A lot of thought has gone into selecting what type of packaging to ship your yarn in. Although I had hoped to avoid using plastic packaging entirely, when researching my options I ultimately decided that, for the outer packaging, poly mailers were the most logical choice. It’s important to me that the packaging is waterproof so that your yarn does not get damaged by the elements while in transit. Still, I wanted the most eco-friendly option possible. The poly mailers I use are made with 100% recycled content and 50% post consumer waste. There are two adhesive strips for ease of reuse, and end-of-life is thin-film recyclable. Please visit this Drop-off Directory to find a thin-film recycle location near you. Or, if you prefer, you can partake in EcoEnclose’s Take Back program for your thin-film recyclables.

If you order more yarn than can fit into the poly mailer (wow, thank you!) I will either ship your yarn in a box offered by USPS, or, I will find an appropriate box to reuse. If using my own box, I have purchased water-activated tape which is curbside recyclable and made in the USA. This tape is made from 100% virgin kraft paper fiber, renewable and biodegradable plant-derived adhesive and backing and printed with water-based ink.

I have carefully selected inner packaging which can be reused and/or recycled. While presentation can be a fun and impressionable aspect of unboxing a package, in order to create that experience there is additional packaging and therefore, unnecessary excess. The inner packaging I selected is minimal for light protection and I hope you will reuse it!

The tissue paper I selected, while not custom branded, has a fun print that resonates with my natural dyeing business. It is made with 100% recycled paper fiber and 20% post-consumer waste. This USA-made tissue paper is pH-neutral and printed with water-based ink. End-of-life is both recyclable and compostable.

The sticker seals I use are made with 100% post-consumer waste using a recycle compatible adhesive, so there’s no need to worry about removing the stickers prior to recycling. Additionally, the stickers arrive to me on a Zero Waste Liner - a unique 100% recycled, curbside recyclable release liner. End-of-life for these stickers is curbside recyclable with paper and biodegradable.

Eco Enclose offers many resources which I have consulted in my quest to determine the packaging I feel is both in alignment with my sustainability goals and within the current budget of my business. As my business grows and it becomes time for me to restock shipping supplies, I will continue to provide transparency in the materials I select. I have included information cards in every order that detail how the shipping materials your yarn arrives in can be recycled.

Learn more about the sustainable packaging terms I have mentioned.