Ecological shipment – how to prepare it?
More and more customers pay attention to how the products they ordered in the online store were packed. It is not only about the quality of the packaging or its aesthetics. Ecology is also important. Many customers point out that retailers waste enormous amounts of paper and other raw materials during packaging. It is high time to change that and start packaging your products in an eco-friendly way. Such a change will have positive effects on the environment and on the company’s image. Find out how to prepare an environmentally friendly shipment.
- Carefully match the size of the box to the contents
Sometimes you get a small product in… a huge box. Most of the free space is then taken up by fillers. Avoid similar practices at all costs. The packaging must be well adapted to the size of the product. We should therefore store boxes of various sizes in our warehouse. This way the right packaging will always be at hand. Remember, when you put your products in a box, there should be some space between them and the sides of the box. Things must not press against the sides of the box, but they must also not be too far away from them. This way you avoid wasting fillers, and also the goods are better fixed, which means they are safer during transport.
- Use natural fillers
Foam, paper or sprinkles are usually used to fill the free space in the box. If you decide on paper, it is best to use recycled paper. There is also available on the Polish market an ecological scrapbook made of raw materials of plant origin. This filler is fully biodegradable. You can order ecological fillers here: https://kartony24.eu/.
- Choose notched paper instead of bubble wrap
Fragile items should be additionally protected for shipping. Usually, bubble wrap is used for this purpose. While foil is effective in absorbing shocks, it is not very environmentally friendly. Fortunately there is a more ecological substitute available on the market, the notch paper. Its structure resembles a honeycomb, thanks to which it almost doubles its surface when unfolded. It has cushioning properties, so it effectively protects the products. It is biodegradable.
- Instead of traditional tape, choose paper tape
If you want to prepare a fully ecological shipment, you should also pay attention to the type of packaging tape. It is best to use the one made of paper and rubber. It is versatile, durable and 100% recyclable. You can also use jute twine for lighter shipments.
- Use tissue paper
Every retailer knows that the appearance of the shipment has a significant impact on the customer’s evaluation of the store. Making a package eco-friendly does not mean that it has to look worse. On the contrary, you can find eco-friendly packaging accessories that will make your products look even better. It is worth paying attention to m.in. for tissue paper. You can wrap the product in it, secure it with a silver sticker and only then place the goods in the box. Blotting paper will make your products look exclusive. Wrapping paper is recyclable.
- Wrapping paper
If you send the product in its original box, you do not need to use another cardboard box. It is better to choose wrapping paper. Just wrap it around the box to protect it from dirt or abrasion. Wrapping paper is recyclable and also gives your packages a retro look.
- What if I cannot afford ecological shipping?
Some entrepreneurs are afraid that changing the current packaging accessories to their ecological equivalents will generate high costs. Meanwhile, on the Internet, they can find a proven store where such products are offered at favourable prices. Or simply provide customers with the choice of standard postage or an organic version for a small surcharge.
Millions of shipments are sent worldwide every day. If every entrepreneur took care to use ecological solutions during packaging, the consumption of raw materials would be much lower. The sooner you implement such solutions in your company, the better for the environment and your brand image.