When considering the introduction of new items to sell, one of the first aspects I evaluate is how to package them for shipping. I aim for my items to look presentable without being over-the-top.
I make use of my Silhouette Cameo to cut various sleeves, envelopes, pillow boxes, and similar. I don’t seal all the ends, so if something is being given as a gift, the buyer can still check the item and doesn’t have to find additional wrapping paper. Plus, it can go straight into the recycling bin.
Then I use a padded envelope or a box.
By making my own packaging, I’m cutting down on waste, especially plastic. I haven’t needed to order a variety of box sizes that just sit on a shelf waiting to be used. I have a large roll of kraft wrapping paper I can print my logo on, and a stash of patterned 12×12 paper in a variety of themes that can match the season – for example, Christmas.
If I do use any adhesive, my go-to is the Ecolutions Glue Stick by BIC.
When I get my self together, I’ll also be doing a YouTube video to show off some of the packaging items I’ve designed and made using my Silhouette Cameo, and I’ll be sharing a few of the SVG files as free downloads too. So if you’re into crafting your own eco-friendly packaging, keep an eye out- it might just give you some ideas! I’m in the “I have so many video ideas” planning stages at the moment, but I’m getting there.
When posting, you have to take into account not only the weight of the package but also the size. With ever-increasing costs, you want to be as economical and eco-friendly as possible, while also ensuring your parcel gets to the customer swiftly and without damage.
As I’ve mentioned before, I don’t offer free postage in my Etsy shops. All that really does is inflate the cost of each item, and if someone buys multiple items that can all be posted together without increasing the postage bracket, I don’t think it’s fair that they have incurred an extra fee.
There have only been a couple of occasions where I’ve needed to pay a little more, and I think showing a breakdown of the cost helps the customer understand, especially when selling smaller items.
Large businesses can take advantage of savings due to the sheer number of packages they send daily. Sellers like myself can make some savings by buying postage online rather than using stamps or going to the post office.
I do, however, think that everyone needs to be more mindful about the amount of packaging used.
I’m really not a fan of small businesses sprinkling confetti into packages for the sake of aesthetics, and just because your items are being delivered by Amazon doesn’t mean that’s an excuse to overdo things.
Yesterday I received a package from Amazon. I’d ordered two items, and they came in one of their large paper mailers, which was ideal for the items being shipped. One of the items was a set of three silicone bowls. Each bowl was in its own plastic bag, stacked inside each other, and then placed into another plastic bag.
Okay, I can find uses for plastic bags – they’re great for wrapping things like paintbrushes between coats so you don’t have to rinse them out each time. I could also reuse them for my own packaging. But still, that was a little overkill. Three separate bags for one stack of bowls?
It’s not fantastic. 😉
The outer bag was sturdier – a ziplock pouch, which would have been ideal for storing items in – but where did they place the sticker with the “Keep away from children” safety info and product details?
Right over the top of Ziplock.
You had to remove the sticker just to open it, and it was so sticky that it tore the bag.
I suppose some might view this as an added safety measure, and wrapping each bowl individually may have been a manufacturing decision that didn’t account for selling them as a set.
But it makes me wonder, how would this kind of packaging be treated under laws like Germany’s Packaging Act, which holds producers and distributors responsible for the packaging they place on the German market, requiring them to finance its collection and recycling?
Are items being sent to Germany for resale shipped differently? If so, why can’t that be standard for all countries? Have they found a loophole, or do they simply not care?
I’m not against keeping items safe or adding a personal touch, but there’s a difference between being thoughtful and being wasteful. Whether you’re a big-name brand or a solo seller, the goal should be the same: reduce what we send out into the world unless it’s truly needed. After all, packaging doesn’t have to be excessive to be effective, and if we can make it functional, beautiful, and kind to the planet, why wouldn’t we?
Penguin and the Bee 