Unique, Inexpensive and Eco-Alternative Packaging To Mail Gifts

Instead of the Styrofoam peanuts use real peanuts, the kind you eat, to stuff around a package for protection during shipment. Other kinds of shelled nuts such as pecans, almonds, walnuts, etc., can also be used as well. Your gift receiver can enjoy the gift and then snack on peanuts later.

Word of caution: make sure the person you are mailing the gift to isn’t allergic to the nuts.

2. Plastic bags

If you still are not using reusable bags to go grocery shopping then you probably have a few handful of plastic grocery bags stored somewhere. Take the plastic bags out of storage and use them as mail stuffing to protect gifts during protection.

3. Leaves

If you are going to rake and gather leaves to put in a large black plastic bag (mine go into the compost bin) set a box or two full aside for packaging material. Just make sure the leaves are dry. Wet leaves could wet the wrapping paper of the gift.

4. Pine cones

My mother in law hates to have these in her yard because she says they look like dog poo. I agree they do, but instead of throwing them away they could be used to safely mail a gift too.

5. Used paper

Shredded or balled up newspaper, junk mail and old magazines, make great, sturdy packaging material too.  It can also all be used again and again. Then at the end of use it can all be dumped in a recycle bin.

6. Candies

Hard candies and chocolates like kisses can also be used for packaging but could become very messy if for any reason it melts.

7. Weatherizing worms

Weatherizing worms can be wrapped around the gift for protection and then used later to prevent air leaks at windows and doors.

8. Handmade blanket

A handmade blanket (crocheted, knit, quilted, patched or sewn) can serve a double gift mailing purpose. It can used to protect the gift during shipment and then the gift receiver can cozy up under the blanket as they sip their gift of organic coffee in their reusable mug gift and watch their gift movie.

9. Containers

The container the gift is mailed in counts too. Use boxes and envelops can be use to mail gifts. If you don’t have any used one consider purchasing or using mailing container made out of recycled material.

10. The note

In the package leave a note for the gift receiver wishing them the best during the holidays and then asking them to please recycle or reuse the packaging material their eco-friendly gift arrived in.

11. Someone else is doing the mailing

Tell the company shipping the gift out that you would like your gift packaged with eco-friendly material. If they sound confused email them this list.