Fulfillment: Take the Greener Path
Help your customers save the planet by using recycled and recyclable shipping materials in your fulfillment process
April 2007 By Hallie Mummert
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Typically, the front end of the direct marketing process garners the most attention from environmental rights and waste reduction groups, and with good reason. Americans receive roughly 4 million tons of direct mail per year, according to statistics on the Clean Air Council’s Web site. But the back end, or fulfillment side, of direct marketing also requires the manufacture of quite a few components essential for shipping product orders and lead fulfillment kits to customers and respondents: boxes, padded mailers, cushioning materials, etc. What’s more, these materials might not be as easily recycled by the recipient as unwanted direct mail.
For example, most of the more than 25 billion cartons manufactured in the United States are used only once, reports Geämi, a manufacturer of a proprietary process that uses environment-friendly materials to create cushioning material for securing products shipped in boxes. Fortunately, more than 76.6 percent of all corrugated fiberboard is recovered for recycling, according to the American Forest & Paper Association. And there are companies like Rock-Tenn, Conigliaro Industries and United Container Company that use recycled products to create new shipping supplies, helping to reduce the strain on natural resources.
Products from these earth-minded companies and others can be found in the following roundup of recycled, recyclable and biodegradable shipping supplies designed to make your fulfillment process more green.
Cushioned Mailers
Global Industrial: A multichannel seller of an extensive line of industrial supplies, business furniture, storage equipment and more, Global Industrial sells environment-friendly Self Seal Bubble Mailers in a variety of sizes. These mailers are made with recycled air cushioning, and feature brown paper construction.
To learn more, visit http://www.globalindustrial.com
PackagingPrice.com: The Kraft bubble mailers on this online merchant’s site come in a host of sizes, but all are constructed from 100 percent recycled paper, are lined with 3⁄16˝ bubble wrap and feature a self-seal strip.
To learn more, visit http://www.packagingprice.com
PolyAir: This manufacturer of various fulfillment supplies puts out a product called Ecolite White, which is a line of bubble mailers in various sizes that feature white, recycled Kraft paper and a 3⁄16˝ bubble cushion lining (made of PolyAir’s patented DuraBubble product). The white outer lends itself to a high-end look, which marketers can leverage with custom printing.
To learn more, visit http://www.polyair.com
Sealed Air: This manufacturer of shipping containers and packing materials offers two lines of cushioned mailers—Jiffy® and Jiffylite®. The Jiffy line features paper fiber cushioning and is best used for more durable goods, such as books, videos, industrial parts, etc. The mailers are made from 90 percent recycled paper fibers with 50 percent post-consumer content; they can be recycled with mixed paper. The line of Jiffylite mailers use air cellular cushioning to protect semi-fragile items, including audio CDs, jewelry, and novelties. Jiffylite products boast 100 percent recycled paper content, as well as 10 percent post-consumer and 10 percent recycled plastics.
To learn more, visit http://www.sealedair.com
Boxes/Inserts
Rock-Tenn: With mills across the United States, Rock-Tenn is a leading producer of recycled paperboard for various types of containers. Two products of most interest to direct marketing fulfillment operations are its Millennium™ Recycled Board and Bending Chip Board. Both materials are made from 100 percent recycled content. Millennium Recycled Board is uncoated, meaning it can be recycled, but retains high stiffness and tear strength for shipping conditions. Bending Chip Board is highly durable, standing up to 180-degree folds without cracking or chipping.
To learn more, visit http://www.rocktennpaperboard.com
Uline: A multichannel marketer that sells shipping, packing and industrial supplies to U.S. businesses, Uline offers wine merchants a Bulk Pack Pulp Wine Shipper that is made from recycled paper. This insert and outer carton combo features nesting trays that allow multiple bottles to fit in a carton. Combos come in a variety of bottle configurations (one-bottle, two-bottle, etc.).
To learn more, visit http://www.uline.com
United Container Company: This Michigan-based firm recycles and sells at a discount corrugated cartons and boxes that are used, obsolete, misprinted and manufacturer over-runs. Marketers also can buy pads (made by cutting down boxes) and other types of shipping materials.
To learn more, visit http://www.unitedcontainer.com
Loose Fill
Conigliaro Industries: In addition to collecting and redistributing around 150 different materials for recycling, this recycling solutions firm also manufactures a handful of products from some of its materials’ sources. One product for the direct marketing industry is PolyCorn, a packaging peanut made entirely from post-consumer and post-industrial foams (100 percent recycled and 90 percent post-consumer content). It is treated with an environment-safe, anti-static solution.
To learn more, visit http://www.conigliaro.com
Packaging Suppliers of America: This multichannel marketer sells Paper Shred Eco-pak Void Fill Cushioning as an alternative to foam peanuts for void fill in cartons. The material’s interlocking and expanding nature provides strong support and cushioning. In addition, this fill is 100 percent biodegradable.
