Are Mailer Envelopes Still a Popular Option? We sell almost as many mailer envelopes as we do mailer boxes. We have provided millions of mailer envelopes to customers in various forms ranging from 100% recycled content unpadded paper mailer to high recycled content, bubble lined poly...
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Before the anti-plastic people get all worked up, please keep in mind that on sustainable, green packaging, it is not always about bad versus good. Sometimes the decision is not all that simple and the choice is between very bad and perhaps, not so bad. Or in this case between completely unrecyclable and easily recyclable.
I know I would likely be escorted out of some green gatherings for using the C word (compromise) but that is the reality of current eco friendly packaging options. The key is to know what you are using in terms of content and how or if it satisfies the sustainability requirements of reuse, recycle and reduce.
What Makes These Plastic Cushioned Mailers Green
Much of the attention on sustainable secondary packaging is rightfully given to using too much of a given packaging material. A compounded example is using a box that is oversized for a shipment, thereby also requiring more void fill product than necessary. We have all seen the examples of bad packaging posted here on ISP and on other excellent green focused sites like Sustainable is Good.
We like to scrutinize not only the quantity of packaging also the quality of the packaging being used for a specific application. Some of this is for good environmental reasons but it is important to note that it often results in a lower cost to our customers, and today, that is a very good thing.
Typical Examples of Over Packaging
These include some of my all time favorites that can often be found in many mail rooms and shipping areas.