Plastic-free Postage

Screenshot: http://www.nzcouriers.co.nz/greenpac.html

SENDING and receiving parcels in the mail has long been a sore point in my journey to a life less plastic. Mostly I had succumbed to keeping and reusing any of the NZ Post parcel bags I received, and requesting businesses I made purchases from used other options instead of plastic to send my orders. Fortunately for the latter there are a lot more ethical and environmentally aware businesses in New Zealand these days who I am able to support and have the products I want/need. NZ Post has been notoriously terrible though for the lack of prepaid options that aren't in plastic envelopes. Yes, their packages are number 4 grade recyclable but of course recycling should be a last resort option.

I am excited now to discover at least one option of paper/recycled cardboard option for parcels with NZ Couriers. Especially since NZ Post often charges so much more for me to use my own DIY packing! NZ Couriers Greenpac has three size options all made from 100% recycled paper or cardboard. I presume you can request these packs when dealing with NZ Couriers online? Also worth requesting is their LOOP service where with the signature required parcels, customers have the option of sending the package back - a great option for ethical and environmentally minded businesses!

Amanda from Amanda in Waste-Free Land has also written about how to do plastic-free postage on blog here. She recommends paper masking tape and a plastic-free range of Scotch Magic tape available from The Warehouse Stationery.