This subject is of particular interest to me, as I have recently started a retail arbitrage business where I buy products at a low price and sell them at a higher price on websites like eBay and Amazon.
Doing this business while staying environmentally friendly has been tough, I’m not going to lie.
In this article, I am going to be covering environmentally friendly envelopes, boxes, packing materials, and labels. Basically, everything needed for a retail arbitrage business.
Yes, this article may be a little self-serving, but I’m sure I am not the only work-from-home mom who will benefit from the information obtained.
Without further ado…
Are poly mailers biodegradable?
Traditional poly mailers are made from polyethylene material (plastic), so they are not biodegradable.
But fear not, there are many biodegradable poly mailers available to choose from.
Eco friendly poly bags
You no longer have to choose unrecyclable, unbiodegradable poly mailers. There are many ecofriendly packaging options to choose from. YAY!
Biodegradable Poly bags
Lumi Compostable mailers
- Lightweight
- Made from renewable bioplastic (PLA)
- Compostable at home or industrial compost facility
- Uses vegetable or soy oil as the base for inks
- Uses renewable resources
- Can be recycled if dropped off at a designated facility
EcoEnclose
- Has many different compostable envelopes to choose from
- Available in different sizes
- Paper mailers are made with 100% recycled, 90% post-consumer waste
- Fully recyclable and naturally biodegradable
- Compostable in back yard or industrial facility
Noissue Mailers
- Available in different sizes
- Made from plant based materials (PLA/PBAT)
- Breaks down in 90 days in commercial compost and 180 days at home compost pile
Compostable Poly Mailer
- 100% compostable
- Made with cornstarch and PBAT
- Can be composted at home or industrial facility
- Donates 5% of profits to the Rainforest Trust for the Protection of Our Rainforests
Recyclable Poly Mailers
EcoEnclose
- Made with 100% recycled content
- Reusable
- Recyclable
- Different sizes available
Recycled shipping boxes
Fortunately, there are quite a few options for recycled shipping boxes. Here are a few you might want to consider:
EcoEnclose
- 100% recycled
- Made from 95% post-consumer content
- Made in USA
- Black algae ink available for printing
- Fully customizable
Pratt Plus
- Made from 100% recycled materials
- Made in USA
- Available in many different sizes
Ibox Packaging Ltd.
- 100% recycled content
- Utilizes vegetable based inks
- Many different sizes
- Fully customizable
Ecofriendly Packing Material
It’s best just to keep it simple when it comes to packing material to keep your items safe. Here are some ideas for the next time you ship an item that needs some padding.
- Recycled kraft paper (I reuse from Amazon packages all the time)
- Corrugated Bubble from EcoEnclose
- Recyclable air pillows
For proper disposal of your packaging if you are sending out products to customers, please send an instruction card or paper telling them where to properly dispose of the packaging material. This will help ensure that packaging gets recycled or composted properly (at least as much as you can control it.)
I hope this list is a useful resource for all your shipping and mailing needs!
Let me know in the comments below if you would like more information on a particular area (envelopes, boxes, packing material, etc.)
Cheers, and have an awesome day!
Thank you Kathy. Very informative since I want to start to ship my textile products (#mayilscarves) in eco-friendly packaging.
You’re very welcome! Good luck with your business!
Hello,
That’s an amazing . Thanks for sharing with us .
Best,
Diana
environmentally friendly boxes and various other things really good for us because as a human we can make our life healthy, but unfortunately, no one focus on it. But you are, i really appreciate your work
Thank you so much for your comment! Sometimes it feels like we are facing a never-ending uphill battle and a positive comment like this gives us the energy, drive, and determination to keep going. Thanks for making my day!
Your site suggests (by omission of details) that biodegradable is preferable. According to information on the EcoEnclose website (which you display some products from), it depends on your priorities. I favor low carbon footprint over biodegradability, because of the urgency to reduce carbon emissions or face certain catastrophe. Anyway, 100% recycled poly mailers have very low carbon footprint, and can then be recycled into building materials. They are also lighter than other products, reducing shipping weight and fuel use. “Biodegradable” plastic materials actually add to methane production in landfills, and particles often end up in oceans; and recent studies have suggested they are not even very degradable.
Thank you for your insight!
Which is preferable from a carbon footprint perspective between 100% recycled poly mailers and 100% recycled padded paper mailers?
I love how this article emphasizes the importance of making small changes in our daily lives to contribute to a greener planet. It’s inspiring to see how using eco-friendly envelopes can make a difference in the long run.