To learn more, visit http://www.psausa.com
Paper Mart: A multichannel marketer of shipping, packaging, party and janitorial supplies that sells white biodegradable loose fill made of vegetable starch, which dissolves on contact with water. These peanuts come in a cylinder shape, which does not interlock the way S-shaped or figure eight peanuts do, and thus might not provide as much protection for box contents. The marketer’s Flo-pak loose fill option offers this more supportive shape and is made of 100 percent recycled material.
To learn more, http://www.papermart.com
Uline: Taking the green commandment literally, the 100 percent recycled peanuts sold by Uline are green in color. They also are anti-static and interlocking.
To learn more, visit http://www.uline.com
Wadded Cushioning
Geämi: A patented system by which specific machinery creates three-dimensional, honeycombed cushioning material out of Kraft paper. This cushioning is interspersed with interleaf tissue paper (in customizable colors) to wrap, void fill, block and brace products for shipment. Both the Kraft paper and the interleaf tissue are fully recyclable, reusable and biodegradable. The company’s name, Geämi, is Latin and Greek for “friend” and “earth.”
To learn more, visit http://www.geami.com
Global Industrial: The firm offers Cellulose Wadding, a 1⁄4˝ thick, 10-ply sheet that is made from 100 percent recycled material. This padding product is oil and water absorbent, soft and non-abrasive.
To learn more, visit http://www.globalindustrial.com
PackagingPrice.com: An alternative to Kraft paper and peanuts is unprinted newsprint, sold on this site in both roll and sheet form. These void fill items are made from 100 percent recycled paper, and in turn are fully recyclable. Rolls come in two widths, and sheets in three different sizes; both options feature 30-lb weight paper.
To learn more, visit http://www.packagingprice.com
PolyAir: Another environment-friendly option from this manufacturer is Starfoam, a roll product that is made without the use of CHCs or HCFs, which release ozone into the air; this material also is fully recyclable. The flexible, absorbent, non-abrasive foam is suited for surface protection, interleaving and cushioning for product shipment. It comes in a variety of thicknesses and lengths.
To learn more, visit http://www.polyair.com
Sealed Air: The manufacturer puts out a line of 100 percent post-industrial content recycled paper products for use in cartons. Custom Wrap™ is a flexible, non-abrasive, liquid absorbent wadding material. Kushion Kraft™ is a resilient, puncture-resistant, insulating paper wadding. Jiffy Padwrap® sheeted cushioning provides good insulation, making it best for blocking and bracing of products. Finally, Void Kraft™ paper, when used with the Jiffy Packer® System, gets converted into embossed, flexible and thick packaging material. All products are fully recyclable.
To learn more, visit http://www.sealedair.com
Uline: Bogus Paper is a thick, absorbent paper made from 100 percent recycled material and sold by the roll. Used for void fill, it provides less cushioning than cellulose wadding.
To learn more, visit http://www.uline.com
For example, most of the more than 25 billion cartons manufactured in the United States are used only once, reports Geämi, a manufacturer of a proprietary process that uses environment-friendly materials to create cushioning material for securing products shipped in boxes. Fortunately, more than 76.6 percent of all corrugated fiberboard is recovered for recycling, according to the American Forest & Paper Association. And there are companies like Rock-Tenn, Conigliaro Industries and United Container Company that use recycled products to create new shipping supplies, helping to reduce the strain on natural resources.
Products from these earth-minded companies and others can be found in the following roundup of recycled, recyclable and biodegradable shipping supplies designed to make your fulfillment process more green.
Cushioned Mailers
Global Industrial: A multichannel seller of an extensive line of industrial supplies, business furniture, storage equipment and more, Global Industrial sells environment-friendly Self Seal Bubble Mailers in a variety of sizes. These mailers are made with recycled air cushioning, and feature brown paper construction.
To learn more, visit http://www.globalindustrial.com
PackagingPrice.com: The Kraft bubble mailers on this online merchant’s site come in a host of sizes, but all are constructed from 100 percent recycled paper, are lined with 3⁄16˝ bubble wrap and feature a self-seal strip.
To learn more, visit http://www.packagingprice.com
PolyAir: This manufacturer of various fulfillment supplies puts out a product called Ecolite White, which is a line of bubble mailers in various sizes that feature white, recycled Kraft paper and a 3⁄16˝ bubble cushion lining (made of PolyAir’s patented DuraBubble product). The white outer lends itself to a high-end look, which marketers can leverage with custom printing.
To learn more, visit http://www.polyair.com
Sealed Air: This manufacturer of shipping containers and packing materials offers two lines of cushioned mailers—Jiffy® and Jiffylite®. The Jiffy line features paper fiber cushioning and is best used for more durable goods, such as books, videos, industrial parts, etc. The mailers are made from 90 percent recycled paper fibers with 50 percent post-consumer content; they can be recycled with mixed paper. The line of Jiffylite mailers use air cellular cushioning to protect semi-fragile items, including audio CDs, jewelry, and novelties. Jiffylite products boast 100 percent recycled paper content, as well as 10 percent post-consumer and 10 percent recycled plastics.
