Carbon Footprint of Paper vs Plastic vs Glass vs Cardboard (Calculator)

Georgette Kilgore headshot, wearing 8 Billion Trees shirt with forest in the background.Written by Georgette Kilgore

Carbon Ecological Footprint Calculators | October 3, 2024

Woman with hands on her hips looks at a cardboard milk carton with a carbon footprint and a plastic milk jug's carbon footprint and wonders what is the carbon footprint of paper vs plastic.

When calculating the carbon footprint of paper vs plastic and the carbon footprint of paper production, it is essential to factor in all the components of both paper and plastic.

These materials, although extremely useful, have a very different impact on the planet.

Paper is essentially ‘renewable’ since it can be created from renewable materials. However, plastic is not.

Although plastic can last for centuries (and longer), understanding the carbon footprint of paper vs plastic is important when making decisions about which material to use in a situation.

When measuring individuals pieces of plastic, the footprint can seem small. But when you multiply those items by millions and billions…it’s easy to see why reducing plastic use is crucial for the planet.

With this paper calculator, you can see the difference:

Carbon Footprint of Paper vs Plastic

When comparing the carbon footprint of paper vs plastic, the following factors should be considered:

  • Plastic bags produce an estimated 39% fewer GHG emissions compared with uncomposted paper bags.
  • Plastic bags produce an estimated 68% fewer GHG emissions compared with composted paper bags.
  • The production of 1,000 paper bags requires 1,004 gallons of water, while the production of 1,500 plastic bags requires 58 gallons of water. Therefore plastic bag production requires less than 6% of the water consumption that goes into paper bag manufacturing.
  • Further to this, the production of plastic bags requires 71% less energy than the production of paper bags.
  • Plastic bags are generally produced using harmful fossil fuels. However, the non-renewable energy consumed during the lifecycle of plastic bags is still 36% less than the equivalent consumed during the lifecycle of paper bags. In addition to this, traditional plastic bag energy consumption is 64% less than the amount of energy required during the production of biodegradable plastic bags.6

Paper vs Plastic Debate

These figures form part of the long-standing paper vs plastic debate. This debate revolves around the fact that paper bags produce 70% more air pollution and 50% more air pollution when compared to plastic bags (production).

In addition to this, it is estimated that while a paper bag can be used around 4 times, a plastic bag can be used at least 12 times.7

Paper vs Plastic Packaging

The debate extends to paper vs plastic packaging. To find answers, the lifecycle of these materials must be considered:8

Flow chart that shows the lifecycle of these paper and plastic materials.

Plastic (Recycled Plastic or Virgin Plastic) Paper (Recycled Paper or Virgin Paper)
The material grew sustainably and that is renewable. Plastic is never produced from renewable resources. Paper can be grown in a sustainable manner, but illegal logging is highly detrimental to the environment.
Can recycled content be used? Plastic can be reused, but the practice is not common. The reuse of paper is very common.
Energy consumption, types of resources, and pollution from manufacturing processes. The process of manufacturing plastic is relatively efficient. This includes production, shipping, and storage. The process of manufacturing paper is resource-intensive. Includes manufacturing, shipping, and storage.
End-of-life processing, and the likelihood of proper disposal. When a film is deposited into a single bin (stream), it is less damaging to landfill environments. End-of-life processing creates emissions because the paper is highly recyclable.

Carbon Footprint of a Plastic Bag

The carbon footprint of a plastic bag is as follows:9

  • 1.58kg of CO2 emissions.
  • This is equal to driving 8 km in a gas-powered car.
  • It is also equal to 0.86m3 of CO2 gas.
Item Carbon Footprint
Plastic Bag24 (Strong, reusable plastic) 21.51kg of carbon emissions
Plastic Bag (Basic, reusable plastic) 6.92kg of carbon emissions
Paper Bag 5.52kg of carbon emissions
Paper Bag (Single-use paper bag) 1.58kg of carbon emissions

Carbon Footprint of Plastic Bottles

The carbon footprint of plastic bottles is estimated as follows:

The manufacturing of a single 500ml plastic bottle produces 82.8g of carbon emissions.

