Have you ever considered that some of your most used shipping materials, such as poly mailers, won’t naturally break down until 3023? That’s right, 1,000 years from now!
And that’s not all. Other traditional packaging supplies could also negatively impact the environment.
If you’re wondering why you should think ‘green’ inside and outside the box, look no further.
Upgrading from Traditional Packaging Supplies to Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Materials
We’ve compiled a guide of commonly used packaging materials to demonstrate how your business can upgrade from traditional supplies to sustainable and eco-friendly products:
Poly Mailers:
Traditional: Poly mailers are used to ship various items, including products in the fashion e-commerce industry. Consumers love to see their favorite retailer’s branded poly mailer at their doorstep. Poly mailers are unique because they provide a water-resistant barrier to protect the packaged item during shipping. However, poly mailers take an estimated 1,000 years to degrade. In most cases, the product breaks down into microplastics, which can harm water sources and animals that may mistake microplastics for food.
Eco-Friendly: We would recommend ENVIO™ Poly Mailers that are eco-friendly. ENVIO™ Poly Mailers are made from 100% recycled materials and are 100% consumer recyclable. These mailers are waterproof, tamper and puncture resistant, and have self-sealing closures.
Bubble Wrap:
Traditional: Have you ever enjoyed popping bubble wrap? Many of us have, at least as kids. For functional purposes, bubble wrap is typically used as a void fill to help pack fragile or easily breakable items. Although it’s fun to pop and useful to pack with, bubble wrap is not so great for the environment. It takes 10 to 1,000 years to decompose naturally, depending on the grade of polyethylene it’s made of. Also, when bubble wrap is not recycled, it ends up in landfills, where it can pollute the environment.
Sustainable: You can replace bubble wrap with Scotch Cushion Lock protective wrap. It locks around your product and provides the same protection as bubble wrap, so you use 85% less storage space than bubble wrap. Sustainable and space-saving!
Air Pillows:
Traditional: Air pillows, small bags filled with air and sealed, are another form of void-fill that serves the same purpose as bubble wrap. Some pillows are made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic, which is also used for most grocery shopping bags. Air pillows made of HDPE are estimated to break down naturally in 500 to 700 years.
Sustainable: iCushion™ OXO Biodegradable Air Pillow is a great eco-friendly alternative to traditional air pillows made of polyethylene. The iCushion™ OXO Biodegradable Air Pillow’s film is designed with an ingredient that causes an accelerated breakdown in the presence of oxygen and UV light or heat and may also be recycled.
Styrofoam:
Traditional: Styrofoam packing peanuts are another void-fill item, taking up to 500 years to degrade. Often people receiving packages do not reuse Styrofoam, increasing the amount of Styrofoam that becomes waste. It is estimated that 1369 tons1 (2,738,000 pounds) of Styrofoam are in U.S. landfills daily and fill up 25 to 30 percent2 of the landfill space globally.
“Styrofoam packaging is an issue all over the country,” said Jennifer Milner, State Recycling Coordinator at the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. “Styrofoam is recyclable but has very little value. Therefore, most local government recycling programs do not accept these products for recycling. Consequently, they are either thrown in with other household trash into a landfill where they will not break down for hundreds of years, or they are the sources of contamination at the recycling center.”
Sustainable: We recommend using reusable biodegradable packing peanuts that dissolve in water and can be used in organic composting. For more information on biodegradable packing peanuts, check out our informational video on biodegradable packing peanuts.
Make a Positive Change Today
Are you looking to make a positive change to make your business more environmentally friendly? At Envoy Solutions, we care about the environment and believe it’s our responsibility as your trusted partner to provide your business with sustainable solutions that are efficient and effective. Contact Envoy Solutions today, and our industry experts will do a full assessment to identify sustainable solutions that take your business to the next level.
1-2. 31 Styrofoam Facts That You Should Know About