If You Drive, Box Instead
A Simple Habit with Big Impact
Why buy a new plastic bag when thousands of clean, reusable cardboard boxes are discarded daily by supermarkets?
“If You Drive, Box Instead” is a community-driven campaign by Earth Extend encouraging drivers to skip plastic and reuse in-store cardboard boxes — giving packaging a second life while reducing plastic waste. It’s a simple, free act that makes a difference every day.
❗ The Problem
Supermarkets unpack thousands of products daily using strong cardboard boxes — many of which are discarded or recycled after just one use. Meanwhile, shoppers continue buying millions of plastic bags, contributing to long-term environmental harm.
✅ The Solution
This campaign encourages stores to offer those boxes — already available — to customers who arrive by car. Instead of buying a plastic bag, shoppers reuse what’s already there.
It’s low-cost, low-effort, and high-impact.
🌍 Why It Matters
Plastic bags take hundreds of years to break down. Cardboard boxes, on the other hand, are biodegradable, recyclable, and reusable.
By promoting this simple swap, we:
- Cut plastic waste
- Reduce demand for new materials
- Delay disposal of existing packaging
- Empower people to make sustainable choices
One small action. Big change — across communities and generations.
🛒 How It Works
At the Store:
- Stores unpack products daily and generate hundreds of reusable boxes.
- Instead of recycling or discarding them right away, usable boxes are placed on a rack near checkouts.
For Drivers:
- If you’re driving, take a free box instead of a plastic or reusable bag.
- Use it to carry groceries to your car.
- The box keeps your boot tidy — and avoids more plastic.
No cost. No hassle. Just a smarter choice.
📈 The Impact
If just 100 shoppers per day use a box instead of plastic, that’s 36,000+ bags saved per store, per year.
Multiplied across cities and supermarkets, this small switch can reshape habits — and reduce our environmental footprint.
✅ Campaign Benefits
♻️ Environmental Impact
Reduces plastic bag use and promotes reuse of packaging materials.
💷 Customer Savings
Boxes are free. Bags cost money.
🛻 Convenience for Drivers
Boxes keep groceries stable, organized, and your boot tidy.
🏪 Store-Friendly
Takes minimal space. Uses materials already available. No added cost or staff effort.
🌱 Second Life for Packaging
Extends usefulness before recycling, reducing energy and emissions.
👪 Community Engagement
Creates awareness, shifts mindsets, and builds eco-conscious habits.
🪧 How Stores Can Take Part
- Place a small Box Station near checkouts.
- Let customers know they can take a free box using posters or stickers.
- No staff changes needed — staff who already handle boxes can stack the reusable ones.
Earth Extend provides ready-to-print signage, stickers, and support to help your store get started easily.
Sample signage:
“If You Drive, Box Instead — A Simple Habit with Big Impact.”
“Driving? Take a Free Box Instead of a Plastic Bag.”
🛠️ Addressing Common Questions
“But we already recycle our boxes.”
Recycling is good — but reuse is better. Extending the box’s life reduces overall waste, energy use, and emissions.
“What if shoppers throw away the boxes later?”
Even if they do, it still replaces plastic — and cardboard breaks down naturally. Most UK homes also have kerbside recycling.
“Will boxes make a mess?”
No more than bags. In fact, boxes are often more stable in cars and can be neatly collapsed for reuse or recycling.
💬 Campaign Messaging & Mindset
- Cut plastic pollution at the root
- Extend the life of packaging before recycling
- Simple, real-world, people-powered solution
- Reuse first. Recycle after.
♻️ Why “Reuse → Recycle” Works Best
| Action | Environmental Value |
|---|---|
| Plastic Bag Used | ❌ High harm (non-biodegradable) |
| Box Recycled Immediately | ✅ Medium value (still requires energy/water) |
| Box Reused → Then Recycled | ✅✅ High value — less plastic, multiple uses, lower footprint |
Reusing a box even once means:
✔ No plastic bag
✔ No energy used to reprocess
✔ Lower carbon footprint overall
🗑️ What Happens After Reuse?
- Most homes in the UK have kerbside cardboard recycling.
- Shoppers can reuse the box once or twice, then fold and recycle it easily.
✅ That’s a closed loop with real benefit.
📣 Who Should Join This Campaign?
- Supermarkets
- Retail managers
- Local councils
- Environmental groups
- Schools and community leaders
🙌 How to Support or Join
If you’re a store manager, council leader, or a shopper who cares — you can support this campaign:
- Offer or request free boxes at checkout
- Display campaign signage
- Spread the message
Earth Extend offers full support — including graphics, print-ready signs, and trial setup assistance.
💡 Contact Us
Want to start the campaign in your store or community?
📧 Email: info@earthextend.org
📱 Social: @EarthExtend
🟢 Powered by Earth Extend
Earth Extend is a volunteer-led nonprofit initiative working to build Earth-conscious habits that last for generations.