Everything you need to know about environmentally friendly order packaging
27 December 2019
When using courier services, it is important to remember that delivery is no longer just a process of getting the parcel to the recipient as quickly as possible. It is also worth paying attention to how the parcel is packed. Is the packaging really ecological and safe for the environment?
The topic of ecology is something we encounter every day. We already know that we produce more and more rubbish every year - each of us produces more than 300 kg of municipal waste every year! We are posing a huge challenge to our planet that affects our quality of life.
Fortunately, more and more alternatives are emerging to enable greener behaviour. These include those that favour environmentally beneficial packaging of parcels. Special, recyclable or reusable eco-friendly materials are an excellent way to take care of the place we live in when shopping.
Ecological materials for parcel packaging
Probably many of us have encountered a situation where an ordered item arrived in a larger box than its size required. To make matters worse, the rest of the box was filled with plastic packaging. If we ordered the same product several times, the amount of plastic bags could supply one of the larger supermarkets. However, we don't need the rubbish, so we usually throw it in the bin without a second thought.
If one were to assume that everyone who ordered the same item does so, problems and further tons of unnecessary waste are created. This can be avoided in a very simple way. All you have to do is use eco-friendly materials for the packaging of your parcel, which you can easily find both in stationary shops and online.
Which materials are environmentally friendly?
Green materials are those that we can reuse or those that are recyclable. This reduces the amount of rubbish produced, which makes a huge difference on an annual basis. Such materials include:
- cardboard boxes,
- paper packaging,
- recycled plastic,
- biodegradable fillers.
Each of these things enables us to package products in an environmentally friendly way. The cardboard box should be chosen to match the size of the item we are sending - the empty space in the parcel should not exceed 10 per cent. This way, the contents will be protected during transport and the amount of fillers will be kept to a minimum. Keeping the zero waste concept in mind, it is possible to use packaging in which you have received the ordered items yourself.
When sending smaller items, it is a good idea to use paper packaging. It is pre-protected with a small amount of bubble wrap, so you don't need to do anything else.
Biodegradable fillers
Properly securing the parcel before the journey is very important. This ensures that it will not be damaged during the entire transport process. Therefore, in addition to a suitably selected box, its filling plays an important role. Fortunately, eco-friendly materials can also be used in this area.
The most popular biodegradable filler is scropak. It is made from plant-based materials. Its advantage turns out to be its small size, allowing the scropak to adapt to the shape of the object and the package it fills. Thus protected package can go on the road - even across borders!
If we are shipping fragile glass items we usually protect them with bubble wrap. This is the best form of protection, but unfortunately it is not biodegradable. Paper can be an alternative. Well-wrapped items will survive the entire journey without any damage - especially if the empty space of the parcel is also filled with bits of paper.
How to be more 'eco'?
Ecology is a very important area of our lives. In order not to produce unnecessary waste when using courier services, all you really need to do is follow a few steps:
- Choose environmentally friendly packaging (cardboard or paper);
- Match the dimensions of the packaging to the size of the item being sent;
- Use biodegradable fillers (instead of bubble wrap, use paper; sprinkle or wood wool);
- Seal the package with paper tape;
- Do away with unnecessary leaflets and stickers;
- Take advantage of the organic label.
The use of environmentally friendly solutions is becoming increasingly popular. People are turning to eco-friendly alternatives, including in the field of courier services. If you care about the planet, only use environmentally friendly materials to pack your orders. This will help reduce the amount of waste we produce.
For detailed tips on how to pack your parcel quickly and efficiently, please see our packing guide .
