Eco friendly packaging for small business: a print guide

For most small businesses, eco friendly packaging comes down to a few printed pieces: the mailer or box, the label or sticker that closes it, and the card or tag that goes inside. If each of those pieces is made from recycled paper and none of them adds plastic to the package, your customer can put the whole thing in a curbside recycling bin.

This guide covers how to choose each piece, which finishes keep a package recyclable, how to keep the cost reasonable on smaller runs, and how to describe your packaging without overstating it. For the full list of what we print, see our sustainable product packaging page.

What a small business package usually includes

• The outer package. A paper mailer for soft or flat goods, or a box for anything fragile or meant to be presented.
• A label or sticker. A shipping label, a logo sticker that seals the box, or a product label on the item itself.
• An insert. A thank you card, a care card, a discount card or a short note about the brand.
• A hang tag or product card. Common for clothing, accessories and gifts.
• Void fill. Whatever keeps the product from moving around in transit.

You do not need every piece. Many brands ship well with a mailer, one sticker and one card. Fewer pieces means less material, less packing time and a lower cost per order.

Choose the outer package first

The outer package decides most of the cost and most of the material, so it is worth settling first.

Kraft paper mailers

Paper mailers suit clothing, stationery, books, jewelry and other items that do not need crush protection. Our recycled kraft shipping mailers have no plastic bubble liner, so they can go in curbside recycling. Standard sizes are 6 x 9 in, 9 x 12 in, 10 x 13 in and 12 x 15 in, and they can be printed in one or two colors with your logo.

Mailer boxes

Boxes suit candles, ceramics, cosmetics, food gifts and anything that should arrive looking presented. Our tab-lock mailer boxes are made from 100% post-consumer recycled fluted board and close with locking tabs, so they can be assembled without plastic tape.

Size the package to the product

An oversized package costs more in board, in void fill and often in postage, because carriers charge by size as well as weight. Measure the product as it ships, including any inner wrap, and choose the smallest standard size that fits. If no standard size fits well, a custom size can be quoted.

Keep the label from undoing the work

A plastic label on a paper box can be enough to keep the box out of the recycling. The simplest rule is to match the label to the surface it goes on.

• Paper boxes and mailers: use a recycled paper label or sticker, which can be recycled with the package.
• Bottles, jars and products that get wet: use a waterproof material such as TerraSkin stone paper.
• Items that will be composted: use a compostable film label.

When you order labels or stickers, tell us what they are going on so the facestock and adhesive can be chosen for that surface. Our guide to recyclable and compostable stickers explains liners and adhesives in more detail.

Inserts, thank you cards and hang tags

Printed inserts are a small cost and a good place to tell customers about your brand. They also give you room for a line about how to recycle the package.

• Insert and thank you cards print well on recycled cover stock. An A6 card (4.5 x 6.25 in) fits more cards on a press sheet than a 5 x 7 in card, which lowers the cost of each one. See postcards for flat cards and greeting cards for folded cards with envelopes.
• Hang tags can be printed on recycled paper, cotton stock or recycled chipboard, with string or elastic for attaching them. See custom hang tags for sizes and stocks.

Finishes that keep a package recyclable

The finish is where many packages lose their recyclability. Plastic film lamination, plastic windows and heavy foil coverage can stop a paper package from being recycled.

• Leave the paper uncoated, or use an aqueous coating if the surface needs protection.
• One or two ink colors on natural kraft look deliberate and keep the cost down.
• If you want a premium look, consider an emboss, a die-cut shape or a colored stock instead of a film.
• Use paper tape or a paper sticker to close the package instead of plastic tape where you can.

Our longer guide to sustainable packaging on recycled paper and board covers inks, coatings and adhesives in more depth.

Void fill without plastic

If the product needs cushioning, paper based fill keeps the package in one material. Crumpled kraft paper, shredded paper and corrugated paper wrap all go in the same bin as the box. A box sized closely to the product needs less fill in the first place.

Keeping the cost reasonable on smaller runs

• Use standard sizes. Stock mailer and card sizes cost less than custom sizes and are usually faster to produce.
• Keep the color count low. One or two colors on kraft cost less than full color and suit a natural look.
• Quote the pieces together. Pricing the mailer, sticker and insert card at the same time makes it easier to see the total cost per package and keeps the branding consistent.
• List the quantities you are considering. Prices per piece usually drop as quantity goes up, so it helps to see more than one quantity before you decide.
• Plan your reorder. Most packaging orders are ready in one to two weeks from artwork approval, so reorder before you run low.

Describing your packaging accurately

Customers notice packaging claims, and vague claims can backfire. Say what is true about the specific piece, such as "This mailer is made from recycled paper. Please recycle it." Avoid broad terms such as "zero waste" or "biodegradable" unless you can back them up for that exact item. In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission's Green Guides explain how environmental claims on packaging should be worded.

A quick checklist

• The outer package is recycled paper or recycled board.
• The package is sized to the product.
• Labels and stickers match the surface they go on.
• Finishes are uncoated or aqueous, with no plastic film or window.
• Void fill is paper based.
• The insert or flap tells the customer how to recycle the package.

Common questions

What is the most eco friendly packaging for a small business?

For most products, paper based packaging made from recycled fiber, printed with soy-based inks and left uncoated or aqueous coated. It works in curbside recycling programs that most customers already use.

Are kraft paper mailers recyclable?

Our recycled kraft mailers have no plastic bubble liner, so they can go in curbside paper recycling.

Is eco friendly packaging more expensive?

It depends on the item, the size and the quantity. Standard sizes and simple one or two color printing keep the cost down. A quote gives you the actual number for your package.

What should I send when I ask for a packaging quote?

Send the product dimensions and weight, how it ships, the pieces you need, the quantities you are considering and your artwork if you have it.

To price mailers, boxes, labels and inserts for your business, request a quote and we will come back with stock options and a price.