Check out these great choices for packaging materials

I do a lot of shipping – both products and gifts, and I’m always looking for better ways to package items in environmentally friendly ways.

Ideally, I want to use anything that can

a.) Be recycled or…

b.) Will decompose faster in the landfill – just in case it doesn’t get recycled on the other end.

• I mail my large products in boxes made from recycled paper.
• For wrapping delicate things, I still like tissue paper for its smoothness. It’s less scratchy on delicate items like handmade candles and it looks nice.
• My in-box stuffing is usually scrunched up paper sheets or biodegradable peanuts (see below) instead of bubble wrap or plastic air pillows. As everyone knows, once the bubblewrap or air pillows are popped, all you have left is plastic sheets – not much good for anything after that really.
• Envelopes. I’ll always choose paper over plastic envelopes with the item inside wrapped with paper or thin cardboard for protection.

A few weeks back I received a package that was wrapped in something I’d never seen before. It was incredible! It was made from brown kraft paper with a honeycomb cut and lined with white tissue. Very nice looking and completely made of paper!

1. Honeycomb Cut Paper

Not only does it work great as a protective wrap due to the natural cushioning from the honeycomb-cut, but it gives a nice first impression when the box is opened.

You can find it in large quantities or small. It also comes in different colors. If you’re someone who ships lots of products, or just an individual who would just like to “up your game” when it comes to reducing your shipping footprint, here’s where you can get it on Amazon.

You can view this at Amazon.  Click here for the link.

2. Biodegradable Packing Peanuts

Pretty much everyone hates styrofoam peanuts especially if they get loose! And it takes loads of patience to put them in a bag or box (especially when trying to get the statically charged nuts out of your hair and off your hands – lol!)

Although there is some debate over how long styrofoam peanuts take to breakdown – some say 100 years, some say 500 to 1000 plus years – it is agreed that styrofoam does not break down for a very, very long time.

If you’re really into peanuts, here’s a great alternative. These shipping nuts are made of organic starch and they melt in water. They are also FDA compliant and leave no toxic waste. Plus, they’re static free – yay!

You can view this at Amazon. Click here for the link.

3. Brown Kraft Paper

There are loads of uses for plain brown wrapping paper. It’s inexpensive too. You can either buy rolls of brown paper at many grocery stores in the school supply aisle, dollar stores, crafts stores, and even the post office OR you can also recycle any paper bag for wrapping packages to be shipped Here are 3 uses:

• Covering Marked-up Boxes. Brown paper is perfect for wrapping marked up boxes. Sometimes I need to ship something to a friend but the only boxes that I can find are covered with old labels and writing all over them. Just wrap the shipping box in brown paper like you would a gift (except use packing tape instead of scotch tape), add your label, and you’re off to the post office.
• Paper Patterns. I enjoy sewing but can’t always find a pattern for certain things whether they be clothes, bags, whatever. Being a do-it-myself kind of person, I’ll take a favorite worn out jacket or an old purse apart, lay the pieces on a sheet of brown paper and trace them. Then I’ll cut the pattern out of the brown paper, mark it up with notches for alignments, sewing lines, etc. and then pin it on my fabric. It’s just like any pattern that you’d purchase except that brown paper is much thicker than typical thin tissue that most patterns are made of, making it last a lot longer!
• Holds Items in Place in the Box.  Scrunch the paper up and pack it around the items to hold them in place in the box during shipping.

You can view this at Amazon. Click here for the link.

4. Paper Egg Crates

Egg crates can be very handy for shipping! Since they are designed to ship delicate eggs, they also work great as protective inserts inside the box.

• They are very customizable. You can cut them apart to whatever size you need while keeping the lid attached if necessary.
• Place small items (wrapped in tissue) in the little egg cups and close the lid.
• Use Egg Crates instead of plastic air pillows to hold your item in place in the main shipping box.
• Not only are they light-weight but they can be stacked and stored for use at a later date and, will breakdown quickly in landfills.

Let me know your eco-packaging ideas! I love hearing how other people are using recycled materials in imaginative ways.