Packaging Solutions For Saving The Environment
Date: Wednesday August 18, 2010Posted in: Home & Garden
At some point, everyone needs packaging solutions for shipping something to a friend or relative in another city or state. Shipping outlets are particularly busy during the holiday seasons which typically begin sometime in early November or late October. There are many different styles and types of shipping containers and the packaging materials a shipping company could provide to their customers in order to make sure their items arrive safely and securely to their destination.
What many of the consumers are concerned about, besides their items getting to there destination undamaged and on time, is that the company they choose to ship them is eco-friendly. Many packaging companies are cutting down on the amount of paper, wrapping and covering they use to insure that the items are safe. This doesn’t mean that a consumers item are any less safe, they are simply packaged tighter and smaller in order to save on excess shipping materials.
One of the things a shipping company is doing to help the environment is to stay away from is the Styrofoam packaging peanuts. These are non-biodegradable which means they will last in a landfill if not recycled for years and years. Recycling them is one option a shipping company has and many of them will encourage their customers to return their unwanted packing peanuts to be used again in someone else’s package.
The other concern is the bubble and plastic wraps that many items are overly wrapped in for safety of the item. Doing the same with the plastic wraps as with the packaging peanuts is ideal, recycling and reusing the long sheets of it. There is another solution and that is to purchase the materials in a recycled form to begin with. There are a couple of companies that create plastic wrap out of old grocery bags and plastic bottles. This will help to protect the items and cut down on the use of so much plastic.
Many of the packaging designs are smaller now because there is no need to ship so much air with an item. More people are concerned with the environment and the boxes that are being shipped do not have to be so large. The smaller packages will still hold about the same amount, just with less cardboard around them. This also means less air in the carton and less air being shipped and weighted.
A great way to help save the landfills from overflowing with packaging materials is to return an empty box and the packaging materials to the shipping company. After a birthday gift or package from an online store has been received, a shipping company might consider taking the packaging materials and box back to be used again. Some of the boxes are sturdy enough to be used several more times and the tape used to close boxes is very strong.
People need to be honest with the packaging and shipping companies about what they are planning on shipping. There are sharp objects and flammable liquids that could harm a driver, handler or shipper if they did not know what was in the package. There are special containers for shipping this type of item and special ways of handling it. The best thing for any type of package to be shipped is to leave it open and let the shipping company wrap and package it up for a person right there in the store so they know how much packaging materials to use and what is in the container.
Packaging solutions for everyday needs can be found at a packaging store that specializes in using recycled materials and using less. When it comes to saving the environment, using less packaging materials and reusing what’s already out there is the best option for those who want to help out Mother Earth.
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