Sustainable Postal Packaging – 6 options for your business

If your customers care about the environment—which, according to the increasing demand for sustainable materials and practices in today’s market, they likely do—it is vital that you use sustainable postal packaging as part of your process.

Sustainable postal packaging is any box, pack, or other material with minimal environmental impact. It is typically easy to recycle, features biodegradable materials, or can be reused multiple times.

This guide details seven sustainable postal packaging options your business can use. It highlights their advantages, drawbacks, and information to consider when considering these options.

There is now a range of sustainable postal packaging options that are readily available, including:

• Paper-based and cardboard packaging.
• Paper tapes.
• Foam alternatives.
• Sustainable void fill materials.
• Mailer bag alternatives.

Newly developed materials and innovations are also emerging on the market but may not be as readily available.

Businesses worldwide use paper and cardboard-based packaging, and in the UK, around 90% of products are shipped using cardboard packaging materials.

From corrugated cardboard boxes to paper envelopes, paper and cardboard are widely recycled worldwide, making them the preferred materials for postal packaging.

One key advantage of paper and cardboard packaging is their recyclability and biodegradability, which makes them environmentally friendly and facilitates easy disposal. They are also easy to source and a cost-effective choice of material, making them practical. Their surface can be customised easily, which is excellent for branding.

However, paper and cardboard are less durable than plastic, meaning fragile items may require additional protection. They are also prone to water damage unless treated or laminated, which could compromise the product’s safety during transit.

Traditional plastic tape is non-recyclable and should ideally be separated from the packaging and placed into general waste bins. However, this does not often happen, which can contribute to landfills and pollution.

You can now opt for water-activated paper tape. Water-activated paper tape is used with a paper tape dispenser that cuts the tape to the desired length and automatically applies the appropriate amount of water to activate the adhesive.

When the tape is applied to the package, the adhesive penetrates the surface, forming a permanent bond, generating less waste and creating a tamper-proof seal.

However, as paper tape requires a dedicated dispenser, this will add an initial business cost. It may also struggle to adhere effectively in highly humid or wet environments, limiting its use in certain conditions.

Polystyrene foam is a standard material used to protect products during shipping and handling despite being a single-use protection. Although it may protect your products from a single drop, it will disintegrate quickly and not protect its contents from any impacts following a single impact.

The recycling process for polystyrene foam is complex, with only 1-2% of polystyrene waste in the UK being recycled. Approximately 100 tonnes of expanded polystyrene are recycled monthly, but this is not a widespread practice due to the limitations and complexity of the recycling process for this particular foam.

Depending on the level of protection required for your products, several alternatives to polystyrene foam are available, including recyclable foams like stratocell foam, ethafoam, and eco-zote recycle plastazote. Alternatively, void-fill options or cardboard cushioning inserts are cost-effective and recyclable options for protecting your products during shipping.

Foam alternatives are often recyclable or reusable, making them a great sustainable alternative to traditional foam. Some foam alternatives even offer improved cushioning properties for fragile items.

However, these alternatives can sometimes be more expensive than traditional polystyrene, and specific options may lack the same lightweight characteristics, potentially leading to increased shipping costs, so it is essential to understand the level of protection your products require to avoid unnecessary expenses.

Materials such as bubble wrap, kraft paper, tissue paper, honeycomb paper, air pillows, and packing peanuts are commonly used for void-filling packaging.

However, using them in excess to fill oversized boxes can be counterproductive and generate excessive waste. First and foremost, it is essential to ensure that you have the correct-sized outer packaging for your product.

Paper void fill, like kraft, tissue, and honeycomb paper, is biodegradable and recyclable, thereby reducing environmental impact. Biodegradable packing peanuts dissolve in water, further minimising waste.

Despite these benefits, void-fill materials require careful application to prevent excessive use. These sustainable options are already commonly used in the packaging industry as a method of void fill. Still, they are also widely overused in too-big boxes that contain too-small products.

Additionally, some sustainable postal packaging may not offer the same level of cushioning as foam protection, making them less suitable for your more fragile products.

Traditional mailer bags, typically used for shipping clothing, jewellery, and other accessories, aren’t typically sustainable and can take up to 500 years to decompose, contributing to plastic pollution.

However, with the increase in demand for sustainable packaging options, more and more companies are offering a sustainable alternative to mailer bags.

Various alternatives to traditional plastic mailer bags exist, such as compostable mailers, recycled paper mailers, and reusable mailer bags.

Compostable and reusable postal packaging options significantly reduce waste and are available in various designs and materials to suit different product types.

However, compostable mailers may require specific conditions to decompose effectively, meaning they may not break down efficiently in all waste systems.

Reusable mailer bags can involve higher upfront costs, though they offer long-term sustainability benefits.

As businesses’ demand for sustainability increases, innovation has been on the rise.

Companies are developing new biodegradable and compostable solutions for postal packaging, such as seaweed, mushroom, and plant-based plastics.

Innovative materials like these may be less readily available and more expensive than the more well-known sustainable postal packaging solutions on the market. They may also require additional testing to ensure protection and durability during shipping.

As sustainability shapes consumer preferences, businesses must adapt to sustainable postal packaging solutions to stay competitive and responsible.

Selecting the correct sustainable postal packaging for your business is essential in minimising your environmental impact. By weighing the advantages and disadvantages of each solution, you can adopt the right sustainable postal packaging materials for your products without compromising on protection, elevating your overall customer experience with your brand.

At GWP, we specialise in helping businesses like yours to navigate these decisions by providing bespoke, high-quality, sustainable postal packaging solutions. Our expertise ensures that your postal packaging meets sustainability standards and delivers optimal protection for your products.

Get in touch today to discover the ideal sustainable postal packaging solutions tailored specifically to your needs.