SHIPPING MATERIALS
Featured Resource—
Green Cell Foam:
• greencellfoam.com
Goodbye, styrofoam. Green Cell Foam’s certified compostable packing material protects goods just as styrofoam does, but is made from non-GMO corn grown in the USA. We recommend their standard Green Cell Foam over Green Cell Plus, given the challenges of recycling #4 plastic film.
Oh, and did we mention it’s water soluble? Watch it magically disappear in your sink.
Qualities: Compostable, Non-GMO, Water Soluble
Manufactured: USA
Photo: Green Cell Foam
Green Cell Foam:
Packing Material
• greencellfoam.com
Goodbye, styrofoam. Green Cell Foam’s certified compostable packing material protects goods just as styrofoam does, but is made from non-GMO corn grown in the USA. We recommend their standard Green Cell Foam over Green Cell Plus, given the challenges of recycling #4 plastic film.
Oh, and did we mention it’s water soluble? Watch it magically disappear in your sink.
Qualities: Compostable, Non-GMO, Water Soluble
Manufactured: USA
Photo: Green Cell Foam
SHIPPING MATERIALS
Packaging for the packaging: it’s kind of weird, right?
Shipping materials are an inevitable part of our modern, online-shopping culture, so we’ve rounded up a variety of options, emphasis given to high percentage post-consumer content and compostability.
1.
Australia-based Better Packaging offers a home compostable soft mailer. While the material is partially made with PBAT (polybutylene adipate terephthalate), a fossil fuel derivative, it is an improvement to the standard poly bag. Custom branding is available.
Qualities: Compostable, Home Compostable, Non-GMO
Manufactured: China
Qualities: Compostable, Home Compostable, Non-GMO
Manufactured: China
2.
Not only is EcoEnclose a great resource for packing and shipping needs, they also offer a wealth of information on sustainable packaging in their Eco Resource Center. You can see just how much thought is given to their products: 100% recycled mailers, 95% PCW boxes, 100% recycled packing paper, and more. Custom branding is available.
Qualities: Compostable (some), Recyclable (some), Recycled (some)
Manufactured: USA
Qualities: Compostable (some), Recyclable (some), Recycled (some)
Manufactured: USA
3.
Made from mycelium and the agricultural byproduct of hemp, Ecovative’s mushroom packaging offers an alternative to styrofoam that is strong, lightweight, water resistant, and home compostable. Ecovative offers both stock and custom options.
Qualities: Compostable, Cradle to Cradle, Non-tree Biomass
Manufactured: USA
Qualities: Compostable, Cradle to Cradle, Non-tree Biomass
Manufactured: USA
4.
ExpandOS paper pyramids provide a recyclable alternative to styrofoam padding. They can be custom branded, as well.
Qualities: Recyclable
Manufactured: USA
Qualities: Recyclable
Manufactured: USA
5.
Flexi-Hex offers sleek packing sleeves to protect bottles when shipped. These sleeves are made with over 85% recycled content and can be custom branded. While Flexi-hex is based in the UK, they have distributors worldwide.
Qualities: Recyclable, Recycled
Manufactured: China
Qualities: Recyclable, Recycled
Manufactured: China
6.
Australia-based Grounded offers custom-sized and printed soft mailers. As a whole, their packaging is primarily made with cellulose from eucalyptus, cassava starch, and non-GMO corn.
Qualities: Compostable, Home Compostable (some), Non-GMO (some), Non-tree Biomass (some)
Manufactured: Varies but primarily Germany, Turkey, Malaysia, and China
Qualities: Compostable, Home Compostable (some), Non-GMO (some), Non-tree Biomass (some)
Manufactured: Varies but primarily Germany, Turkey, Malaysia, and China
7.
KROWN.bio brings Ecovative’s Mushroom Packaging to Europe. Made from mycelium and the agricultural byproduct of hemp, mushroom packaging offers an alternative to styrofoam that is strong, lightweight, water resistant, and home compostable.
Qualities: Compostable, Cradle to Cradle, Non-tree Biomass
Manufactured: Netherlands
Qualities: Compostable, Cradle to Cradle, Non-tree Biomass
Manufactured: Netherlands
8.
LimeLoop’s reusable shippers are made of upcycled billboard vinyl and lined with recycled cotton. Simply mail your customer’s order in a LimeLoop shipper and ask that they return it using a prepaid label. LimeLoop is currently available in the U.S., as well as globally through their partners.
