Eco Friendly Packaging

[Former_Member]

For a very long time I have been using bubble wrap and packing peanuts that I collect from area businesses, but 90% of the time they aren't biodegradable. I also use packing tape that I get on sale, but once I seal a box it makes it hard for my customers to recycle the cardboard with all that tape attached.
I am looking for a very affordable way to eliminate these 3 items and replace them with eco-friendly supplies.
My dilemma is that biodegradable products are so expensive and I can't afford to absorb the costs for my customers. If I add the cost to the shipping then I am afraid I will scare customers away because shipping costs will be too high.
Any suggestions for reasonably priced paper tape, bio-d peanuts and bubble wrap?

[SoulRole]

another team mate just shared this company on the google group and they look awesome!

http://www.ecoenclose.com/EcoEnclose_Peace_of_Mind_Packaging_s/38.htm

[Former_Member]

Thanks for sharing, they do look awesome!

[Former_Member]

Great ! I am also looking for greener wrapping.
Thank you for your ideas :) I am going to read this page.

[Former_Member]

I have used the biodegradable packing peanuts, made from cornstarch. I was first introduced to them as a kids art project. Art stores sell peanuts dyed with food coloring and kids and adults can make little sculptures with them by wetting and connecting pieces. To get rid of the sculptures, you run water on them in a sink and they melt down and run down the drain. They are supposed to be completely safe.
I started to use them in my amiled packages when my husband started bringing them home from work. He works in an environmental lab and receives alot of packages. A few companies started using these peanuts, claiming they are better for the environment.

[Former_Member]

For my orders, I have used only recycled cardboard boxes and envelopes and I use recycled newspaper to fill them in provide padding. I have heard about those biodegradable packing peanuts and they are interesting. The main concern I have with them is that they more than likely come from GMO corn which requires tons and tons of petroleum, chemicals, and gene splicing to create. In my opinion, genetic engineering and the steps that are taken to grow such crops is just as bad for our planet as drilling oil. Perhaps there are some non-GMO packing peanuts available.. but they would probably be rather expensive.

To me, it seems best that we use what we already have on this planet instead of creating anything new even if it isn't biodegradable. If an object is already here, then there's no turning back and I want to make the best of it. So I feel like it's great to repurpose bubble wrap and packing materials from other businesses. First reduce. Then Reuse. And if those don't work, buy new but be as sustainable as one can be.

[GrowingUpWild]

I had been using paper mailers made from 100% post consumer recycled materials but I recently switched to Eco Enclose. I have their biodegradable poly mailers as well as their biodegradable bubble mailers. I am so happy with them! I love that my packages are now protected from water damage yet are still eco friendly. I feel better about shipping internationally in these sturdier mailers. The company also sells eco friendly tape and packaging materials. I highly recommend them. I would definitely add your shipping costs to your prices. My customers come to me looking for an eco-friendly product and I think they expect to get one in every aspect of their order. Customers seeking out your shop would likely not mind paying a bit extra to have biodegradable/compostable packaging.

[Former_Member]

I generally reuse cardboard boxes (or buy ones from a local store that sells their old cardboard boxes for .50 each), or if I need a special size I make them myself. My father in law works as a carpenter and gets huge sheets of cardboard from doors/windows that he uses at work and I then use them to make boxes.

I have also been using old brown paper bags as wrapping or to make envelopes. Sometimes I use the "funnies" from the newspaper too as wrapping or instead of tissue paper.

For the tape -- I would suggest either masking tape, or just adhesive paper tape (I can't remember the specific name right now). If you want to go really old school, you could wrap your boxes in brown paper bags (or newspaper) and then use bakers twine (postal twine) and then you don't need any tape at all!

[lorigami]

I had been re-using bubble mailers that my husband and friends were saving for me, but as my items get larger that hasn't been working as well. I just started making my own with recycled bubble wrap and brown paper bags. I don't want to buy more bubble wrap when mine runs out, but since most of my items are fabric, I am worried about making the packages waterproof. Does anyone have suggestions for an alternate lining? I actually really love using brown paper and don't want to change that part.

thanks!

