Will that be paper, plastic, or corn starch?

It sounds like the question you usually get at the supermarket – will it be paper or plastic?

Today’s environmentally-conscious business owner who chooses to outsource their order fulfillment operation should be asking do you use paper, plastic, or corn starch? As product packing materials have come of age, progressive fulfillment providers are offering a wider range of reusable and renewable materials.

Packaging paper remains an industry staple when it comes to box filling material, kraft papers are typically recylced and offer a cheap, reliable, and easily recylced alternative for lightweight shipping.  It’s a good choice, unless the item you’re shipping is too heavy or bulky enough to crush the material in transit – in which case you might consider plastic…

Plastic you say - how can that be environmentally friendly?  In an attempt to avoid an environmental scandal here, let’s just agree that it simply depends on your perspective.  For example, is it better to grow and chop down a tree to create the paper in the first place; or is it better to use recycled plastics to create an air-bag filling solution that when you’re finished using it can easily be recycled again?  Then there’s the whole question of how much weight does paper vs. air really add to a shipment, and thusly the use of oil and petrol products to transport it… well you get the picture.

Gone are the days of the styrofoam peanut – it’s given way to a new packaging option – the corn starch peanut.  It melts in your mouth – and I can say that from experience, not by choice really mind you, but that’s another blog.  In any event, it’s another lightweight alternative to getting your product in the hands of your customer safely and efficiently.

So go ahead, ask your fulfillment provider how they’re packaging your orders – because I guarantee that one day your customer will ask you.

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