Finding a single, small item buried inside an extremely oversized box with lots and lots of packaging for good luck, is like the Where’s Wally? of unboxing. While online shopping has become well known for its convenience, it has also normalised fragmented deliveries, and prioritised speedy logistics over the right sized packaging.

Therefore, the excessive packaging relies heavily on recycling systems instead of companies prioritising reduced packaging in the first place. I’ve heard many end users say “At least it’s recyclable” without questioning the excessive packaging or even the transportation required of the journey to get the item from the company to the home.

Is this a slide into quiet acceptance as we shrug our shoulders and say it’s okay? Otherwise, how can brands and businesses be sustainable through purposeful packaging?

Our Practical Perspective

Posting orders is tricky, as there’s a balancing act between being sustainable and minimising packaging and ensuring an item arrives exactly as described – unbroken and not affected by the weather. At ReNewy Living, most items are one of a kind. If a piece arrives damaged or broken, it cannot be replaced. In this way, the most “unsustainable” thing we could do is want a unique item to go to landfill because the packaging failed.

This is why we have a practical perspective on the types of purposeful packaging. Yes, you may see plastic bubble wrap in your order, but there’s a story behind it. We prioritise reuse over new.

ReNewy Living chooses to send all parcels and letters with Australian owned Australia Post, as they deliver to everyone across Australia (and no, this is not a sponsored post!). This choice is an intentional decision based on years of postal experience and a commitment to reliable, established networks.

Below are three ideas you can use for your own shipping or gifting through purposeful packaging.

1. The Second Life Rule

Re-using things already in circulation or excess to someones needs is an essential part of my business practice. The easiest re-use items include mailing boxes and bubble wrap.

Mailing boxes are sourced and reused from either my own orders, or from my local Buy Nothing group.

The bubble wrap you find in your ReNewy Living parcel is sourced entirely from people in my community who’ve moved house and no longer need it.

By reusing these materials, we prevent them from entering the waste stream prematurely and eliminate the environmental cost of manufacturing brand-new “eco-friendly” alternatives.

2. The Weatherproof & Protective Factor

I’ve found that traditional bubble wrap is the most effective way to protect fragile, one-of-a-kind items. It’s lightweight, flexible, and waterproof. When it comes to breakables, bubble wrap is the most reliable way to ensure an item doesn’t break and therefore end up as landfill.

But I’ve never purchased new bubble wrap. Every piece of bubble wrap is reused, sourced from my local Buy Nothing group, as described in the Second Life Rule above.

By using what already exists, whether it be bubble wrap or plastic sleeves (also sourced from community excess needs), we’re extending it’s usable life before heading to the bin.

3. The Right Fit Rule

While I reuse boxes whenever possible, the majority of mailing boxes I have are brand new. However, they’re the best fit for the products and Australia Post‘s mailing box dimensions.

To prevent an item from moving during transit, I fill any void space with reused tissue paper (sourced from the excess stock of a closed down shop) or rescued bubble wrap.

Did you know that Australia Post determines shipping costs based on two factors – the weight and the cubic size. Therefore, finding the right sized box isn’t just better for the planet, it also avoids unnecessary postage costs.

If large companies choose inappropriately sized larger boxes for their packaging, it either means they’re ensuring a speedy production line or they have a ridiculously good deal on postage that shields them from the true cost of shipping “space”.

More Sustainable Alternatives

Being purposeful also means being transparent about where we are in our delivery and logistics journey. We currently use brand-new packing tape, as we have a significant supply in stock. In the spirit of not wasting what we already have, we’ll use this up first. When the time comes to restock, I’ll research whether eco-friendly packing tape is in fact a more sustainable alternative or simply a perceived one. This ensures that every change we make is backed by impact, not just image.

The One Order, One Delivery Guarantee

One of the greatest environmental advantages of shopping with a small business like ReNewy Living is our single point of dispatch. Unlike large retailers that might ship three items from three different warehouses, I guarantee that if you order multiple items, they will arrive in one box. This simple act is another example of purposeful packaging by drastically reducing materials, fuel, and the overall carbon footprint of your order.

Being open about our choices, even the un-glamourous ones like re-using plastic, invites you to move from passive acceptance – “at least it’s recyclable”, to active awareness – “I understand the story behind this box”.

Small businesses are powerful agents of change. While we might not have the massive budget of national and global retailers, we have something more valuable: leading with purpose and transparency.

Being Sustainable through Purposeful Packaging

Relevant External Links

Where’s Wally? classic paperback children’s book (#qbdbooks #affiliate)
Australia Post connecting Australians every day though more than 4,000 Post Offices
Australia Post’s Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Roadmap to deliver positive outcomes for people, communities and the planet.
Buy Nothing app – available on Apple and Google Play
About the Buy Nothing movement