The below table indicates the summarized carbon footprint of plastic bottles used in the bottled water industry:10

Variable Carbon Footprint of a 1.5-liter bottle Carbon Footprint (Total Bottled Water) Equivalent in Car Mileage Equivalent in the Number of Cars Driving Total Percentage of CO2 Released on an Annual Basis (Global)
Low 44g of CO2 (cradle-to-grave) 14 billion kg of CO2 52 billion miles 5 million cars 0.038%
Medium 250g of CO2 (cradle-to-grave) 80 billion kg of CO2 298 billion miles 29 million cars 0.21%
High 633g o CO2 (cradle-to-grave) 203 billion kg of CO2 757 billion miles 74 million cars 0.54%

Plastic Bags Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The plastic bags’ greenhouse gas emissions25 are around 6 kg of carbon emissions per kilogram of plastic.

Calculating the CO2 produced by plastic bag usage requires the following considerations:

  • 1kg of PET or LDPE requires 2 kg of oil (energy consumption).
  • The burning of 1 kilogram of oil produces 3g of CO2. This means that 6 kg of CO2 is produced during the production and burning process.
  • A single plastic bag weighs between 8g – 60g. The average weight is around 32.5g.
  • When considering the above, it is clear that 200g of CO2 is produced for every 32.5g of plastic. Using this calculation, the result is 5 plastic bags = 1kg of carbon emissions.

In addition to this, it is estimated that 35 kg of plastic per person is produced every year, and this figure is increasing on average by 3% annually.11

With these figures, it would help the environment if people consider plastic bags carbon offset.

Plastic Carbon Footprint

The global plastic carbon footprint is estimated to be as follows:

For every kilogram of plastic produced (based on fossil-fuel consumption), up to 3.5kg of CO2 is released.

It is estimated that by 2050, the global GHG emissions produced by plastic could reach 56 gigatons.

Related Reading: 2022 Plastic Carbon Footprint: Official Emissions Numbers + Calculator

A plastic carbon footprint calculator requires the following inputs:

  • How many items of food are purchased every week, that is wrapped in plastic packaging?
  • How many plastic bottle toiletries are purchased?
  • How many plastic packages of cleaning products are purchased?
  • How many cotton buds are used?
  • How many plastic toothbrushes are used over one year?
  • How many takeaway cups are purchased every month?
  • How many bottled waters are purchased every month?
  • How often are plastic bags purchased?
  • How many plastic straws are used?

The calculations include:

  • Home plastic footprint
  • External plastic footprint
  • Annual plastic waste

Carbon Footprint of Paper vs Plastic

The carbon footprint of paper vs plastic is further expanded by exploring the effect that the production of both has on the environment.

Plastic vs Paper Environmental Impact

The plastic vs paper26 environmental impact (when comparing bags) is explained around four main components:

  • Energy consumption during manufacturing
  • The durability of the bag – how many times can it be used
  • Is it easy to recycle?
  • Does it take a long or short time to decompose?
  1. Firstly, it takes four times as much energy to produce a paper bag as it would take to produce a plastic bag.
  2. Secondly, a higher number of chemicals is required to produce paper bags compared to plastic bags.
  3. Thirdly, paper bags are heavier than plastic bags, and this contributes to higher energy consumption during transportation. This adds to the CO2 footprint.
  4. Lastly, this means that a paper bag needs to be reused at least 3 times to be as effective or more environmentally friendly than a plastic bag.

The below table indicates the number of primary uses required to keep reusable bags from impacting the environment as much as HDPE bags.12

Type of Bag HDPE Bag (Zero Secondary Use) HDPE Bag (40.3% Reused) HDPE Bag (100% Reused) HDPE Bag (Used 3 times)
Paper 3 4 7 9
LDPE 4 5 9 12
PP (non-woven) 11 14 26 33
Cotton 131 173 327 393

Paper vs Plastic Pros and Cons (Paper vs Plastic Bags Pros and Cons)

As is made clear by the above information, there are several papers vs plastic pros and cons.

