Sustainable Packaging Cost Calculator

Cost comparison: plastic vs paper vs compostable.

Units per year

Plastic cost/unit ($)

Paper cost/unit ($)

Compostable cost/unit ($)

Package weight (g)

Current recycling rate %

Tab to move between fields

Plastic annual cost ($)

$3,500.00

≈ 4 smartphones

Paper annual cost ($)

$5,500.00

≈ 6 smartphones

Compostable annual cost ($)

$8,500.00

≈ 9 smartphones

Paper premium vs plastic %57.1

Compostable premium %142.9

CO2 saved (paper, kg)850

CO2 saved (compostable, kg)600

Landfill diverted (paper, kg)200

Landfill diverted (compostable, kg)300

Cost per kg CO2 saved ($)$2.35

How to Use This Calculator

Enter current packaging material type and weight (g), then select the sustainable alternative.
Enter volume per year (units) and unit material cost for both options.
Read cost premium (% and $/unit) for switching to the sustainable alternative.
Review carbon footprint reduction (kg CO2e/year) alongside cost difference.
Use total cost of ownership comparison including potential brand value and regulatory compliance savings.

How the result changes with Units per year

Units per year	Plastic annual cost ($)	Paper annual cost ($)	Compostable annual cost ($)
1,000,001	$350,000.35	$550,000.55	$850,000.85
3,500,001	$1,225,000.35	$1,925,000.55	$2,975,000.85
6,500,000	$2,275,000.00	$3,575,000.00	$5,525,000.00
9,000,000	$3,150,000.00	$4,950,000.00	$7,650,000.00

Units per year: Annual package volume.
Plastic cost/unit ($): Cost per unit for conventional plastic packaging.
Paper cost/unit ($): Cost per unit for recycled paper or cardboard packaging.
Compostable cost/unit ($): Cost per unit for compostable (PLA/PBAT) packaging.
Package weight (g): Weight of packaging material per unit in grams.
Current recycling rate %: Your current packaging recycling/diversion rate.

Plastic annual cost ($): Annual cost for conventional plastic packaging.
Paper annual cost ($): Annual cost for recycled paper packaging.
Compostable annual cost ($): Annual cost for compostable packaging.
Paper premium vs plastic %: Extra cost of paper packaging over plastic baseline.
Compostable premium %: Extra cost of compostable packaging over plastic baseline.
CO2 saved (paper, kg): Annual kg CO2e saved by switching from plastic to paper.
CO2 saved (compostable, kg): Annual kg CO2e saved by switching from plastic to compostable.
Landfill diverted (paper, kg): Kg of waste diverted from landfill by switching to paper.
Landfill diverted (compostable, kg): Kg of waste diverted from landfill by switching to compostable.
Cost per kg CO2 saved ($): How much extra you pay per kg of CO2 reduced (paper vs plastic).

Identify Input Parameters
4 parameters
Units per year = 10000, Plastic cost/unit ($) = 0.35, Paper cost/unit ($) = 0.55, Compostable cost/unit ($) = 0.85 = 6 input(s) provided
Calculate Plastic annual cost
Plastic annual cost = plasticCostPerUnit * unitsPerYear
3500 = $3,500
Calculate Paper annual cost
Paper annual cost = paperCostPerUnit * unitsPerYear
5500 = $5,500
Calculate Compostable annual cost
Compostable annual cost = compostableCostPerUnit * unitsPerYear
8500 = $8,500
Calculate Paper premium vs plastic %
57.1 = 57.1
Calculate Compostable premium %
142.9 = 142.9