To learn more, visit http://www.sealedair.com
Boxes/Inserts
Rock-Tenn: With mills across the United States, Rock-Tenn is a leading producer of recycled paperboard for various types of containers. Two products of most interest to direct marketing fulfillment operations are its Millennium™ Recycled Board and Bending Chip Board. Both materials are made from 100 percent recycled content. Millennium Recycled Board is uncoated, meaning it can be recycled, but retains high stiffness and tear strength for shipping conditions. Bending Chip Board is highly durable, standing up to 180-degree folds without cracking or chipping.
To learn more, visit http://www.rocktennpaperboard.com
Uline: A multichannel marketer that sells shipping, packing and industrial supplies to U.S. businesses, Uline offers wine merchants a Bulk Pack Pulp Wine Shipper that is made from recycled paper. This insert and outer carton combo features nesting trays that allow multiple bottles to fit in a carton. Combos come in a variety of bottle configurations (one-bottle, two-bottle, etc.).
To learn more, visit http://www.uline.com
United Container Company: This Michigan-based firm recycles and sells at a discount corrugated cartons and boxes that are used, obsolete, misprinted and manufacturer over-runs. Marketers also can buy pads (made by cutting down boxes) and other types of shipping materials.
To learn more, visit http://www.unitedcontainer.com
Loose Fill
Conigliaro Industries: In addition to collecting and redistributing around 150 different materials for recycling, this recycling solutions firm also manufactures a handful of products from some of its materials’ sources. One product for the direct marketing industry is PolyCorn, a packaging peanut made entirely from post-consumer and post-industrial foams (100 percent recycled and 90 percent post-consumer content). It is treated with an environment-safe, anti-static solution.
To learn more, visit http://www.conigliaro.com
Packaging Suppliers of America: This multichannel marketer sells Paper Shred Eco-pak Void Fill Cushioning as an alternative to foam peanuts for void fill in cartons. The material’s interlocking and expanding nature provides strong support and cushioning. In addition, this fill is 100 percent biodegradable.
To learn more, visit http://www.psausa.com
Paper Mart: A multichannel marketer of shipping, packaging, party and janitorial supplies that sells white biodegradable loose fill made of vegetable starch, which dissolves on contact with water. These peanuts come in a cylinder shape, which does not interlock the way S-shaped or figure eight peanuts do, and thus might not provide as much protection for box contents. The marketer’s Flo-pak loose fill option offers this more supportive shape and is made of 100 percent recycled material.
To learn more, http://www.papermart.com
Uline: Taking the green commandment literally, the 100 percent recycled peanuts sold by Uline are green in color. They also are anti-static and interlocking.
To learn more, visit http://www.uline.com
Wadded Cushioning
Geämi: A patented system by which specific machinery creates three-dimensional, honeycombed cushioning material out of Kraft paper. This cushioning is interspersed with interleaf tissue paper (in customizable colors) to wrap, void fill, block and brace products for shipment. Both the Kraft paper and the interleaf tissue are fully recyclable, reusable and biodegradable. The company’s name, Geämi, is Latin and Greek for “friend” and “earth.”
To learn more, visit http://www.geami.com
Global Industrial: The firm offers Cellulose Wadding, a 1⁄4˝ thick, 10-ply sheet that is made from 100 percent recycled material. This padding product is oil and water absorbent, soft and non-abrasive.
To learn more, visit http://www.globalindustrial.com
PackagingPrice.com: An alternative to Kraft paper and peanuts is unprinted newsprint, sold on this site in both roll and sheet form. These void fill items are made from 100 percent recycled paper, and in turn are fully recyclable. Rolls come in two widths, and sheets in three different sizes; both options feature 30-lb weight paper.
To learn more, visit http://www.packagingprice.com
PolyAir: Another environment-friendly option from this manufacturer is Starfoam, a roll product that is made without the use of CHCs or HCFs, which release ozone into the air; this material also is fully recyclable. The flexible, absorbent, non-abrasive foam is suited for surface protection, interleaving and cushioning for product shipment. It comes in a variety of thicknesses and lengths.
To learn more, visit http://www.polyair.com
Sealed Air: The manufacturer puts out a line of 100 percent post-industrial content recycled paper products for use in cartons. Custom Wrap™ is a flexible, non-abrasive, liquid absorbent wadding material. Kushion Kraft™ is a resilient, puncture-resistant, insulating paper wadding. Jiffy Padwrap® sheeted cushioning provides good insulation, making it best for blocking and bracing of products. Finally, Void Kraft™ paper, when used with the Jiffy Packer® System, gets converted into embossed, flexible and thick packaging material. All products are fully recyclable.
To learn more, visit http://www.sealedair.com
Uline: Bogus Paper is a thick, absorbent paper made from 100 percent recycled material and sold by the roll. Used for void fill, it provides less cushioning than cellulose wadding.
To learn more, visit http://www.uline.com
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