Is there a problem (?) with using recycled cartons for dispatch.

Page · Nov 1, 2007

What do people use for dispatch cartons - do they recycle boxes which they have lying around?

I am reluctant to send out a £50 item in a cardboard box that is recycled (internally as opposed to remade) because I do not think that it looks very good at the other end. Think of a supermarket half dozen wine box with a £50 leather handbag in.

That receiving and opening moment I see as an important part of ecommerce.

But at the same time it seems crazy to be binning boxes and buying boxes.

So all I am looking for is peoples comments on what they do or how they see it etc.

RayB · Nov 1, 2007

I buy new boxes, rather than reuse old ones. Here's why:

I agree that your product must look professional
You want to be sure the box is robust enough not to be damaged in transit
Most carboard boxes are now 100% recycled - that is all I will use
I work on the premise the box I send will be recycled again, due to the waste regulations it will be segregated after use

This would be a good thread for the new green room

Whistle Ink · Nov 1, 2007

Good question!

Most suppliers do sell recycled boxes but you can't get more recycled than using the actual box again without doing anything with it.

I think it depends what the products is. If I ordered say a rucksack online I wouldn't be bothered if it was an inside out wine box - so long as it was as said above 'robust enough'.

At the moment we use 'new' boxes but as we come to hold more stock, I think we will either offer the customer the choice / or give them the chance to 'opt out' of receiving a 'used' box.

Nov 1, 2007

I tend to use a mixture. For example, I would send a PC out in the box the Case came in - makes sense as the polystyrene is there and perfectly sized, etc.

Some smaler items I buy as OEM, so they come in non-branded packaging and this is perfect for sending out again.

I have quite a collection of bubble-wrap, bubble-wrap packets, air-filled packing, etc which I use from time to time when I can - saving my own rolls of bubble-wrap quite well.

If I cannot put my hands on a suitable box, or I think I need my own - then that is what I'll use.

I reckon I use 50% recycled and 50% new.

Hedgie · Nov 1, 2007

I tend to use a mix of reused boxes and new ones depending on what it is I am sending out.
I try to use plain brown boxes whenever possible, making sure all traces of the previous use have been removed.
Personally I don't care how my goods come to me as long as they are boxed safely. After all its the contents I am after not the box.

Mister B · Nov 1, 2007

I think that it's on a case by case basis really.

Business to business is okay to use recycled (as in been used to deliver to you) but I take your point on the £50 handbag. As an internet customer, I would expect a certain standard of packaging and subsequently, as the consumer, would recycle it at that point.

And yes, this would be good in the green room.

Mister B

Page · Nov 1, 2007

I did not ask it in the green room as I am assuming that there is a certain attitude that goes on in there - one that may be very main stream in a few years time - and I want a more neutral set of opinions.

frockery · Nov 1, 2007

I must confess that I use recyced boxes all the time and do so quite unashamedly as it is both environmentally friendly and helps keep overheads down, which translates into lower prices for customers. In fact I have just sent a couple of hats out in cornflake cartons...

I rarely throw anything away that can be re-used, but I do intimate to customers on my website that they can expect to receive goods in recyced packaging.

I suppose it all depends on the nature of your particular business.

Regards, Alison

RayB · Nov 1, 2007

Page said:
I did not ask it in the green room as I am assuming that there is a certain attitude that goes on in there - one that may be very main stream in a few years time - and I want a more neutral set of opinions.

You would get a balanced set of comments in the green room - my answer would have been the same in either place

BTW - as a printer, re-using boxes is not an option as print is heavy and needs to be protected in a snugly fitting double walled carton (recycled cardboard of course)

I should have clarified this in my earlier post

Rusty · Nov 1, 2007

We use both, used and new recyled, every time we get something delivered in a box, if it is anything like the right size for any of our gifts we keep it. All the bigger boxes get stockpiled ready for someone to use for something.

The only thing we don't send out our gifts in is boxes with branding on, as I agree this would look a little tacky.

green mum · Nov 1, 2007

I agree it's probably dependent on what you're selling and who your customers are. I'm selling to 'green' parents who I think would wish me to re-use materials as much as possible so I have no problem sending out goods in boxes that have already been used.

Page · Nov 1, 2007

God I love this forum. Thanks for your thoughts.

Any more welcome.

