As online shopping grows exponentially, the environmental impact of packaging and delivering e-commerce orders also increases. Currently, the logistics industry accounts for nearly 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Transitioning from cardboard boxes to innovative poly mailers made using recycled polyethylene offers brands a sustainable solution to curb emissions and reduce waste across their supply chain, while still protecting products during transit.
What are poly mailers and why are they an eco-friendly choice?
Poly mailers also referred to as plastic or bubble mailers, are bags made with puncture-resistant woven or non-woven polyethylene plastic fabric. They contain an inner layer of bubble cushioning to protect products from impacts during shipment.
Poly mailers provide the following environmental advantages:
- Significantly lower carbon footprint – Poly mailers weigh less than boxes, thus requiring less fuel to ship, which reduces transportation emissions. Recyclable polyethylene also minimizes landfill waste.
- Reusable – Durable polyethylene mailers can be reliably reused up to 5 times before recycling. Some custom poly mailers even allow up to 15 reuses. This drastically cuts consumption and waste generation.
- Recyclable – Polyethylene plastic is one of the most widely recycled materials globally, with well-established consumer recycling programs.
- Requires less material – Poly mailer construction uses far less raw material than cardboard boxes and paper padding to achieve the same protection. This saves precious resources.
The Growth of E-commerce Shipping
Explosive growth in online shopping volumes directly increases the environmental impact of packaging and delivering orders. The logistics sector currently generates nearly 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. This is expected to grow as online sales continue rising over 15% year-over-year.
The Sustainability Potential of Poly Mailers
Replacing traditional cardboard boxes with innovative eco poly mailers made using recycled polyethylene can drastically reduce the emissions and waste generated from e-commerce deliveries. Poly mailers protect items during transit and offer sustainability benefits by being lightweight, durable, reusable, and recyclable.
Poly Mailers vs Cardboard Boxes
| Factor | Poly Mailers | Cardboard Boxes |
| Weight | Lightweight, about 50x less than boxes | Heavier, increasing fuel & emissions |
| Carbon Footprint | 50x lower CO2 emissions | Higher carbon footprint |
| Reusability | Can be reused up to 15 times | Typically single-use |
| Recyclability | Widely recyclable | Difficult to recycle, often landfilled |
| Durability | Durable, puncture and tear-resistant | Can dent, crush, or get soggy |
| Inventory Space | Take up less warehouse shelf space | Take up more warehouse space |
| Materials Used | Uses far less raw materials | More resource intensive |
| Cost | Lower per unit when purchased in bulk | Higher per-unit cost |
How Do Poly Mailers Reduce Emissions
Production and Sourcing
Production and sourcing of poly mailers are key initial steps where significant reductions in carbon emissions can be achieved compared to traditional cardboard boxes. Opting for custom-sized mailers tailored to match product dimensions exactly prevents oversizing and unnecessary material wastage.
This optimizes the amount of polyethylene plastic used. Seeking out suppliers of recycled poly mailers also cuts down the emissions embedded in raw material extraction and manufacturing significantly compared to virgin plastic mailers.
Eco-friendly brands even offer these recycled wholesale poly mailers in bulk quantities at lower unit costs to encourage adoption. Buying recycled plastic bubble mailers in bulk rather than in smaller volumes minimizes virgin plastic resin consumption still further across the industry.
Storage and Order Fulfillment
Once supplied, poly mailers occupy less shelf space in warehouses compared to equivalent cardboard boxes. This allows more mailers to be stored using the same storage footprint. Their lightweight also reduces emissions from inventory shifts involving forklifts and other warehouse vehicles. Energy consumption is lowered the lighter the load being moved.
Operational packaging emissions are also lowered further as poly mailers require no tape or labels for sealing, unlike traditional cardboard cartons. This saves warehouse labor time as well as associated electricity usage. Automated packaging stations also consume less power running bubble mailers through self-seal processes rather than having to tape boxes.
Parcel Transportation
With less weight per shipment, poly mailers significantly reduce the fuel consumption needed to transport orders from warehouses to customers – whether by air, road, or rail. This directly lowers freight transport emissions associated with parcel delivery across all carriers.
Lighter-weight bubble mailers also let logistics providers optimize loads better within aircraft cargo holds, freight truck trailers, and railway wagons. More mailers can be accommodated per cubic foot or square meter. This enables cutting down the overall number of transport trips and vehicles required. The reduction in trips further lowers transportation emissions.
The Last Mile and Delivery
Compact poly mailers increase delivery route density allowing more shipments per van compared to bulky cardboard boxes. Where a plastic mailer may allow 500 items per delivery vehicle, an equivalent box shipment may only accommodate 400. This increased shipment density directly lowers last-mile emissions and fuel costs significantly.
Recyclable plastic mailers also minimize waste collection needs after successful first-time e-commerce deliveries. If a customer keeps the mailer, it can reenter established recycling streams. This avoids landfill waste collection emissions involved when consumers discard bulky corrugated boxes.
Reuse, Recycling, and Circularity
Durable and reliably reusable poly mailers drastically cut waste moving to a circular reuse model rather than linear disposal. The sturdiest bulk-purchased custom mailers enable up to 15 repeated shipping uses before needing recycling. This prolongs the lifespan of every mailer and set of polyethylene.
Standard single-use mailers without reuse potential are also easily recyclable multiple times into new mailers or other products. Recycled polyethylene plastic also requires less energy to reprocess than paper, cardboard, or other polymers. This furthers supply chain emission reductions into the next product lifecycle.
The Path to 100% Sustainable Deliveries
Ambitious companies are committed to eliminating packaging waste from their supply chains while maximizing shipping sustainability. Widespread adoption of custom recycled poly mailers, reusable up to 15 times, provides the greatest combined reductions in shipment waste, cost, and emissions.
Key Takeaways
- Recycled polyethylene material has a lower environmental impact than alternatives, enabling carbon footprint reduction up to 50 times lower than cardboard boxes.
- Lighter-weight poly mailers cut transportation fuel consumption and supply chain emissions since less energy is needed per shipment.
- Durable poly mailers are reliably reusable up to 15 times before recycling in established consumer programs. This dramatically lowers waste and new materials consumption.
- Poly mailers take up less warehouse space and need fewer construction materials compared to traditional cardboard boxes. This further lowers operational emissions.
- Custom-sized mailers prevent oversizing, and wasted space and materials – further reducing environmental impact.
- Bulk ordering recycled poly mailers at wholesale rates provides brands with significant cost incentives to switch from boxes.
Conclusion
Poly mailers facilitate sustainable delivery with minimal waste, fuel, and emissions throughout production, storage, transport, and recycling processes. Custom-sized, recycled polyethylene mailers reusable up to 15 times offer the biggest emission gains. Brands switching from boxes to poly mailers can tangibly demonstrate their commitment to achieving ambitious sustainability targets.
FAQs
How many times can poly mailers be reused?
Most standard poly mailers allow 2-5 reuse cycles before retirement and recycling, while sturdier custom mailers permit over 15 shipping turns if properly handled.
Can cardboard boxes be recycled?
Yes, cardboard boxes can technically be recycled but often still end up in landfills due to difficulties in collection and contamination. Poly mailers offer wider mainstream recycling options.
Are poly mailers fully waterproof?
While poly mailers are water resistant for most logistic needs, they are not 100% waterproof per se. However, they still offer greatly enhanced protection versus soggy cardboard during inclement weather or spills.
How do you dispose of used poly mailers?
Used poly mailers should be discarded into local grocery or retail plastic bag recycling collection bins often available and conveniently located outside stores. They can also be taken to municipal household recycling centers.
