The increasing demand for packaging driven by e-commerce and fresh food distribution has intensified environmental concerns associated with single-use packaging systems. Reusable packaging has emerged as a promising alternative; however, its environmental performance depends strongly on operational conditions, particularly reuse frequency. This study conducted a cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment (LCA) focusing on a reusable plastic container (RPC) incorporating post-consumer recycled (PCR) material, with comparison to a single-use corrugated box (CB). The analysis was based on real distribution data, and the effect of reuse cycles on environmental impacts was evaluated. The results show that RPC exhibited higher greenhouse gas emissions than CB in the first use cycle. However, the cumulative environmental impact of RPC decreased rapidly with reuse, becoming lower than that of CB from the second cycle onward. In addition, the environmental impact of RPC was primarily governed by the material supply stage. These findings indicate that reuse frequency is a key factor determining the environmental performance of reusable packaging systems, and that the combination of PCR material and repeated reuse can significantly enhance environmental benefits. This study provides a quantitative basis for the design of sustainable packaging systems under real distribution conditions.
Im et al. (Wed,) studied this question.