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.
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.
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