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BANG FOR THE BITE
If 10,000 Biters use ground instead of air shipping to send a 10 lb box, we'll save a total of $946,200.
COCKTAIL FACT
A company in Indiana makes baby doll blouses, skirts, baseball caps, business suits and wedding dresses out of bubble wrap.
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home › tip library › Eco and Recycled Packaging Materials
How's your gift getting where it's going?
The Bite
The hot UPS guy in his short brown shorts can come and knock on our door anytime, but he can leave the non-recycled cardboard & packing peanuts in the delivery truck, thankyouverymuch. Packaging uses mega-resources, so pack shipments smarter this holiday using recycled and reusables.The Benefits
- Create less waste. Packaging constitutes as much as 1/3 of the non-industrial waste stream, which is why 28 countries have laws designed to minimize that waste (but not the US, unfortunately).
- Save cash by reusing. Boxes can cost a few bucks a pop - avoid buying new ones by reusing the ones sent to you.
- Use less energy. Shipping early and using the right-sized box for the job will save lots of energy. See Wanna Try section below for the lowdown.
Personally Speaking
Although she loathes Styrofoam packing peanuts and plastic shipping waste, Heather admits to being obsessed with popping plastic bubble wrap. Jen says it's why there will always be two separate Bite offices.Wanna Try?
- Cornstarch Packing Peanuts - 12 cu ft of the biodegradable kind ($18).
- Mailing Boxes - using 30%-100% recycled paper ($3-$4).
- Barrier Bubble - recycled plastic bubble wrap cushions whatever's inside your box ($4/10 ft).
- Gummed Paper Tape - made from recycled Kraft paper ($2).
- Earth911 - enter your zip code to find out where you can recycle certain packaging materials, like packing peanuts.
- Ship early to avoid shipping by air. Energy costs for over-nighting by air are 4x that of ground shipping.
- Lighter means more energy-efficient (and cheaper), so make sure you're using the right size box for the job.
- Use old plastic shopping bags or shredded newspaper to pack around breakables so that those materials can be reused before they're recycled.
Dec 04,2006
Sponsor
All editorial suggestions in this tip are the result of testing and a preference for the tip topic. No advertiser has paid to have its company referenced in the tip. For more information, please read our Editorial Policy.
Packing Peanuts Suck Butt
Seriously, whomever invented the packing peanut should have his (or her) nose hairs plucked out one by one. What a stupid invention. I am wondering now about plastics too.... if our race survives past a few hundred years, they will look back at the archaeological records and say, "WTF - they invented this stuff that is designed to last to forever but yet they disposed of it after one use."
I know I sound negative right now. It is Sunday, and the world and week is in front of me, and I just hope that we don't invent anymore seriously stupid things, like plastic bottled water, Hummers, and packing peanuts. What is your pet peeve invention?
Off to clean up yet more packing peanuts from my office... even the biodegradable ones are a bit annoying considering we have enough paper and such around to use for shipping purposes. - Jen
Biter Comments...
I find the idea of throwing packing peanuts away a mortal sin. I save those puppies (even from work) and use them to as bottom filler in large flower pots. That way, I save on soil, don't pop a gasket moving the pots around and keep the peanuts out of the landfills. I got so excited about taking them home from work, co workers quized me on why I wanted them. Happily, others are getting into the "how can I reuse this?" mode of thinking!
I too am a "pack rat". Every box, every packing supply that arrives at my door goes into my closet of boxes.... you can get lost in there if you can actually get IN there!!
Anyway, I loan out boxes to friends that are moving; for soiled boxes off to the recycle bin they go. Peanuts and (woohoo!!) bubble wrap hang around for a long while. I gave my huge supply (awww) to my local metaphysical store (they do online business as well) which was much appreciated. And lo and behold, I found my favorite eco place... Mailboxes Etc!! They are so cool in that they accept those nasty peanuts and reuse, reuse, reuse them!!
I LOVED your idea about the pine cones and popcorn! What a wonderful smell to have when someone opens THAT box!
