Customers can now request that their order will be packaged using biodegradable packing materials by simply checking a box in their shopping cart prior to checkout.
The aim of this initiative is begin the transition over to using these materials for all the orders we ship. Currently we are faced with some limitations. The regulations of shippers such as UPS and the US Postal Service still require that some items be enclosed in plastic bags. We will shortly begin testing the use of compostable cellulose and plastic bags.
It is important to clarify that we are referring to the materials used for shipping an order, not the manufacturers' product packaging. All products will continue to be shipped out in their original product packaging.
Some of the materials used...
Biodegradable packing peanuts. These are plant based, made from starch. They are completely non-toxic and degrade quickly. You could actually eat them if you wanted to (but don't)
Paper and carboard. We recycle the packing paper and cardboard from shipments we receive. The paper we buy for packaging and void-fill is 100% recycled.
Cellulose wadding. This is cellulose material sandwiched between to layers of paper. This will be used in place of bubble wrap. It is made of recycled materials and is completely biodegradable paper product.
Paper tape. We will be using paper tape were possible. For heavy packages we may need to use reinforced paper tape. This is tape made of kraft paper with a small amount of synthetic fibers in it.
Compostable cellulose bags. These are clear bags that are made of cellulose which comes from plants.
Compostable plastic bags and compostable plastic tape. These are fairly new products that claim to be biodegradable. We will be using these as a last resort for shipping liquids and products that are more prone to leakage.
