The U.S. Postal Service delivers more than 212 billion pieces of mail each year, and you can bet holiday shipping accounts for a hefty chunk of the shipping pie.
Reducing and reusing are this season’s buzz words for saving both time, money and valuable resources.
Remember to recycle your cardboard shipping box. Recycling 1 ton of cardboard saves 9 cubic yards of landfill space and 46 gallons of oil. Photo: Flickr/sarah sosiak
Boxes
Cardboard is used to ship 90 percent of all products in the U.S. as it’s a sturdy mainstay that’s easily reused and recycled.
Non-toxic and biodegradable, recycled cardboard takes 25 percent less energy to manufacture products than the use of virgin materials to make new cardboard. Remember to look for cardboard boxes made from recycled content.
Packing Materials
When packing and sending those gifts for everyone on your list, look for sustainable packing materials. Instead of purchasing new foam peanuts, try using shredded newspaper or even popcorn.
Keep in mind that foam peanuts are made from polystyrene and are usually not recyclable. Save the peanuts from packages you receive and reuse them for later shipping.
Holiday Cards
If sending out a family Christmas card is a holiday custom, rethink tradition and send your friends and family links to photo slideshows you’ve created. Wishing someone a happy holidays with video or pictures will outshine a card any day.
For those stacks of holiday greeting cards you will undoubtedly receive this season, remember to recycle paperboard and paper envelopes. If you just can’t bear to toss them in the bin, get crafty and use them to make small boxes for decoration or gift-giving or as a festive gift tag.
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