Written by M. Alvarez, Operations
About once a week somebody asks if we can print their logo on a reclaimed gaylord. The answer is always no, and the reasoning is simple: custom printing on used boxes destroys their reusability.
The reuse argument.
A reclaimed box that has a generic kraft surface can go to almost any customer, in almost any industry, for almost any application. The moment you put a logo or a regulated label on it, it becomes specific. It can only be reused by the original buyer, and only for as long as they want it. We do not want to make boxes more single-use, even slightly — that is the opposite of our entire business.
The contamination argument.
Most flexographic ink used in box printing is reasonably benign in the recycling stream, but every additional layer of ink reduces the cleanliness of the bale. We prefer to keep our outbound stock as close to plain kraft as possible.
The economic argument.
Custom printing requires plates, setup, and minimum runs. None of those make sense for reclaimed inventory that turns over weekly in unpredictable footprints. We would have to either charge a premium that offset the savings of buying used in the first place, or eat the cost ourselves and lose money on every job. Neither option is appealing.
The alternative.
If you really need branded boxes, we will quote you new stock from a partner converter. We will not pretend it is the most eco-friendly option, but for some applications (retail unboxing, brand-facing logistics) it is the right answer. For everything else, the unbranded grade-A reclaimed gaylord is almost always better.