Thread: affordable, eco -friendly packaging for veils (and soaps_)

I'm doing google searches right now to find some creative but cheap, eco-friendly ways to package the silks and the soaps stuff. I found a company who prints up soap labels on eco recycled paper blah blah

any ideas for the silk? it should not add a lot of weight or bulkiness to a package so that they can continue to be cheap to ship

right now I re-use the plastic packaging that the items arrive in from dharmatrading, to keep them safe from water if the package is left out in the snow

but its not very attractive :)

Cannot think of an eco-friendly plastic or anything that will keep things dry. No ideas re the veils. I would have thought zip-top bags would be safest against moisture but certainly not eco-friendly. I do reuse such bags time after time so it isn't a one-use item for me.

A postal clerk told me the white fibrous type envelopes are watertight once properly sealed and the flap taped in-place. For boxes you would need more protection but the large white envelopes work for me. I wrap the items in tissue paper prior to packaging. Not fancy but every expense and ounce is a factor. When I need a box I package items in the white fibrous envelopes and everything goes in the box. All is dry, safe, no cost.

Re soaps, research prices for you purchase recycled paper and print labels against having them printed and shipped to you. Fossil fuel used to transport the labels to you is another factor.

I have read posts where you mention driving to the Post Office to ship packages. You can print and pay for your own postage online and your postal person will pick them up. It will save time, the drive, fuel, aggravation, etc. Plus saving fossil fuel. Trying to be eco-friendly certainly has it's challenges. Jes, I realize hou are probably aware of all that but I know how I detest the lines at the Post Office and the slow working staff. I bought a neat scale on ebay, if interested I'll post the link to the website. Certainly speeds the process for me.

this may be just a silly idea, but yeah.
how about doing as you are, putting the veils back in the bag you got them in, for protection. and then wrap something like part of a palm tree leaf, or some other pretty leaf you can find in your garden (just make sure it's not an endangered species).
i was thinking palm tree leaves, or something of the kind, because 1) they're easy to find and cost nothing, 2) no fuel burning to make/bring to you, 3) they're pretty 'dry' (won't add loads of humidity or oils in the package), 4) they make me think "tropical/exotic", which your veils make me think too ^^
you could always trim the leaves if you're afraid sharp tips might touch the veil, or to make it fit prettily or something...

Biodgradable cellophane bags?
Biodegradable Cellophane Bags and Rolls (Food Storage)

I was also thinking about old fashioned waxed paper bags, you can unbleached ones online.

A friend of mine imports and retails clothes from India - store is called the Culture Shop. He has started using bags made from recycled sari fabrics instead of shopping bags, he gets them from his suppliers, I guess - they are reusable, albeit come all the way from India. If you google the Culture Shop in Pittsburgh, you could give him a ring. (He's quite a character, tell him that I sent you.)

thank you for the suggestions! it certainly is tough to be completely eco and i feel like a cheat when i do something eco friendly and then use my car to go pick it up, etc

like the idea of big leaves, that would be really pretty..i'll have to check with agricultural as well and see what/if guidelines for shipping perishables and plants outside of hawaii:)

Using leaves would also involve washing and drying them. I know that would not take long but it is one more step. I do like the idea, though. Rather cool. Of course when you move stateside you would have to have a Plan B.

Someone told me there's eco-friendly tissue paper. Don't know anything about it but you would still need something to insure the products remain dry. Being eco-friendly could easily result in increased costs. It's a vicious cycle.

I wanted to add, my company uses Earthpack for our (paper) bags, tissur paper and boxes:
E A R T H P A C K

well bingo duh and hits self on head..

i 'may' try to just use all this scrap silk i have laying around, just bulk dye it a pretty blue or pink and then cut little squares of it out and wrap the soap in saran wrap so you can see what it looks like, then wrap it in silk and tie with a silk bow.

not exactly eco but its using the stuff i already have here i guess..

or rather than squares, cut strips and tie it as a ribbon... could be cute too :)

Remember... eco friendly means a lot more than people think. There was an amazing article in this last Craft magazine that taught you how to take plastic bags and iron them to fuse them into a material sort of like plastic tarping. Then you can cut and sew it just like a fabric in your machine.

You probably have stuff like that laying around. Its a though.

And i say this because my school went eco-friendly and shipped our degrees out sans plastic. And the postman left it on my porch (to his credit it said do not bend so it didn't fit in the mailbox) but it rained and my DEGREE (the most expensive piece of paper EVER) was a gloopy mess when i found it.

I cried.

Originally Posted by _Sarai_

Remember... There was an amazing article in this last Craft magazine that taught you how to take plastic bags and iron them to fuse them into a material sort of like plastic tarping. Then you can cut and sew it just like a fabric in your machine.

Was the magazine's title actually Craft? Do you happen to recall the title of the article? The idea intrigues me.

Sorry about the wet degree. A friend ordered a lovely silk suit and matching scarf online. The company didn't use plastic to protect contents and the package sat on her front porch in snow for several days. (Different postal person due to holidays, packages were usually placed on her carport. She didn't see the package since they didn't use or shovel the front porch.) When she called the company they advised the package had been delivered the preceding week. Sadly the silk dyes had ruined the suit, a Christmas gift for her daughter.

Originally Posted by txchic

Was the magazine's title actually Craft? Do you happen to recall the title of the article? The idea intrigues me.

Sorry about the wet degree. A friend ordered a lovely silk suit and matching scarf online. The company didn't use plastic to protect contents and the package sat on her front porch in snow for several days. (Different postal person due to holidays, packages were usually placed on her carport. She didn't see the package since they didn't use or shovel the front porch.) When she called the company they advised the package had been delivered the preceding week. Sadly the silk dyes had ruined the suit, a Christmas gift for her daughter.

Yes it is Craft Magazine

craftzine.com: Toadstool Tote and Rain Bucket Hat

And winter packages are scary things, i suppose.

Thanks! I wanted to be certain of the name of the magazine so I would purchase the correct one. Your info eliminated the search. Thanks again.

Originally Posted by txchic

Thanks! I wanted to be certain of the name of the magazine so I would purchase the correct one. Your info eliminated the search. Thanks again.

Any time! Come back and let us know how it worked... I want to do it, but I'm scared of ruining my iron. ..g.:

ah yes thats why i use plastic to help protect silk from rain and snow (and in one case..a dog pissing on the package (not my dog) )

veering off subject a tad but this is a great resource for crafters too and i jus found out this morning we knew each other when i danced in colorado

Sell crafts, sell your crafts online, craft business ideas for selling crafts

I bought an old iron for $1 at a yard sale. I use it exclusively for crafts.