It is often said that good things come in small packages. If that is true, we have just provided you with some great new ways to ship them in green, eco friendly, 100% PCW boxes. We discovered that our 6” cube box was still too large for some products, so we added a 4” and 5” cube. At the other end of the size spectrum we also added a 16”, 18” and 20” cube shipping boxes as well.

12 Stock Sizes of Cube Shipping Boxes

Our cube box line up now includes: 4”, 5”, 6”, 8”, 9”, 10” 12”, 13”, 14”, 16”, 18”, and 20” cube boxes, in stock and ready to ship immediately.

Why Is It Important to Use the Correct Size Box?

Using the smallest possible size shipping box offers many sustainable and economic advantages.

• Obviously, cost. Typically the smaller the box, the lower the cost
• The smaller box uses less tape to seal it
• The smaller box requires less void fill product
• In some cases it reduces shipping cost
• A smaller box can reduce the required storage area
• It delivers minimal packaging to your eco minded customers

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Lynn first caught our attention almost a year ago when she called into our office asking about the impact of corrugated printing inks on the composting process. We quickly recognized this was a woman who was serious about sustainability and about her new business.

I recently had the pleasure of chatting with Lynn for this interview to learn what drives a wife, mother of twin four-year old boys, and former medical epidemiologist to become a green entrepreneur.

DS: Lynn, can you give us a little background on you and what led to the launching of your web based store, Compostable Goods?

LB: There were two events that led me to launch the store. The first was attending a lecture at an environmental health conference by William McDonough, co-author of Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things. This beautifully simple design theory permanently changed the way I think. The second event was having twins. I was completely overwhelmed by the amount of goods, most of which are landfill bound that invaded our home. I began to ask myself how many commercially available products can be composted rather than land filled, and the answer has been “not many”. Compostable Goods has been about pulling those existing products together and designing new products that will happily participate in the composting process.

DS: At first glance it would appear that owning an operating an internet green business is a great departure from as career in epidemiology but I know you don’t agree with that.

LB: That’s right – I see Compostable Goods as a public health and planet health project. Public health controls disease and promotes the health of people at a population level. Compostable Goods is a natural extension of that effort for me. I see composting as a tool that can help reduce pollution, including greenhouse gasses and non-biodegradable synthetics, improve land use practices, and improve our soils further supporting plant growth.

DS: Lynn, please tell us what makes your approach and products different from the many other green product stores on the web.

LB: Our products are selected by their ultimate form of disposal. This requires asking a lot of questions about what kinds of materials and ingredients are used. For example, most textiles, even those made with organic fibers, are sewn with polyester thread. Polyester won’t break down in a compost heap so that product will likely ultimately end up in a landfill. (more…)

Six weeks ago I agreed to write a blog for Packaging Digest and quite frankly I was not sure how it was going to work out. After all writing two posts per week here on ISP and an occasional post on great eco focused sites like GreenBiz and Sustainable is Good does take some time.

I am glad to say it has worked out great. The people at Reed Business have been super to work with and it provides me an outlet to write on some “meatier” topics. If you have not checked out Packaging Digest recently or my blog, “Common Sense and Sustainability”, please do. You will find these recent posts:

• When Green Meets Packaging and They Run into Sales and Marketing – A new post on a great green product idea in need of some help.
• The Incredible Promotional Green Bag – A somewhat controversial post about those reusable bags that everyone seems to be selling and using.
• When Green Packaging Fails – If you have experienced damage problems with green packaging, you may enjoy this post.
• Is Your Packaging Eco Obvious – This post lists packaging products that are obviously green to eco minded consumers and some that are not.
• Square Watermelons? Has Sustainability Gone Too Far? – A tongue in cheek look at a new development in green. It also includes a cute photograph of “Papa’s little sweetheart”.

