Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. It’s a common expression, but sometimes it’s hard to implement. The team at Racer Boxes is proud to use mostly recycled paper in their products, but recognize that there’s more that can be done to help the environment.
According to a 1997 study, packaging in general was responsible for about a third of all the municipal waste in the US. Another study found that when the sale of items with “minimal packaging” increased, sales of “wastefully packaged” items decreased. This shows the power the consumer can have on manufacturing decisions.
Various organizations have guidelines meant to encourage consumers to keep the environmental impact of products and packaging in mind when making purchases. For example, don’t buy products that have unnecessary filler inside, choose products packaged simply with a material that can be recycled, don’t buy goods packed with mixed materials that are difficult to recycle together such as foil and plastic, reuse containers and bags, boxes and paper, and so on.
But when it comes to the “paper or plastic” debate, the EPA notes that both have pros and cons. Both require energy to produce and create waste. Plastic comes from non-renewable resources and take much longer to decompose, while paper decomposes quickly but produces more pollutants to create.
In the end, using materials that can be recycled is always preferable to those destined for the landfill. Both paper and cardboard are easily recycled compared to plastic. And for manufacturers looking to minimize the impact on the environment, this is the one instance where thinking inside the box is most advisable.
Tips for minimizing the environmental impact of delivery boxes:
- Minimize packaging
- Design boxes in a way that encourages re-use
- Don’t rely on non-reusable containers
- Avoid using mixed materials in containers
By offering small batch delivery of cardboard boxes, Racer Boxes helps clients meet delivery demands in a way that’s effective and environmentally friendly . To learn more, contact Racer Boxes today at (604) 270–8205 or racerinquiries@gmail.com.
