If you think both the frequency with which you receive mail and the amount of mail you receive is a lot, multiply that by the number of households in the United States and that number is hard to comprehend. With an average of 423.5 million mail pieces processed daily in 2021 by the United States Postal Service alone, it’s never been more important for businesses to invest in sustainable packaging and for consumers to do their part and recycle.Â
With recycling rates for paper being the highest of any substrate, it makes sense that switching to 100% paper-based packaging can make a major impact. Keep reading to learn just how much of a difference this makes and how you can operate a sustainable business by switching to eco-friendly packaging today.
Paper recycling rates in the US
While the United States is far from being the most environmentally friendly country across the globe when it comes to recycling, it’s encouraging to see that the nation-wide recycling rate has increased from less than 7% in 1960 to the current rate of 32% of all waste. Removing barriers to easy recycling will ensure your packaging is in fact recycled properly. Since paper is the number one recycled product in the US, it is a great solution for sustainable businesses looking for eco-friendly packaging, and far superior to alternatives like plastic bags known as polybags and bubble mailers.Â
Did you know that 87% of Americans have access to curbside or drop-off paper recycling programs? This statistic alone makes it easy to comprehend just why recycling rates for paper are the highest in the US. With paper and paperboard leading the recycling in our nation at 67% of goods recycled followed by metals at 13% and rubber at 6%, paper-based packaging is the easiest product for consumers to recycle. It’s also important to note that contrary to popular belief, paper-based address labels applied by the shipper as well as the carrier’s coding labels including USPS, UPS, and FedEx, do not need to be removed from paperboard packaging prior to recycling.
The Best Mailer
At Best Mailer, we are proud to run a sustainable business and believe in the power of recycling and environmental responsibility. As such, our mailers are 100% paper-based, 100% recyclable, and 100% compostable and our eco-friendly packaging is ideal for sustainable businesses who want to ship with confidence and conscience. The bottom line is this: not only is paper-based packaging easy for consumers to recycle but it is also the best choice for earth friendly brands.Â
We’re proud to provide high-quality mailers that go head-to-head with bubble mailers and small boxes which every smart business owner should take advantage of. Our products make it so you and anyone you ship to can safely and confidently recycle any of our mailers. With mailers that are as great for the environment as they are for your business, you can easily make a difference starting today.
