ETHICS + SUSTAINABILITY
I wanted to offer some transparency for this shop! Disclaimer: I’m not 100% eco-friendly, but definitely eco-conscious! I’m trying to do my part where I can.
PACKAGING:
Mailers: I buy rigid mailers from eco-enclose and Canada Post and padded mailers from Canada Post. If you can, Please reuse or re-cycle!
Rigid mailers can be recycled. Canada Post padded mailers do not indicate themselves as recyclable, so please re-use!
You can re-use mailers that aren’t completely ripped a part!
You can re-seal mailers using masking tape after folding it over to size. NOTE: Black out any barcodes with sharpie or carefully remove barcode stickers. Do the same with any old addressing/shipping labels.
Boxes: I reuse boxes from things I get mailed to me and the rest of the household but I also buy from Canada Post. Please reuse or re-cycle!
Boxes can be recycled. They can be re-used, cut any existing tape so that it can be easily stored by flattening it. When the time comes to use it again, set up box and re-tape. NOTE: Black out any barcodes with sharpie or carefully remove barcode stickers. Do the same with any old addressing/shipping labels.
Tissue Paper: I re-use tissue paper from things I buy and get mailed to me. I also buy wastenotpaper tissue from a paper store here in Toronto. Please re-use for any future gift-wrapping!
Masking Tape: I use water-activated tape I got customized at Vistaprint. I also use a Caremail Hot Melt Kraft Paper Tape to seal boxes when I need more re-enforcement.
Bubble Wrap: I re-use bubble wrap from mail and packages to the house (which I have in excess).
I also periodically recycle materials from PICTUS GOODS, who has a lot of materials to be reused from their vendors. Please reuse when you can!Compostable Packing Peanuts:I might use for orders if I still have some from fragile things I’ve bought for myself (compost or dissolve in water, or reuse if possible).
Crinkled Paper Filler: I might use for orders if I still have some from fragile things I’ve bought for myself.(compost or dissolve in water). Please re-use for future gift-wrapping/packing or recycle.
Kraft Paper: I have a big roll of kraft paper I use to wrap prints sometimes from a hardware store. Please reuse or re-cycle!
Glassine Envelopes: I use these to package stickers together, glassine is recyclable and biodegradable.
Cardboard Sheets/Flats: I re-use cardboard boxes cut down to lay with prints to provide extra stability so that they do not bend on the journey, if I think it needs more enforcement. Please re-use or recycle.
THERMAL SHIPPING LABELS: 6x4 white from eco-enclose and are is 100% recycled and curb-side recyclable. Thermal printing in turn also does not use ink to print.
I also use smaller sized purple thermal labels from Opentip to offset purchasing/manufacturing “do not bend”, “thank you”, “fragile” and logo stickers that go on outer packaging. Thermal printing uses heat instead of ink to print.
FLAT BOXES: I sometimes use boxes from slotbox canada, which are made from cardboard and thus are recycleable. You can reuse this box for gifts.
🍀 Please re-use, recycle or compost packaging when you can! 🍀
Goals for 2021 + onwards…
…Is to source and do business with as much eco-minded businesses as I can! But more specifically:
Switch entirely to eco-enclosed/eco equivalent for
mailers, padded mailers.
Switch to No Issue for
branded tissue paper
Get stamps made to reduce use of fragile/do not bed/thank-you/logo stickers for boxes and rigid mailers.
HELP ME GET THERE!
Join my Patreon community, where the smallest tier is $1 USD.
RESOURCES:
A list of different places specializing in different packaging needs
♻︎ ECO-FRIENDLY PLASTIC FREE ONLINE SHOP PACKAGING ♻︎ by Leigh Ellexson, links available in video description.
If you have any further links/reading, let me know so I can add to this resource list!
…And finally! Thank you for reading up to this point—it means you care about our earth. Let’s work together to be better day by day :)
-Jess