What was once the dream of a few people in the wake of an oil spill some 50 years ago has turned into an international event to demonstrate support for our planet.
Earth Day came together in the United States when people had finally had enough and decided it was time to fight for greater environmental reform. That was in 1970. Now in 2019 as we continue to work towards becoming a more sustainable community, what started with a single country has grown into a more than 193 country celebration.
Each year millions of people get outside to perform peaceful protests, help out at clean ups, and volunteer their time to creating a cleaner and greener planet.
But to truly support environmental protection we can’t just participate one day of the year, we need to make an effort every day. Anything from picking up litter on the sidewalk to making your office more energy efficient can have a huge impact on the environment around you.
The point of all this is that even though we celebrate our beautiful planet on April 22nd, you can get involved everyday. Whether you get involved in your personal life or your career, your actions can make a huge difference on the world you live in. We want to make it a bit easier for you to run a more eco-friendly business so we’ve put together a few helpful tips that can go a long way.
Eco-Friendly Packaging
Less is More!
Packaging is your products first, and often last, line of defense against being damaged. Because of this people tend to want to overdue it and add unnecessary amounts of material when all you really need is a box that fits properly. It can be tricky to get your packaging just right. You don’t want to leave extra space for your product to rattle around, but you need everything to fit comfortably. If you aren’t sure if you have your dimensions quite right ask one of our packaging designers for help!
Use Eco-Friendly Material
Choose a material that can be recycled more than once. Corrugated for example is recyclable and biodegradable. That means even if it ends up in a landfill it will break down over time! Corrugated isn’t the only sustainable packaging material that you can use to your benefit though. If it makes sense, consider using glass or aluminum instead of plastic. Both are infinitely recyclable meaning they can be reused an unlimited amount of times.
Get Creative with Your Packaging Options
If you’re looking for something that gives your product some extra cushioning, consider molded pulp. Molded pulp has an all-natural look and feel that modern consumers like to see. It’s made from recycled paper products that can be turned into any shape necessary and, like corrugated it is extremely biodegradable. You’ve definitely seen it in the grocery store before, it’s what they make egg cartons out of!
Sustainably Sourced Packaging
Not all packaging is created equal! The key is to find packaging that is responsibly sourced. The majority of our corrugated comes from 100% recycled linerboard! In fact the mill that manufactures it even produces the energy it needs through a process called cogeneration. Almost all materials have a way to be sustainably sourced. Even plastic can be made from biomaterials instead of petroleum.
Re-use. Re-use. Re-use.
Mailer boxes are just one of many styles that can be re-used as many times as you’d like. The Mailer Box is perfect for direct to consumer business because it provides the perfect unboxing experience while remaining capable of being used for shipping and storage. There’s no tape or glue needed so you can open it up and close it without leaving ugly rips and tears.
Added Ways to Make Your Business Eco-Friendly
Energy Efficient Lighting
When’s the last time you changed your light bulbs? If you use standard incandescent bulbs, it probably hasn’t been that long. Switching to energy efficient light bulbs can save you $200 over the life of each bulb. An LED bulb lasts 23,800 hours longer than an incandescent bulb and can save you $200 over the life of each bulb. They may be a bit more expensive up front but over the life of the bulb you are going to save a ton of energy and money!
Make Your Business Energy Efficient
You may be losing heat and using a bunch of extra energy in the process. But don’t worry this can be an easier fix than you’d imagine. Check and see if your state has free energy savings programs. Some states, like Massachusetts, offer no-cost energy assessments. Making sure your business is properly sealed can save you up to 20% on heating and cooling. You may find out that by adding something as simple as extra insulation or cleaning the air filters can save a lot of energy. Less Energy=More Savings
Use Eco-Friendly Appliances
Using Eco-Friendly appliances in your office kitchen and bathrooms can greatly reduce your carbon footprint. Energy Star appliances have been certified by the EPA and can save between 20%-50% of the energy you use. When you look at your office appliances most people think, “It still works fine, why would I replace it?” It’s tough to spend money replacing things that aren’t broken. But remember these changes save you money in the long term and make you a better corporate citizen too!
Becoming a more eco-friendly business doesn’t mean you have to follow every single tip you see on the Internet. Just pick a few that suit you and your business and run with them. We just wanted to get your mind turning on all of the possibilities. These tips and tricks may be related to improving your business but that shouldn’t stop you from getting involved in your personal life too!
One easy way to help out is to stop using plastic bags when you go grocery shopping. In the United States, over 100 billion plastic bags are used each year, none of which are recyclable. Fortunately more and more people are beginning to avoid using them. Cities all around the country are banning the use of plastic bags. BuyBoxes wants to make that transition a bit easier. For a limited time, with every purchase you make, we will include a re-usable grocery tote.