These are laid out as follows:

  • When considering the resources required to produce paper and plastic27 bags, plastic becomes the better choice, because paper bag manufacturing generally requires more materials and higher energy consumption.
  • But plastic bags are tougher to recycle because recycling companies generally don’t want them.
  • To minimize the impact on the environment caused by both paper and plastic bags, reusing and recycling goes a long way.
  • Reusable bags (usually made from cotton) are a better option than both paper and plastic.13

Advantages of Paper Bags vs Plastic Bags

The advantages of paper bags vs plastic bags are as follows:14

Chart that shows the advantages of paper bags vs plastic bags

Paper Bag vs Plastic Bag Cost

The paper bag vs plastic bag cost to the environment is explained as follows:

  • Paper bag production requires more energy and more water than plastic bag production.
  • Furthermore, paper bags produce 70% more air pollutants than plastic bags and 50% more water pollutants than plastic bags.
  • Paper bags also produce more GHG emissions than plastic bags.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Plastic Bags?

The next logical question then is, what are the pros and cons of plastic bags?15

Pros of Plastic Bag Use Cons of Plastic Bag Use
Plastic bags are water-resistant and lightweight, which makes them practical. Plastic bags are highly destructive to the environment because they cause litter and blockages in sewage systems and bodies of water.
Thick plastic bags can hold heavy materials. Microplastics contaminate food, and plastic pollution causes marine and wildlife death.
Plastic bags are affordable. Plastics take around 1,000 years to decompose.
The production of plastic bags requires less energy and is more environmentally friendly. It is not easy to recycle plastic.
Plastic bags are used for promotional purposes. The necessary machinery used in the recycling of plastic is not readily available in poorer countries.

Why Are Paper Bags More Expensive Than Plastic?

The question then follows, why are paper bags more expensive than plastic?28

The main reason that paper bags cost more than plastic bags, is that the manufacturing process requires more water and more energy than that plastic manufacturing.

Furthermore, it also takes around 7 trucks to deliver a shipment of paper bags, whereas it would take 1 truck to deliver the same amount of plastic bags.

Paper Bags vs Plastic Bags Essay

A paper bags vs plastic bags essay details the main issue within the paper bags vs plastic bags debate, namely the cutting down of trees. The example given is that for a single ton of paper, 17 trees need to be cut down, whereas no trees are cut down for the production of plastic.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Paper Bags

Further advantages and disadvantages of paper bags include the following:

  • Paper bag manufacturers generally design paper bags in such a manner that they can hold more weight.
  • Paper bags are more fashionable than plastic, which means they are more popular in some sectors.
  • Unlike plastic which takes 1,000 years to decompose and pollutes water and the environment, paper bags decompose in the soil.
  • However, paper bags are not waterproof (like plastic), and they are more expensive.16

Disadvantages of Paper Bags Over Plastic Bags

The environmental disadvantages of paper bags over plastic bags are detailed the below table:17

Paper Bag Factor Paper Bag Facts
Paper bags cause more pollution Paper bags cause up to 70% more pollution (air) and 50% more water pollution than plastic bags. Furthermore, the process of paper manufacturing emits 80% more GHG emissions.
Paper bags consume more energy Paper bags consume up to 4 times more energy than plastic bags (during the production process).
Paper bags consume more water Paper bags consume up to 3 times more water than plastic bags (during the production process)
Paper bags are inefficiently recycled Paper bags often consume more fuel during recycling than during the production of a new bag. Additionally, 91% more energy is required to recycle a pound of paper compared with a pound of plastic.
Paper bags produce waste Paper bags can generate up to 80% more solid waste than plastic bags.
Paper bags don’t decompose well in landfills It is estimated that paper in landfills don’t decompose at a much faster rate than plastic.

How Many Pieces of Paper in a Tree?

The first question to answer is, how many pieces of paper in a tree?

While the paper is made from different types of trees, the most common tree used for paper production is the pine tree.22

A standard-sized pine tree with a 45ft trunk and 8” diameter can be used to produce 10,000 sheets of paper.

This means that 5% of a single tree is used for every 500-sheet ream of paper.1

How Many Trees Are Cut Down Each Year for Paper?

The next question is, how many trees are cut down each year for paper? The answer is terrifying.

Paper packaging alone requires the cutting of three billion trees every year.

