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VP Market Development

Jorge Izquierdo

Jorge Izquierdo is vice president of market development for PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies. He oversees all research and programs for strengthening the competitiveness of North American suppliers of packaging and processing equipment. In this role, he tracks industry and consumer trends relevant to packaging and processing operations, collects input from all industry stakeholders and shares the findings to strengthen cooperation among users and suppliers of technology. Mr. Izquierdo is a mechanical engineer with an MBA and relevant studies in globalization programs.

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Contributor Brief·Jorge Izquierdo · 1 article
Updated Aug 8, 2023

Paper packaging may increase emissions more than plastic alternatives

Izquierdo argues that the corporate pivot toward paper packaging is driven by consumer perception rather than climate science, and that switching from plastic to paper often increases net-zero carbon emissions due to higher production and transportation weights. The assumption that plastic is inherently worse for the environment obscures the complex lifecycle emissions analysis that should guide packaging decisions.

40%

higher transportation emissions from paper versus plastic packaging

“Paper packaging requires significantly more material by weight to provide equivalent product protection.”

Plastic Packaging Isn't Necessarily the Enemy in the Pursuit of Net-Zero Carbon Emissions

Lifecycle carbon impact comparison by packaging material

Plastic film (low-density polyethylene)0.8
Cardboard box1.2
Paper envelope1.1
Recycled cardboard0.95

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20%Plastic film
Plastic film (low-density polyethylene)
Cardboard box
Paper envelope
Recycled cardboard

3x

higher production energy intensity of paper manufacturing versus plastic extrusion

Companies pursuing net-zero commitments often conflate visibility with impact, favoring packaging changes customers can see.

Plastic Packaging Isn't Necessarily the Enemy in the Pursuit of Net-Zero Carbon Emissions

A rigorous carbon footprint analysis must account for end-of-life disposal scenarios, not merely material composition.

Plastic Packaging Isn't Necessarily the Enemy in the Pursuit of Net-Zero Carbon Emissions

“Switching to paper without measuring total lifecycle emissions risks achieving net-zero theater rather than real climate progress.”

Themes:Lifecycle emissions analysis over material opticsPaper packaging weight penalty in transportationNet-zero commitments require rigorous carbon accounting not virtue signaling

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