and dividers, moulded pulp or expanded polystyrene (EPS) inserts, plastic bags protecting the laptop and accessories, paper documentation (quick start guides, warranty cards), and additional packaging for the power adapter and cables.
The total packaging weight for a single laptop can be 500 grams to 1.5 kg. For larger items like desktop computers, monitors, and servers, packaging weights can reach 3 to 10 kg per unit. Network equipment often arrives in heavily protected packaging due to its sensitivity to physical shock.
An organisation receiving 500 laptops in a single procurement order might generate 250 to 750 kg of packaging waste from that order alone. Add monitors, desktops, peripherals, and accessories, and the total packaging waste from a major IT refresh can easily reach several tonnes.
Packaging Composition and Recyclability
The recyclability of IT packaging varies by material type. Corrugated cardboard makes up the majority of IT packaging by weight and is widely recyclable in Australia. Most commercial waste services accept cardboard, and it has established recycling markets. However, cardboard contaminated with tape, labels, or other materials may not be accepted by all recyclers.
Moulded pulp inserts, made from recycled paper, are recyclable through standard paper recycling channels. These are increasingly used as an alternative to polystyrene. Expanded polystyrene (EPS) is challenging to recycle despite being technically recyclable. Its low density makes collection and transport uneconomical, and many kerbside recycling programmes do not accept it. Specialised EPS recycling facilities exist but are not universally accessible.
Plastic films and bags, including polyethylene wrap and anti-static bags, require soft plastics recycling, which is more limited in Australia. Some retailers accept soft plastics for recycling, but commercial quantities may need specialist recycling arrangements. And mixed materials like laminated cards, foam-backed labels, and multi-material inserts are often difficult to recycle and end up in general waste.
The Carbon Footprint of Packaging
While small compared to the embodied carbon of the IT equipment itself, packaging has its own carbon footprint. Manufacturing corrugated cardboard generates approximately 0.5 to 1.0 kg CO2e per kg of cardboard. Producing expanded polystyrene generates approximately 2.5 to 3.5 kg CO2e per kg. Plastic films generate approximately 1.5 to 3.0 kg CO2e per kg. And the transportation of packaging materials to the manufacturer and as part of the product shipment adds further emissions.
For a laptop with 1 kg of mixed packaging, the total packaging carbon footprint might be 1.5 to 3 kg CO2e, less than 1 percent of the laptop’s total embodied carbon. At scale, however, these numbers add up. A 500-laptop procurement might generate 750 to 1,500 kg CO2e from packaging alone.
Reducing Packaging Waste
Several strategies can reduce packaging waste from IT procurement. Bulk ordering and consolidated shipping reduces per-unit packaging because equipment can be shipped in larger containers with less individual packaging per device. Some manufacturers offer bulk packaging options for large orders.
Minimal packaging specifications can be included in procurement contracts. Requesting that suppliers minimise packaging, use recyclable materials, and avoid unnecessary components like printed documentation (which most users never read) can meaningfully reduce waste.
Packaging take-back arrangements with suppliers shift the waste management responsibility and cost to the manufacturer, creating an incentive for them to reduce packaging in future. Some IT suppliers offer this for large commercial orders.
Purchasing refurbished equipment typically involves less packaging than new equipment because refurbishment companies tend to use simpler, more efficient packaging. This adds another environmental benefit to refurbished procurement alongside the embodied carbon savings.
Reporting Packaging Waste
For organisations tracking and reporting their waste streams, IT packaging waste should be captured in your overall waste metrics. Under reporting frameworks like GRI 306, packaging waste contributes to your total waste generated and your waste diversion metrics. The proportion recycled versus sent to landfill affects your overall waste performance.
If your organisation is pursuing waste reduction targets or zero-waste-to-landfill goals, IT packaging is a stream that responds well to management attention. The materials are mostly recyclable with appropriate separation, and the volumes can be predicted based on procurement schedules, allowing for planned management rather than reactive waste disposal.
For a holistic view of how IT equipment affects your environmental performance across its lifecycle, see our guide on measuring the environmental impact of IT disposal. For information on reducing the overall environmental impact of your IT procurement, our guide on the circular economy for electronics covers strategies beyond packaging.
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