Great idea about the peanuts Cheryl. I'll definitely use that.
I think the Natural Food store around the corner from my house calls me "crazy box lady" behind my back. Everytime I shop, I pick up ten or so discarded boxes to ship my company's products with - they otherwise just crush 'em.
Another packaging idea. Shred holiday junk mail, it's usually colorful and makes for nice presentation!
What are packing peanuts made out of? I'm wondering if people store their peanuts, what they're emitting, and how that influences indoor air quality and human health.
My big frustration now, after going as paperless as possible...anybody who wants to give me anything made out of paper! Somebody should start an e-receipt clearing house website...a third-party verified electronic receipt company so there's no need to take a receipt a from a cashier and throw it awa...ummm recycle it ;)
Regarding packing peanuts, someone on Martha Stewart's staff (in a magazine long ago) came up with a brilliant idea: when you receive them, put handfuls into those dreadful lightweight plastic grocery bags and tie the handles tight so the peanuts don't fall out. Use these bags to protect fragile items when shipping. This way, you can take advantage of the peanut's excellent ability to cushion the oddest-shaped items. The bags can be put to use. The peanuts can no longer fly around the room and stick to everything. The bags can be reused forever. Your friends will no longer hate you for sending them peanuts.
I've used old newspapers as packing material for years and haven't had a break yet, including sending a television set cross-country via US mail! Since Biters probably save old newspapers to recycle anyway, all you have to do is grab some, scrunch up the individual sheets, and voila, package padding. You can wrap glass and ceramics in it first for extra security.
Another thing: People who Freecycle sometimes offer cardboard boxes. Join Freecycle in your area and get some!
I collect all popcorn/peanuts received by ~100 co-workers. When I have several garbage bags full I post a freebie on Craigslist, and make sure the taker is not a business that will charge for the re-use, ala Mailboxes, etc.
I tell everyone I do business with (including my partner's office in another state) that I do not accept any packages packed with peanuts. I threaten to return the box to them until they get it right. But fortunately I haven't had to waste energy doing that yet!
My new year's resolution is to rid my home and work place of any form of styrofoam whether it is packing peanuts, foam cups/plates, grocery store packaged meats/bakery goods and even veggie!items and restaurant doggie bags that are now styrofoam shells. In recent negotiations with a waitress she found a small pizza box to accomodate my request. I have written many comment cards to businesses that use and overuse these dreadful items. At school, we bring our own coffee mugs and just say no to styrofoam!
I live in Kentucky so I do most of my shopping through the internet since I insist on organics and fairly traded products which means I get a lot of packaging material. My local THE UPS STORE gladly accepts all my packaging for reuse whether they bundle up peanuts for resale or reuse in shipping. All brown paper is shredded and put in my compost pile and all boxes are used as a weed barrier in my gardens and landscaping beds. It makes a great weed barrier and also enriches the soil. I have a demonstration garden which clearly shows the benefit to plant material by using cardboard versus not using any weed barrier and don't even talk to me about plastics. I keep it simple and natural.
Thanks, Theda, for the "potting peanuts" suggestion. I'm also a gardener and general plant person as well as pack rat. Will definitely use your idea.
I have been bringing the styrofoam peanuts I receive to mailbox places for quite a while, but is there any re-use or recycling option for formed styrofoam packing? I recently bought or was gifted with a couple of breakable items that arrived with a two piece styrofoam form around them. What can I do with it?
Yo mamma is so fat she irons her pants on the driveway with a steam roller
Thats a great idea n I'm thinking to save it for coming days, as i love packing peanuts.
http://www.efactusa.com/paperlessoffice
Cool!wholesale rainwear
If you have poorly insulated attic space, packaging peanuts make a great loose fill. For the pas 20+ years, my husband has telecommuted here at home, and receives 8 - 10 packages (filled with peanuts) a week. All of these peanuts still lie loosly on our attic floor, and we easily have the smallest utility bills in the area!
u guys r so cool!
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PHOTO ALBUMS
Posted by: Cheryl Brinkley | December 04, 2006 at 06:46 AM