Eco friendly packaging

Plastic-free card packaging

I've been looking for a more eco-friendly / plastic-free way to package my sets of greeting cards, postcards and art prints. Up until now I've used the standard resealable 'cello sleeve' to protect my card sets and prints when posting out to customers, thinking that these were cellophane and made of cellulose (plants).  A couple of weeks ago, I ran out so went to order some more and found that, here in Australia, the resealable 'cello sleeves' are mostly not cellulose at all, but plastic. In fact, I read that (correct me if I'm wrong) if they are resealable (in Australia), they are almost certainly plastic. 

As I'm trying to reduce the amount of plastic I use, I had to find a new way to package my cards for mailing to customers. So I did a bit of research and here's what I discovered...

​Compostable, cellophane bags

These are made from biodegradable cellulose, which is a product made from plant fiber. Just make sure they are not plastic and that they are definitely made from cellulose (plants). The bags come in a range of sizes, look and feel like plastic but can be home composted. I couldn't find any that self-seal here in Australia (lots overseas but I'm trying to shop local) so ordered some open cellophane bags at Buy Eco Green.  I just use my logo sticker (paper) to seal the bag, and I think they look great. You could even use a bit of washi tape (made from paper, see below) or tie some twine or cotton string around the whole thing.

Compostable cellulose bags

Glassine paper envelopes 

Glassine is a specially pressed, smooth, shiny and transparent paper that is apparently water, air and grease proof. Much stronger than tissue paper and doesn't tear easily. It's also acid free and PH neutral so is perfect for storing precious artworks, photographs and collectible stamps.

You can buy it in sheets for wrapping, or as envelopes or bags. I ordered small glassine envelopes for packaging my card sets. I think they look really sweet and I love that they're completely compostable and recyclable - I'd love them even more if they were made from recycled paper.  

Glassine paper envelopes

Tape

Plastic sticky tape has always made me feel uncomfortable. Every Christmas morning as a child, I would try to take the sticky tape off all of the used wrapping paper strewn across the living room floor, before either carefully smoothing and folding the paper, or putting the un-salvageable paper in the recycling bin (a big job in a family with five kids). But what do you do with the sticky tape??? I guess you could put it in with the soft plastics recycling at your supermarket (if you have that in your area) but even that concerns me. What did we do before sticky tape?

Plastic sticky tape alternatives

Some alternatives to plastic sticky tape: 

• If your item is wrapped (in recycled or reused paper of course :), use string or twine to tie it all up, or,
• a sticker made of recyclable paper - printed with your logo, an image or text.
• Washi tape - a very beautiful Japanese paper tape made from bamboo, hemp or tree bark, is completely compostable and recyclable, and comes in an endless range of colours and patterns.
• A paper bag.
• Wrap your item in nice fabric or use a fabric drawstring bag.

For packing boxes and mailers:

• Paper packing tape - a gummed, water-activated, kraft paper tape. I get mine from my local art and framing store as I use it to stretch my watercolour paper (but that's another story). It's compostable and recyclable, and you can write or stamp on it. 
• Glue (non toxic and biodegradable) - you could seal reused envelopes or tough mailing bags (or even boxes) with a strong biodegradable craft glue. Just make sure it's made from natural ingredients (not petrochemicals), biodegradable and the packaging is recycled or at least recyclable. 
• Biodegradable cello tape - made from cellulose so it's biodegradable. Though I feel this should be avoided and only used as a last resort. I need to do some more research on the biodegradable sticky tape and how biodegradable it really is and what would happen if it goes in with the paper recycling...

Mailing bags and envelopes

Tough paper or rigid cardboard mailers and envelopes are great as they can be composted or recycled (as long as there's no plastic tape). ​You can even go one step further by re-using old mailers. I keep my my used cardboard mailers (and my local post office holds on to their used mailers for me). I'm a bit over particular about how things look so I've started turning mine inside-out and making new tough envelopes for mailing my card sets to customers (see pics below). I find it fun :) 

My reused, inside-out cardboard mailers.

​Of course, larger items can be mailed in used cardboard boxes, but I'll be trying to avoid the plastic tape from now on (see above). And, while I'm on the topic of larger items, I'm always torn as to whether or not I should use the plastic bubble wrap that I've been hoarding from parcels I've received in the mail. I do use it to protect some of my soft sculptures when posting, hoping that the recipient will then re-use it and that it will be used over and over in this way. Maybe that's wishful thinking. I guess I could put it in with the soft plastics recycling... and find an alternative. 

Anyway, these are my thoughts on the packaging I'll now use for my cards (and other things) and I hope it's been helpful. Maybe you'd like to share some ideas that I haven't thought of, or correct me if I've got anything wrong! I'd love to hear your suggestions in the comments below. 
​
Margeaux