This number becomes even more terrifying when considering that the average American family throws away 13,000 pieces of paper every year.

This figure is further broken down into the following components:2

Diagram of the statistics of different products that uses paper.

Carbon Footprint of a Paper Cup

Paper cups form part of paper production and factor into the debate about the carbon footprint of paper vs plastic.

In the UK, paper cups, mainly used for coffee, are creating a massive environmental disaster. In Britain alone, 2.5 billion paper cups are used every year and only 1 in 400 is recycled.

  • A single paper cup requires 0.58 liters of water during production.
  • A single paper cup produces 60.9g of CO2.3

Carbon Footprint of A4 Paper

The carbon footprint of A4 paper is as follows:

100,000 sheets of A4 paper (manufactured from 8 trees) have a carbon footprint of 6,000kg. This footprint includes the electricity required during manufacturing, the lifespan of the paper, and its disposal in a landfill.

Carbon Footprint of Paper Production

The carbon footprint of paper production is indicated as follows:4

Pie chart illustration of the carbon footprint produced for office paper production.

Carbon Footprint Calculator for Printing

The carbon footprint of printing goes hand-in-hand with the carbon footprint of paper.23 The following carbon footprint calculator for printing requires certain inputs for accurate calculations:

  • Location (for energy costs)
  • Printer make and model

The calculator basically determines the energy consumed when printing. On average, an ink-jet printer used at home uses 30 to 50 watts of power during the printing process. A commercial printer can use up to 500 watts while printing.5

Comparison of Environmental Impact of Plastic, Paper, and Cloth Bags

Then there is the comparison of the environmental impact of plastic,29 paper, and cloth bags. Cloth bags refer to reusable bags which are usually made from cotton. Cloth bags have the potential to be more environmentally friendly than paper or plastic bags because they are used more than once.

Cloth bags can also be made from other materials including non-woven polypropylene.

Carbon Footprint of Paper vs Plastic: Using Reusable Bags Instead of Plastic

Using reusable bags instead of plastic holds the below benefits:

  • Reusing bags cuts down on fossil fuel use during production, because they can be reused many times.
  • Reusable bags don’t require trees, which helps save the trees around the planet.
  • Reusable bags don’t cause as much litter as plastic bags.30
  • When reusable bags are made using renewable sources, it helps prevent the buildup of GHG emissions.
  • Reusable bags minimize the ongoing stream of waste.18

Environmental Benefits of Reusable Shopping Bags

More environmental benefits of reusable shopping bags include:

  • A lot of reusable bags are produced from sustainable materials such as cotton, bamboo or hemp.
  • Less pollution means more protected wildlife.
  • Reusable bags form part of the fight against global warming because using bags more than once will cut down on CO2 emissions.
  • Reusable bag production helps support sustainable jobs.19

Carbon Footprint of Cardboard Packaging

The carbon footprint of cardboard packaging is estimated as follows:

  • The cradle-to-grave CO2 footprint of a cardboard box is 0.94 carbon emissions per kg.
  • Cradle to grave CO2 footprint of flat cardboard is 1.53 carbon emissions per kg.

A box used for e-commerce purposes (9 x 9 x 9”) produces around 0.27 carbon emissions, which is equal to a gallon of gas.20

Box Dimensions (Inches) Box Weight (Lbs) Box Weight (kg) Kg CO2e / Box
6 x 6 x 6 inches 0.28 pounds 0.127 kilogram 0.12kg of CO2 per box
9 x 9 x 9 inches 0.64 pounds 0.291 kilogram 0.27kg of CO2 per box
12 x 12 x 12 inches 1.08 pounds 0.49 kilogram 0.46kg of CO2 per box
16 x 16 x 16 inches 1.88 pounds 0.854 kilogram 0.80kg of CO2 per box

Carbon Footprint of Glass

The carbon footprint of glass includes the below figures:

  • Glass production31 in Europe is responsible for 22 million tons of carbon emissions every year.
  • Glass production around the world is responsible for 95 million tons of carbon emissions every year.

The carbon footprint is based on the sand and energy required to manufacture glass.

Carbon Footprint Glass vs Plastic

When comparing the carbon footprint glass vs plastic, the following factors must be considered.