Please feel free to contact me (off line if you prefer) and I will gladly answer any questions. I appreciate all comments and perspectives, even when they don’t necessarily agree with mine.
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Visit the Globe Guard Eco Friendly Packaging Store for -

Eco Friendly Corrugated Boxes

Eco Friendly Shipping Supplies

Special Deals on Packaging Supplies

and more!

Tough Decisions for American Car Buyers

I think my commitment to green is being tested much like my patience is tried on an almost daily basis. The lease on my company car has run out and I am stuck in a frustrating state of indecision. Even after you decide whether or not the purchase of a new car is a wise thing to do in the current economic state, you are still left with a wide variety of smaller and even tougher decisions to make.

American or foreign brand?

There has always been a part of me that prefers to buy American whenever possible but is that smart when so much of the domestic automobile industry is on the brink of failure? I am sure I am not the only potential car buyer concerned about warranties, parts availability and even resale/trade in value of some makes and models.

For so long “foreign” meant manufactured in Europe or Japan but now manufacturers from China and South Korea are also working for their share of the US market, making good cars and tougher choices.

Domestic manufactured or domestic assembled?

Many of the foreign cars today are at least in part assembled in the U.S. so that line has become very hazy at best. I was surprised some manufacturers are doing assembly in Canada. That may not be domestic but I can hardly consider that foreign.

Luxury versus practical? (more…)

It had been a while since I wrote on this subject but a recent experience reminded me it was time again. I spoke to a potential customer who wanted our Globe Guard, 100% PCW shipping boxes.

The problem (he thought) was that he needed a different size and a heavier grade not listed on our green packaging, e-commerce site. Since the boxes were for the launch of a new, unproven product, he was concerned about having to order large initial quantities. I could see he was very worried about cost, especially when he admitted he would love to add his logo on two sides of the new box.

The fear left his face and he smiled when I told him none of his perceptions about custom size, custom grade, custom printed, green packaging were true.

When and Why Custom Grade, Eco Friendly Boxes Make Sense

Even though 32 ECT is the most popular grade, we know there are times when a heavier duty box is necessary. We offer a standard upgrade 44 ECT and have even worked with double wall construction designs when needed. The price jump from 32 to 44 ECT is usually less than 10% or in most cases, a few cents per box. This also puts to rest another old packaging wives’ tale – “my application is to tough for recycled corrugated board”. Nonsense! We can tailor the box thickness and grade to the application because we do not just offer what we have in stock.

Custom Size Shipping Boxes

We currently offer 24 of the most popular sizes on our green packaging store and that will increase to at least 30 in the next month or two. However, 50% of the boxes we sell are not stock boxes at all. We make them to our customers exact size requirements and have made as few as one hundred boxes for customers with a short run need. Don’t believe anyone who tells you you have to buy hundreds or thousands of boxes to get the size you need. We do it for our customers every day of the week. Those large internet and catalog companies who offer “hundreds of sizes in stock” are terrific but not if the size you need for your product is not on their stock list.

Custom Print Shipping Boxes (more…)

Joe Dutelle
October 12, 1940 – August 5, 2009

I am not sure who I should credit for that quote or if it is simply is a variation of something someone like Will Rogers might have said, but it was never truer than when said about my dear friend and mentor, Joe Dutelle.

Joe was diagnosed early last week with terminal liver cancer and died suddenly on Wednesday, leaving everyone who knew him in shock. Rarely has anyone lived life as richly and deeply as Joe so his sudden loss left the many people who loved and respected him, stunned with an overwhelming need to say goodbye to a most unique and loving man.

A Beautiful, Well Deserved Tribute

I attended Joe’s memorial service last Friday and was honored when asked by his lovely wife Joanne to speak during his eulogy about Joe’s very successful career in packaging. Joe’s pastor spoke before me and I was followed by Joe’s youngest son Mark and his only daughter Nikki, both who under the circumstances did an incredible job of sharing their life with their dad with the crowd. What many people noticed was the amazing consistency of the comments made from four different people, with four different perspectives, speaking about four different facets of Joe’s life.

