Upcycling, Recycling, & Reusing

Our Eco-Friendly Packaging Pledge

Packaging is often one of the main areas in a business where waste harmful to the Earth abounds. With packaging peanuts, plastic wrap, or plastic bags usually being the most cost-effective option, most businesses opt for this instead of spending a little more to minimize their plastic pollution. 

We choose to ship our products using as little waste as possible to minimize our impact on the Earth. We do this by packing your items in a cardboard box with no other packaging materials unless requested. Our customers always have the option of adding a compostable Bio Bag at checkout, for extra protection against moisture or potential tears in the boxes during shipping. For larger items, we may add some extra protection in the form of upcycled plastic from our supply chain. 

When ordering materials for a product-based business such as ours, they can sometimes arrive with unwanted plastics. Though we thoroughly vet our supply chains and only order sustainable materials, some materials just need extra layers during the shipping process to protect from tears and stains. Though compostable and recyclable options are out there, a lot of manufacturers simply cannot afford to make the switch. 

So, we make sure to give any plastic packaging materials that come into our warehouse a new life. By upcycling these materials, we can avoid sending them to the landfill. 

What is Upcycling vs Recycling?

Upcycling is a great option for minimizing waste. Materials or items that were originally landfill-bound get to be re-purposed in a creative way, and their lifespans are, therefore, lengthened. This gives the material more meaning and use than it would have as a single-use plastic (or other material).

Recycling, on the other hand, involves breaking down the waste in order to create something new, whereas upcycling utilizes it in its current state. Because of this, Upcycling is often regarded as more environmentally friendly than recycling. It uses fewer resources, water, and energy, and is less expensive. What's more, many materials can't be recycled at all or have very limited options. Upcycling gives those materials a chance to be reused that they otherwise would not have gotten. 

How can I Upcycle or Recycle the plastics I receive in packaging? 

With any upcycled plastics that you receive in your package, we encourage you to continue upcycling the material, or to recycle it at your nearest facility. 

Click Here to find a recycling drop off near you

Here are some ideas for upcycling uses: 

• Wrap your paintbrushes to keep them from drying out between uses
• Extend the life of your fresh bouquet by wrapping the stems in a damp paper towel, then the plastic wrap. 
• Trap pesky fruit flies with a small cup and a few pieces of fruit. Use plastic wrap to cover the top and poke a hole in the middle. The flies find their way inside the cup but have trouble escaping.
• Wrap the stems of your bananas to keep them from browning too fast.
• Avoid shampoo, conditioner and body wash spills with a piece of plastic wrap. Remove the lids or caps, place a piece of plastic wrap over the top of the bottle, then secure the lids back into place.
• Remove jar & bottle labels easily by wrapping it with a damp paper towel and some plastic until residue softens. 
• Get rid of drafts in an old house by putting some bunched up plastic wrap into cracks to help keep the cold out. This is especially useful for wooden windows that have warped over time.