[Former_Member]

some great suggestions - thanks for sharing.
Lori, have you considered using wax paper as a waterproof lining? Unless the package gets really wet, the wax should keep the moisture out.

[lorigami]

I hadn't thought of that, but it's a great idea. Right now, for things that will fit, I'm using gallon zipper bags. I figure those will get re-used, at least.
However, for people you know don't want to get plastic, I think the wax paper is pretty smart. Thank you!

[Former_Member]

I love the ideas here. I have to admit that my shipping supplies are not currently very eco-friendly.

I got a package in one of the biodegradable plastic-type mailers you are talking about and saved it so I could order some. But let's face it, they are just going to end up in the trash in most households. I guess they are better just because they aren't made from petroleum, right? Even if they still just get thrown away.

I have a "plastic" cup made from corn that I got at a sandwich shop 3 years ago. It has been in my compost all this time and hasn't biodegraded a bit. And I know how to make "hot" , active compost. It discourages me about these supposedly biodegradable products that we pay extra for.

[Former_Member]

Those corn "biodegradable" packaging are no better than anything else. The corn industry uses TONS AND TONS of petroleum and other non-renewable energies in their chemicals, tractors, transportation, warehouses turning corn into packaging, and those products use petroleum as a binding agent. I have tried composting a few different "biodegradable" plastic wares and for years they just sat in my compost bin not changing a bit. Paper and cardboard decompose perfectly and you can get used, recycled paper just about anywhere. I like the idea of wax paper for waterproofing. I don't know much about wax paper, but if it's a bees wax coating or some other form of natural wax, that would biodegrade.

[Former_Member]

I just looked up what wax paper is made from. It once was made with beeswax back in the medieval times. Now the wax paper industry uses paraffin which is a manmade chemical created from carbon and hydrogen atoms. I imagine the carbon comes from petroleum as petroleum is mostly made up of carbon. You can made a beeswax coated paper by heating up some beeswax and dipping paper in it. Check it out: http://craftingagreenworld.com/2011/10/16/how-to-make-beeswax-coated-paper/

I love reading people's ideas about this topic and I'm totally into the idea of wax coating paper with my own hands. :) DIY!

[Former_Member]

I've used the bags that cereal comes in (from inside the box) as a waxed paper substitute before. Sometimes it is more like plastic, and sometimes like waxed paper.

I would worry about beeswax melting onto my product during shipping, from hand-dipped sheets. Sounds like fun to make though!

[Former_Member]

Oh Sara that's a very interesting thought. You might be right about that. It didn't even come to my mind, being such a new idea. :) It's really fun bouncing our ideas off eachother. Good idea using the cereal box bags. I don't eat much cereal, but there is so much plastic used in other things that my family purchases that I'm sure there are some useful, clean bags and stuff to use.

[lorigami]

I would be wary about re-using anything that once touched food. (but if you want to re-use those, they are GREAT for cleaning out the cat box!)

[unYarnMe]

These are great ideas. I use biodegradable & compostable cellophane bags as a waterproof barrier. I'm always looking for new ideas

[unYarnMe]

I'm going to take a closer look at EcoEnclose. My supply of my 100% post consumer recycled envelopes are very low.

[lorigami]

Loretta, where are you finding compostable cellophane bags? How large do they come? Thanks!

[Former_Member]

Have you tried composting one of those compostable cellophane bags? All of the "compostable" plastic I have attempted to compost just sits for years not decomposing a bit while the rest of my compost turns a rich almost black earthly goodness. The compostable plastic stuff weirds me out.

[unYarnMe]

Lori, I'm ordering from Nashville Wraps, but other companies sell them too.

[unYarnMe]

Desiree, that's why I am always open to new ideas. That was the best I found at the time, but there may be better options now.

[lorigami]

Vaguely related: We got a package from Amazon today, and I noticed they have started using paper tape instead of the old plastic. That's pretty big! (and makes their boxes easier to recycle)

[Former_Member]

I've always recycled newspaper comics for wrapping and then shipping either with recycled brown bags or store purchased post consumer recycled brown shipping paper. I also reuse shipping goods from things I've purchased from other Etsy shops :)
Danielle