All four of us speakers talked about Joe’s loving nature, as well as his unselfishness and willingness to share his time and extensive knowledge about almost anything at all. We all recalled Joe’s genuine warmth toward all people regardless of who they were or what they did for a living. In Joe’s mind and heart, the president of a company ranked equally with a bus boy or waitress and he treated everyone as if they were a long lost friend. Joe had a rare ability to make people feel important and loved, and not surprisingly they instantly loved him back. Traveling with Joe as I often did, was truly an experience. He would always make time to chat with people we met along the way, so we were often behind schedule but well ahead in terms of Joe’s purpose and passion.

Business Is What We Do, Not Who We Are (more…)

Like most sellers of packaging materials we offer our customers what is referred to as bracket pricing. The larger the quantity you purchase, the lower your price, which seems quite logical. However, on a somewhat regular basis we like to offer “best bracket” pricing which gives customers the best price on any quantity they purchase.

Why Do We Sell Our Eco Friendly Shipping Boxes at One Low Price?

It is always a temporary offer or “sale” but there are some good legitimate business reasons for doing this.

• To help launch a new product or size
• To help reduce inventory for cost or space reasons
• To close out a size being replaced by a slightly different, more popular size
• To offer you a price you can use to help reduce your costs

Is This Unfair to Larger Volume Buyers?

We don’t think so but if any buyer of boxes is buying anywhere close to the highest quantity/lowest price bracket, please let us know. We are very flexible and want to make sure customers know they are going to be treated fairly regardless of order size.

So What Low Price Eco Friendly Box Deals Are Available Now?

Part # GG 05 -12” X 9” X 4” shipping boxes at a cost of $10.50 per bundle of 25 boxes
Part # GG 04 -14” X 9” X 9” shipping boxes at a cost of $11.75 per bundle of 25 boxes
Part # GG 18 –14” X 12” X 10” shipping boxes at a cost of $17.00 per bundle of 25 boxes
Part # GG 16 – 14 X 12 X12 shipping boxes at a cost of $18.00 per bundle of 25 boxes
Part # GG 21 – 14” X 14” X 14” shipping boxes at a cost of 21.50 per bundle of 25 boxes
Part # GG 20 – 20” X 14” x 14” shipping boxes at a cost of $27.75 per bundle of 25 boxes

Please check out the “sale items” section of our online store for product details and let us know if there is a size you need that is not on our store or not on sale. Unlike some of our competitors, we do small volume special orders even if they are custom size or custom printed. Our stock, eco friendly boxes are great – but that is not all we do.

Over the weekend I had some time to reflect on how far we have come as a company and product line (Globe Guard) but more importantly how far green businesses in general have come. Certainly green companies have grown and matured and some have become very successful by being exactly what they should be.

Characteristics of a Green Company

• Authentic – they are legitimately green and not just jumping aboard the band wagon
• Innovative – creating new products and services that the market wants and needs
• Competitive – in terms of quality, performance and price
• Consistent – every person within the organization follows the green path every day with no room for compromise or shortcuts

Green Is Authentic

This is an absolute must because the market demands it. I often describe green buyers as skeptical and that is a gross understatement. The massive amount of green washing to be found in the market place forces green minded consumers to be downright mistrusting and unforgiving when they are wronged. Be prepared for the questions because they will be asked and understandably so. The market is getting smarter so looking green and claiming green are not nearly enough.

Green Is Innovative

I am thrilled and encouraged that real solutions are indeed being developed. I respect the green minded person who complains about the use of plastic coffee stirrers but I applaud the individual who develops a good alternative. When I see what companies are doing in terms of up-cycling, I am amazed. Turning waste into something better than it originally was, is an amazing feat. An example is recycled glass being turned into expensive counter tops and tiles. We are also creating and saving almost every form of energy at unheard of rates and having a legitimate and positive impact on the environment.

Green Is Competitive (more…)