Nowadays sending packages overseas has become very convenient. All you have to do is to pack your items, hand in the parcel to a shipping company, and wait for it to reach its destination. But have you ever paused to think about what impact the shipping chain has on our environment?
International package shipping sure leaves a footprint on our planet. Luckily, there are some things every one of us can do to reduce it. Are you ready to learn them? Here are some tips on how to adopt an eco-friendly approach when sending packages overseas.
Choose eco-friendly packaging
The first thing you can do is to be wise in selecting outer and inner packaging for your goods. A sad truth is that once international package delivery is completed, most of the packing materials become trash.
The best solution to this is to use eco-friendly packaging. Today it’s not that difficult to find greener packing materials for shipping packages overseas. You can choose recycled or recyclable materials instead of those made from plastic.
Cardboard, kraft paper, old newspapers are all great alternatives to bubble or foam wrap as internal packaging. You can also buy recyclable tape instead of the most commonly used plastic tape.
And do not worry! Recyclable packaging is durable enough whether you’re shipping to Germany, Italy, or anywhere else in the world.
Use the right-size packaging
Sometimes shippers think that a bigger box will serve as better protection when sending packages overseas. But that’s not true at all. Large packaging creates many problems. First of all, it leaves a lot of free space for your items to tumble around which may lead to damaged parcels.
Secondly, it increases the waste left after the completed package delivery. The bigger the box, the more internal packaging you need to fill in the void. As a result, you have more materials to recycle or throw away.
Thirdly, it might increase the international shipping cost. Larger package dimensions usually mean a bigger price which you can always check in a shipping rates calculator.
Reuse packing materials when possible
Recycle and reuse are two key words when talking about the eco-friendly approach. And both of them can be applied to international shipping. When you need to send something overseas, you can get recyclable packaging. Or reuse packing materials from parcels that you have received yourself.
But you have to be careful about which packing materials you reuse. It’s not advised to use old cardboard boxes unless they’re in perfect condition. Flimsy boxes aren’t sturdy enough to protect your goods when shipping internationally. And if you do reuse a box that’s strong enough, don’t forget to remove or hide the old labels.
Internal packaging materials, on the other hand, are great for reusing. They do not lose their protective properties. Thus, they can be used for sending packages overseas more than once.
Ship items in bulk
If you have several items to send internationally, you may be tempted to split them across multiple shipments for a lower cost. And sometimes it is cheaper to ship several small parcels instead of one huge box. But sometimes it’s the other way around. And it’s certainly not an eco-friendly approach.
More packages mean more rounds a transportation vehicle has to make to deliver them. And this greatly contributes to carbon emission. You can help to reduce it by shipping items in bulk.
In fact, this decision can be beneficial environmentally and economically. If you send several items in one parcel, you’ll need fewer packing materials. It’ll help to reduce the waste left from sending packages overseas and the expenses you spend on the packaging.
Opt for slower delivery
Most of us are already used to fast delivery – be it a domestic or international one. It’s natural to wish for your parcel to reach its destination as soon as possible. But often our packages aren’t as urgent as we make them be.
Fast international delivery requires more resources that are harmful to the environment. Whereas slower shipping methods, such as ocean freight, leave a smaller trace on our planet. Try to pick express delivery only when you truly need your items to arrive in a few days.
Sending packages overseas with an eco-friendly approach is not as challenging as may seem at first look. Start doing it step-by-step and you’ll greatly contribute to environmental protection.
