Ways to be greener when shipping packages internationally

Many people are becoming more concerned about our effect on the environment, as many homes now have mandatory recycling programs, as well as much more awareness of ways we can save energy or reduce our carbon footprint. One of the main goals of the ecowarriors is the use of aircraft that can be very harmful to the environment, especially considering the number of jet planes that cross the sky every day.

However, shipping a package internationally is something that we may have to ship by air and the plane is the most efficient in terms of time, but not as good in eco-efficiency. There are ways we can ensure our business or personal use package is shipped but with a reduced impact on the environment.

First of all pack your package, cardboard is the preferred material to use when packing anything for shipping, you should aim for cardboard boxes that are made from recycled materials and are recyclable. If you are having difficulty finding suitable boxes, consider reusing a shoe box or any other cardboard box to fit the item you need to ship.

Packaging insulation will usually be made with plastic or Styrofoam, but a good way to save money on package insulation and ensure you’re reusing the materials you already have is to use shredded or crumpled newspaper. This is a great insulator especially for fragile items like glass or china.

Shipping a package with fast delivery time demands usually means the package is shipped by air, making sure you have enough time before your item is shipped means you can ship it sooner, saving money but also allowing the parcel company to send it via less urgent and energy-friendly methods, such as by land or sea, which is believed to be a more environmentally friendly method of travel.

If you have a business, shipping packages individually can be more energy consuming, especially if you are using a courier service that picks up your package in a van or car. Bundling your business mail, as well as grouping packages, is a more efficient way to send important business material. If you bundle your packages into one shipment, you might even get a discount from the courier to help lower your shipping costs.

There are many couriers around the world, as well as overnight delivery couriers, each of which can handle whatever parcel delivery needs you may have, check online to find the best deals available.