  • Most glass is never recycled. In the US, only 33% of glass waste is recycled.
  • Glass takes at least a million years to decompose.
  • The fossil fuel energy required to produce glass in the US averages 16.6 megajoules per 1kg of glass produced.
  • It takes less than a liter of gas to manufacture 1kg of glass.
  • Plastic CO2 emissions in 2015 equaled 1.8 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide.
  • Most plastic is never recycled. Only 9% of plastic is estimated to be recycled.
  • Most plastics take 500-1000 years to decompose, and it produces toxins that enter the environment as it decomposes.

This means that in general, avoiding the purchase of new plastic and reusing glass products32 are best for the environment. (However, the overall environmental impact of PET is lower, when factored in as a packaging material).21 In contrast, it is best (relatively speaking) to go with plastic when looking at the carbon footprint of paper vs plastic, because of the lower impact of plastic, while keeping the overall impact on the environment in mind.

Frequently Asked Questions About Carbon Footprint of Paper vs Plastic

What Is Carbon Footprint of Paper vs Plastic?

The carbon footprint of paper vs plastic is estimated as follows: Plastic bags produce 39% fewer GHG emissions than uncomposted paper bags. Furthermore, plastic bags produce 68% fewer GHG emissions than composted paper bags.

Is Paper or Plastic Better for the Environment?

Plastic is worst for the environment because plastic bags end up in the ocean and in natural habitats where they threaten wildlife, aquatic life, and birdlife.

What Is Paper or Plastic Meaning?

The meaning of the question ‘paper or plastic’, is whether an individual prefers paper or plastic bags.

Why Are Plastic Bags Better Than Paper Bags?

When plastic bags are made with natural gas, they are less energy-intensive and more tree-friendly.

Is Paper Packaging Better Than Plastic?

Paper decomposes a lot faster than plastic, and is easily recycled.

Is Paper Packaging More Expensive Than Plastic?

Yes, paper packaging is generally more expensive than plastic packaging.

What is Plastic Bags vs Paper Bags?

The plastic bags vs paper bags argument can be settled by considering that neither option should be used a single time, but should be reused as much as possible.

What Are the Disadvantages of Plastic Bags?

The main disadvantages of plastic bags are that they take very long to decompose and that they cause blockages in sewer pipes and pollution in nature.

What Are the Disadvantages of Paper Packaging?

The main disadvantage of paper packaging is that it often ends up in landfills, takes more space there than plastic, and then takes longer to decompose than usual.

What Is the Cost of Paper Bags vs Plastic Bags?

In general, paper bags cost more than plastic bags. For instance, when buying in bulk, plastic bags cost less than one cent, while paper bags cost more than 5 cents

What Are the Disadvantages of Paper Bag Cooking?

Disadvantages include soggy bags that tear easily and are not easily recyclable.

Why Are Paper Bags More Expensive Than Plastic?

Paper bags require more materials, more water, and more energy than plastic production, which makes them more expensive.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Paper vs Plastic Bags?

  • Paper takes up to 4 times the energy of plastic
  • Paper bags produce three times more GHG emissions than plastic bags
  • Paper bags produce more solid waste
  • However, paper bags are more sustainable than plastic and far easier to recycle

Are Plastic Bags Worse Than Paper Bags?

Plastic bags are not easy to recycle and are not biodegradable. Paper bags are easily recyclable and decompose faster than plastic.

What Are Disadvantages of Paper Bags Over Plastic Bags?

  • Paper bags are not waterproof
  • They are heavier to work with
  • They take up more space
  • They are more expensive

What Is the Paper Bags vs Plastic Bags Research?

According to research paper bags produce 70% more air pollution and 50% more water pollution than plastic bags.

What Is the Carbon Footprint Calculator for Printing?

HP has put together an online carbon footprint calculator for consumers to calculate their environmental impact while printing and computing.

What Is the Email Carbon Footprint?

An email carbon footprint is between 0.03g of carbon emissions to 26g of carbon emissions per single email.

Read More About Carbon Footprint of Paper vs Plastic

References

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33Image Source: <https://my.canon/media/migration/local/my/live/aboutus/leaf-calculator.gif>