Holiday Packaging That Will Save You Money
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.
As of June 17th 2011 we have upgraded our comment system to use Facebook comments. The below comments are closed and are listed for historical purposes.
Keegan
posted on December 10th, 2009 at 6:12 pm
And don’t forget: if you and the person you’re wishing a Merry Christmas to both have a computer with E-Mail, you can even send an electronic card! That’s what I always do when I can.
Go Green With Your Holiday Packaging | Lionsgate-Herndon
posted on December 11th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
[...] Each year the US Postal Service sends out about 212 pices of mail around the holiday season. Do you know how much cardboard, paper, and stamps that is? There are ways to green when going to the post office. You should check them out here. [...]
Green Your Packages | The Wellington-Arlington
posted on December 11th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
[...] Wait! Before you head over to the Post Office, have you made sure that your packages are environmentally friendly? Each year the US Postal Service sends out about 212 pieces of mail around the holiday season. Do you know how much cardboard, paper, and stamps that is? There are ways to green when going to the post office. You should check them out here. [...]
PaperNuts
posted on December 14th, 2009 at 6:32 am
We are PaperNuts! PaperNuts are the most environmentally responsible and customer-friendly material that can be used to fill the empty space in boxes. With PaperNuts your product stays put in the center of the box and free from damage in shipment. Use us to fill your christmas boxes! We are cheap!
Find us on Facebook! Search for Papernuts.com and become a fan! Or visit our website http://www.papernuts.com. Think about a white and GREEN christmas!
Happy Holydays!
A PaperNut
Pasm
posted on December 14th, 2009 at 6:54 am
Hi, you can also use papernuts to fill boxes. That is a cheap and green way.
Find Papernuts.com on facebook!