If you must mail gifts for the
holidays consider eco-alternative mailing and packaging material to mail the
gifts. The tips below are eco-friendly, money saving and some are even quite
tasty.
1. Real peanuts packaging
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.
