Counter-intuitive Padded Envelopes

It's the Christmas season and, like many people, we were madly mailing things off to friends and relatives. Our packaging of choice was padded envelopes. I know I might be a bit of a weirdo but I save padded envelopes whenever we receive one, unless they are completely destroyed in the unpacking! So, several of our padded envelopes where recycled ones - an Amazon Prime envelope and a couple of used golden coloured one (there's a story coming on those). As well, I had a stash of brown padded envelopes which do not use plastic bubble wrap, but some sort of shredded cardboard fluff (recycled material).

I was feeling pretty proud of myself for going relatively eco-friendly in the parcel-shipping department. Except... some of those options are not as good as others... So, here's a question... if you're in Staples (or whatever office supply store you hang out in)... which of these options would you most likely purchase?

Option 1 - Traditional Bubble Pack Envelope

Nice paper exterior with plastic bubble wrap interior. Get them in a multi-pack and save money. Easy pull tab strip and self-sealing. Perfect for mailing things.

Option 2 - Fluff-padded Envelope

These are like the ones I had in my stash. A coarser brown exterior and interior. The padding is sandwiched between the exterior/interior layers and glue is used to hold it all in place (so you don't end up with all the fluff at the bottom and none at the top). The thing is... these tend to be heavier, are thicker and can push up postage costs...

Option 3 - All-Plastic Envelope

Nicely waterproof, this envelope has a plastic exterior with plastic bubble wrap on the inside. Lightweight so you're not paying of a surcharge on envelope weight.

Best Choice?

So, what would you choose? Do we even really give it that much thought? Well, if you chose Option 2, that is likely the best option, as long as the padding is paper based. Many envelopes will now say if/how they are recyclable.

Canada Post bubble mailer

If you chose Option 1 - the paper exterior with the plastic bubble interior then, unfortunately, that is the worst option. It is made up of mixed materials (paper and plastic) and unless you can separate the one from the other... then it all goes in the garbage.

Second best choice, in a weird way, is Option 3 - the fully plastic envelope. Like the ones that Amazon Prime uses... or Canada Post for that matter. Because they are all made up of one material - #5 Plastic in Canada Post's case, they can be recycled with crinkly plastics. At least in our jurisdiction. Other jurisdictions may just have you toss it in the trash as well. But, for us... the all-plastic bubble envelopes can be recycled (pilot project). That is, of course, assuming that the outer shell of the envelope and the interior bubbles are made from the same plastic. If they're not... then into the trash it goes.

I just had a crash course in this because, along with mailing a variety of bubble packages, we've also been receiving several. And I have been shocked to find how many of them are in the Option 1 category. I usually try to save them for future mailings but, in this instance, they were too small or got damaged in the opening. But, for heaven's sake don't buy those golden coloured mixed material envelopes new!

See... this is what we can recycle... all plastic shipping envelopes, bubble wrap and those little air-pocket padding thingies. Cool!

What we can't recycle... those pesky gold coloured envelopes and (still) those 6 pack rings!  Argh...

But we are getting there... Apparently 98% of the plastic that we put into our green bins or return to the recycling depots is recycled right here in BC. That is impressive and I want to make choices which will reduce the amount of plastic but... if I have to use plastic, I want to use stuff that can be recycled or reused or repurposed... I know that there are compostable bubble mailers out there but...as you can see on the Not Accepted pic... those are not accepted for recycling. So, unless I want to put those into our garden or compost bin... I'm not sure that they are the best option for us... I have to come across anyone who has tried to compost them. One outfit said their mailers would decompose in 90 days in a commercial facility and in 180 days in a home compost bin. Hmmm... if ever anyone mails me one of those, I'll be sure to try that out.