# Repackaging Communities 'A Box Life' Tracks the Lives of Reused Cardboard Shipping Boxes By Katie Cordrey | Published 2009-10-08 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/a-box-life-tracks-shipping-boxes References: [aboxlife](http://www.aboxlife.com) & [youtube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyDvyKcnpvE) ‘A Box Life’ is a program sponsored by [Columbia Sportswear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/expedition-impossible) that encourages a communal effort around the reuse of [cardboard shipping boxes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/amazon-packaging). The goal of A Box Life, aside from some sort of misplaced roaming garden gnome syndrome, is to keep cardboard boxes in use longer, reduce shipping impacts and encourage people to personally [reduce, reuse, and recycle](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/patagonia-2). Portland, Oregon-based Columbia Sportswear offers customers the option of receiving the merchandise they order in a used box. When the customer chooses the used box option, the box arrives with a special A Box Life sticker that allows for tracking the life of the box online or with a cell phone using a 2-dimensional bar code called a QR code and reader software. (QR Code Reader software links are on the A Box Life website.) Check out the website for a map showing box travels and the stories behind each box adventure. It’s cheap thrills, a little like reading geocaching logs. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.6/10 - Popularity: 8% | Activity: 93% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Sustainable Packaging:** Explore opportunities to create innovative and sustainable packaging solutions, like reusing cardboard boxes for shipment. - **Community Recycling:** Develop strategies that incentivize communities to recycle and reuse materials, like the Box Life program by Columbia Sportswear. - **QR Code Tracking:** Consider using QR codes and tracking technology to increase transparency and customer engagement, as seen in the Box Life program by Columbia Sportswear. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Retail:** Retailers can adopt innovative packaging and recycling strategies, such as the Box Life program by Columbia Sportswear, to decrease environmental impact and increase customer engagement. - **Logistics and Shipping:** Companies in the logistics and shipping industry can explore inventive ways to reduce waste and encourage reuse, like incorporating tracking technology for cardboard boxes as seen in the Box Life program by Columbia Sportswear. - **Consumer Goods:** Consumer goods companies can implement sustainable packaging and recycling initiatives, such as the Box Life program by Columbia Sportswear, to attract eco-conscious customers and reduce their carbon footprint. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Striking E-Commerce Packaging](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/maksim-arbuzov.md) - [In-Store DIY Packaging Stations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/packaging-station.md) - [Reusable Golf Ball Packaging](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/golf-ball-packaging.md) - [Cardboard Box-Transformed Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/box-exhibition.md) - [Mushroom-Based Sneaker Boxes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mr-bailey-x-adidas-originals-ozlucent.md) - [Decluttering Toy Initiatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/taptorebox.md) - [Sustainably-Packaged Compact Bikes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mondraker.md) - [Transformative Pizza Box Tables](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-moving-box-table.md) - [Packaging-Inspired Footwear Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/box-shoe.md)