Plastic Moving Boxes vs Cardboard – Pros and Cons Of Each

Packing up your house or office requires patience, inner-peace, and lots and lots of boxes. There is a question of whether plastic or cardboard boxes are the way to go. We will rate the two types of boxes based on cost, recyclability, durability and protection, strength, and storage after the fact.

Cost: Cardboard reigns supreme here. You can get good quality cardboard boxes for free from grocery shops and supermarkets. If you need more boxes or want to buy cardboard boxes designed for moving, they are inevitably cheaper than plastic.

Recyclability: We all know about the crisis the world is facing when it comes to climate change and unfortunately, plastic boxes cannot be easily recycled. However, they can be reused.

Durability and protection: Plastic wins this category, hands down. If your cardboard boxes get wet, the contents get wet and the box disintegrates. If something heavy is placed on top of the cardboard box, it can buckle and damage your belongings.

Strength: Again, plastic wins this category fairly easily. Heavier items can be packed into a plastic box than a cardboard box without you worrying about the bottom falling out. Water and dust can be wiped off a plastic box, whereas liquid will damage and weaken a cardboard box.

Storage after the moving has been completed: Cardboard wins out here. Plastic boxes can be reused for storage and other things around the house but do you have space for 50 plastic boxes? Cardboard boxes are easily dismantled and recycled or stored.

Cardboard boxes are the best bet financially and environmentally speaking. However, plastic boxes are beneficial in the long run as they are hardier and can be reused for longer.

Top Tip: Whether you use cardboard or plastic boxes, line your boxes that have fragile belongings in them with blankets and bedding to provide more protection.