Gill · Nov 1, 2007

Hello Page
I do most of my shopping via the internet and I love to receive parcels in used boxes - of course they have to be safe but I would happily receive a £350.00 handbag in recycled packaging - all about responsibility.
Before you all start screaming I haven't bought a £350 handbag in some time - see the sacrifices I have had to make?
Gill

RayB · Nov 1, 2007

Gill said:
Before you all start screaming I haven't bought a £350 handbag in some time - see the sacrifices I have had to make?
Gill

You sound just like my missus

Gill · Nov 1, 2007

I am unsure whether that is good or bad?!

toystoyou · Nov 1, 2007

Hi
We only use recycled packaging to ship all our products. We even shred old magazines and junk mail when extra padding is required. As mentioned before it helps keep our costs down as well as being green.
Obviously we're an eco-friendly company but it's really my mum who was born during the war and believes you should never throw anything away as it can be reused who forced this upon us!
We've even sent out a £5000 toy order in a reused boxes and have not had a complaint yet.
Personally I would prefer to receive a recycled box and/or packaging as I do quite annoyed at the amount of packaging and packing material used as a whole.
Julie

Page · Nov 1, 2007

With what you sell I can see why this is not a problem at all. It is a perfect fit.

paulam · Nov 1, 2007

This is something I have been thinking about myself, mainly due to the cost of cardboard boxes.

At the moment I have generally recycled boxes from deliveries I have recieved , but only ones without any print on and in good condition. I tend to get around it by packaging the product really nicely before putting it into the boring box. That way my customers still get to experience unwrapping their goods from lovely packaging, but they just have to get it out of the boring box first.

I think you can get away with recycled boxes if you put a statement somewhere that the customer sees, stating that due to your enviromental policy you despatch items in recycled packaging where ever possible. I think if customers feel there is a good reason behind it they will accept the less than glamourous packaging.

Page · Nov 2, 2007

Paulm - What type of "lovely packaging" do you use.

paulam · Nov 2, 2007

Hi Page,

I wrap all of my wedding stationery in a coloured tissue paper with satin ribbon tied in a bow to keep it wrapped.
I wrap each order in batches of 10 so when the customer opens the (scruffy) box they have lots of beautifully wrapped parcels. I also put little tag labels on each package if they have more than one kind of stationery.
I think this would work with most things, if you can find a way to package the actual goods which is pretty and reasonably priced, the customer would forgive the initial appearance.
Also, even if you do have nice outer boxes, by the time the customer receives it, it will be bashed and dented and covered in the couriers stickers so not that attractive anyway.
hth
Paula

globalart4u · Nov 4, 2007

i use recycled for the outer packaging as much as possible, even sometimes taking some from the local shops for sending out. As long as the contents are safe and packaging is strong and clean inside for the purpose i do not see this as a problem.

Page · Nov 5, 2007

Anyone know if I can parcel tape that says across it something like "recycled carton - caring for the enviroment".

I would like to reuse the boxes I have - but not at the cost of harming my business. This might be a way to get around the problem.

.Spiralling. · Nov 5, 2007

Our suppliers re-use boxes over and over (which is great) but they tend to be too big for us to send on to our customers, so we use them for carting stock around to fairs etc until they fall apart. I use new boxes if I haven't got something the right size to hand, but if I have a box that can be reused, then I don't have an aversion to doing so.

ken_uk · Nov 5, 2007

Depends mainly on the customer, and the products you are selling.

If your selling something expensive, that may have collectability value, then new packaging is usually a must, as people often keep the packaging for later resale (and sometimes the packaging is worth money on its own after a few years).

If its a gift, or likely to be sent as a gift then recycled packaging may not be the best choice, same for expensive / branded items, many people who buy a high ticket item are paying more for the marketing than the actual product quality....

If your selling to picky customers, then they may complain if they get what they think is 'second hand' packaging, on the other hand, more enlightened customers will probably either not care, or think you are doing the recycling scene a good turn.

Try turning it to your advantage, offer recycled packaging as a option, for a small discount they can get it delivered the green way...
Some companies take this to extremes, Sage even went as far as to say that as they no longer supplied real printed manuals as standard, but instead put them on the software media cd's they were helping the enviroment..
An example of their marketing department turning a major disadvantage to the customer into a selling point for themselves....

GiftGirl · Nov 5, 2007

I'm going to use a mixture of both, but as an 'eco' business anyway it's probably more acceptable to my customers, if not something they might expect.

I've also explained on the website that I recycle wherever possible, but if a customer wants something wrapped then of course that would be new.

As a start up it benefits me both in terms of minimising initial outlay and also as a green business. I've always been someone who keeps everything that can or might be reusable in some way, so it makes sense to me to do this.

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Is there a problem (?) with using recycled cartons for dispatch.

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