Two billion pounds of paper and cardboard waste are generated every year by US healthcare facilities . 1 One solution to reduce this waste comes in a box : Right-size packaging .

Understanding Right-Size Packaging Right-size packaging offers

companies in the healthcare industry an innovative opportunity to help make progress toward their sustainability goals , while maintaining product integrity , and ultimately keep patients healthy . Traditionally , packing boxes came in standard sizes , regardless of product sizes . One estimate puts

the typical box at 40 % too large for its contents . 2

Oversized packaging has taken its toll on the environment and public health due to over-use of paper , as well as the plastic that ’ s used as dunnage . Consider these facts from The World Counts and Plastic Oceans : 3 , 4

• 93 % of paper comes from trees

• Every tree produces enough oxygen for 3 people to breathe

• Pulp and paper are the 3rd largest industrial polluter of air , water and soil

• Chlorine-based bleaches are used during production , which results in toxic materials being released into water , air and soil

• It ’ s estimated that more than 10 million tons of plastic are dumped into the oceans every year , with packaging accounting for 40 % of total plastic usage

Right-size packaging aims to help turn this around . “ Rightsize packaging is a strategy and system to use the appropriate amount of material for a product ,” explains Medline Director of Environmental , Social and Governance Marley Leitner .

Right-size packaging initiatives start with product development and can occur at all phases of a product ’ s lifecycle . Every phase should be considered when exploring ways to reduce paper and plastic usage . Product packaging itself affects sizing for the proper shipping method . Mixed-use packaging helps eliminate air space and the need for dunnage beyond what ’ s required to produce the