In nearly any industry, some sort of shipping is involved in the everyday process, whether it be shipping orders to customers or receiving orders shipped to your business or organization. The overall shipping process typically is not viewed as a green one; boxes, pallets, packaging materials are all costly and quickly fill up landfills when improperly discarded. Fortunately, there are a few ways to create a more environmentally friendly shipping process. Consider these 5 steps to becoming a more eco-friendly shipping company:
1. Buy and Use Recycled Boxes
When you are purchasing shipping materials, look for recycled boxes. If your company does a lot of shipping, simply purchasing recycled boxes can have a huge impact on the environment.
2. Use Biodegradable Packing Supplies
Any time you ship anything from your business or organization, you will have to pack the box with some sort of packing material to keep the item from moving and possibly being damaged. It is a great idea to use paper or starch based packing materials instead of the typical Styrofoam peanuts that are so often seen in boxes. Starch-based packaging dissolves in water, making them ideal for environmentally-concerned shippers. Paper products can be reused or recycled. I recently read an article about a company called KaTom Restaurant Supply in Tennessee that shreds unneeded paper from the office and uses this for their packing materials.
3. Invest in Plastic Pallets
Pallets are used frequently if you ship large quantities by freight. Instead of using the wooden pallets that are often seen in shipping areas, it is an environmentally sound choice to buy plastic pallets instead. Plastic pallets are made almost entirely from post-consumer products, making them incredibly easy to recycle. Plastic pallets are also sturdier and more resistant to breaking and chipping than their wooden counterparts.
4. Reuse Items Shipped to You
If you receive any type of product at your business or organization, it is highly likely that you will receive the packing materials and boxes that items are sent in. Ship your items in these same boxes with the included packing material. You can even include a note to the intended destination explaining why they should reuse the same box and material.
5. Recycle
Recycle - seems easy enough. If the boxes or packing materials you receive are beyond the point of being reusable, recycle them. Recycling ensures that you have a minimal impact on the environment.
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