Qualities: Recycled, Reusable
Manufactured: China
Qualities: Recycled, Reusable
Manufactured: China
9.
Lumi is a full-service supply chain and packaging platform, offering everything from sourcing to logistics management. For businesses wanting to prioritize sustainability with their packaging, Lumi also provides guidance and resources. Lumi ID uses a QR code to link physical packaging to real-time digital information, such as directions on how to sustainably dispose of packaging by zip code.
Qualities: Compostable (some), FSC Certified (some), PCW (some), Recyclable (some)
Manufactured: USA & China
Qualities: Compostable (some), FSC Certified (some), PCW (some), Recyclable (some)
Manufactured: USA & China
10.
Nagel Paper offers packaging and shipping materials made in the USA. In addition to cardboard cans, edge protectors, and tubes, they also offer the relatively harder-to-find tube end cap that is made of paper too. Custom dimensions and builds available.
Qualities: Compostable (most), PCW (most), Recyclable (most)
Manufactured: USA
Qualities: Compostable (most), PCW (most), Recyclable (most)
Manufactured: USA
11.
Noissue offers a home compostable alternative to the standard poly bag. While the material is partially made with PBAT (polybutylene adipate terephthalate), a fossil fuel derivative, it is an improvement to the standard poly bag. Custom branding is available.
Qualities: Compostable, Home Compostable
Manufactured: USA & Hong Kong
Qualities: Compostable, Home Compostable
Manufactured: USA & Hong Kong
12.
Packlane Econoflex shipping boxes are made from from 100% recycled and recyclable materials. All corrugated and paper-based materials are sourced from within North America with the highest percentage of recycled content whenever possible. Custom printing available on stock sizes, as well as custom inserts.
Qualities: Compostable, PCW, Recyclable, Recycled
Manufactured: USA
Qualities: Compostable, PCW, Recyclable, Recycled
Manufactured: USA
13.
PeriWrap specializes in padding and insulation. While we can’t recommend all of their products, due to the challenges of disposing #4 plastics, their Rigid Earth Friendly Insulation is made of recycled denim and cotton and is curbside compostable. This protective padding can be inserted into a standard shipping box.
Qualities: Compostable (some), Recyclable (some), Recycled (some)
Manufactured: USA
Qualities: Compostable (some), Recyclable (some), Recycled (some)
Manufactured: USA
14.
If you’re using a compostable mailer, you’ll need a compostable shipping label. Pure offers a variety of options in sheets and rolls.
Qualities: Compostable, FSC Certified (some), Non-tree Biomass (some)
Manufactured: USA
Qualities: Compostable, FSC Certified (some), Non-tree Biomass (some)
Manufactured: USA
15.
RePack’s durable, recycled mailers are created for reuse. Simply mail your customer’s orders in a RePack mailer and ask that they send the empty mailer back free of charge. RePack is available in Europe and North America.
Qualities: Recycled, Reusable
Manufactured: Asia
Qualities: Recycled, Reusable
Manufactured: Asia
16.
Returnity offers on-demand manufacturing for custom-designed, reusable shipping bags and boxes made from recycled fabrics. Packaging is water resistant and theft resistant. Mail your customers’ orders in Returnity shippers and provide prepaid shipping labels for the return journey.
Qualities: Recycled, Reusable
Manufactured: China
Qualities: Recycled, Reusable
Manufactured: China
17.
When shipping perishables like food,TemperPack’s ClimaCell provides an alternative to styrofoam. This protective, padded material can be inserted into a shipping box to act as insulation. It’s plastic-free and fully curbside recyclable. ClimaCell can be made to any dimensions and can be custom branded.
Qualities: Recyclable
Manufactured: USA
Qualities: Recyclable
Manufactured: USA
18.
While Israel-based TIPA specializes in food packaging, they do offer home-compostable apparel bags to protect garments when shipped.
Qualities: Compostable
Manufactured: Italy & Germany
Qualities: Compostable
Manufactured: Italy & Germany
19.
Wastebased in the U.K. offers a home compostable soft mailer. While the material is partially made with PBAT (polybutylene adipate terephthalate), a fossil fuel derivative, it is an improvement to the standard poly bag. Custom branding is available.
Qualities: Compostable, Home Compostable Manufactured: China
Qualities: Compostable, Home Compostable Manufactured: China
