Environmental and Financial Ramifications of Cardboard Package Recycling – A Review and Framework

Abstract This paper presents a literature analysis of the financial and environmental Implication of cardboard packaging recycling and proposes a framework in the end. Therefore, the paper aims to demonstrate the literature evidence of the application of product take back, recycling and reusing, which serves a dual advantage of environmental protection and economic benefit to the company. The paper’s approach applied the inductive research approach, which engaged in a critical review of the literature to unveil patterns and/or themes around cardboard packaging recycling. Findings from the review lead to five main headings namely eco-efficiency, industrial symbiosis, extended producer responsibility, stakeholder theory and activity-based costing. The paper contributes by using these themes to develop a “confluence theory for package recycling”. This proposed theory holds practical and research significance in furthering advocacy for environmental sustainability through corporate environmental responsibility in managing cardboard wastes. The financial implications resonate with theoretical applications in environmental management accounting scholarship. Overall future research agenda is highlighted for future empirical research application.