Working to minimise waste in packaging.
As a retailer of stained glass sheets, I am very aware that Australia Post are not the gentlest with our parcels, to say the least.
I am also very conscious of the amount of waste we humans generate, and the dreadful harm it is doing to our wonderful planet.
When I started this business, just about every retailer used plastic bags to send out product. Paper bags just aren’t strong enough, and of course, everyone wants to be able to see the product they have! So, I initially trialled eco-friendly bags, and found they didn’t cut the mustard – they weren’t strong enough, they really weren’t clear, and the bags would usually tear when one tried to open the zip-lock. I had no choice but to revert to zip-lock bags. I was also aware that most clients like to store their tesserae in sturdy, stackable containers – so they could see what they had. Of course, many aren’t organised enough to record the source of their treasures.
So I hit on the idea of using BPA-free re-usable containers to ship tiles in. Clients can pop them straight onto their shelves, they stack easily, and the label for re-ordering is right there on the lid! Of course, they are a bit more difficult to pack, but you do get a lot of tiles in a tub, and I have worked hard to offer quality product that is still great value for money – tubs and all.
I do use Bubble wrap to pack stained glass, BUT I save all bubble-wrap that I receive for re-use, and have purchased one roll of “green” bubble wrap. Because of all the re-usable materials I use, that roll is still going after more than 12 months. The polystyrene sheets I use for glass packing also come from re-cycling.
I also use ECO peanuts as fillers – these break down in water. I haven’t purchased single-use plastic for nearly 2 years – hopefully will never have to again. I re-use lots of sturdy grout boxes as protective filler too.
The biggest issue I have is storing all the packing materials – it is very bulky!
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