Sustainability, when defined as something that by design reproduces itself indefinitely and never ends, is a worthy objective in almost any facet of life or business. However, I have found absolutely nothing that lives on forever the way a barter dollar does. Regardless of what you are told, this gross and corrupt example of sustainability is not for the benefit of the buyer or seller but for the organization sponsoring the program. I can’t say bartering is not good for anyone, but I can tell you how awful it was for us. Read the rest of this entry »

We love it when new green companies call us, because their enthusiasm is energizing and their commitment to sustainability strengthens our own resolve. These new green entrepreneurs usually do their homework and they don’t waste resources, especially money. They also understand the importance and value of being “eco consistent,” from the products they sell to the packaging they use to ship orders into their customers’ homes.

The above description perfectly describes Jennifer and Danielle, the founders of Natural Contents. They have just launched a terrific new site offering a great assortment of natural, green and organic products and ingredients for cooking. Whether you love to cook, eat, or both, check out the site and you will be impressed! Read the rest of this entry »

At the risk of sounding like a car dealer, we really did make a mistake and over order this model. The overstock item is a 24” table top paper dispenser, and frankly, when we considered the shipping and restocking cost of sending them back to the manufacturer, we decided to use them to reward some of our best paper purchasing customers.

Who Needs a Paper Dispenser?

The fact is that customers love them because they make it easy to always cut off the correct and consistent size sheet when using packaging papers such as our 40# Kraft, 60# Indented Kraft, 50# recycled bogus or 30# newsprint. All are made of 100% recycled paper and available on our Globe Guard® web store. In addition to saving paper, no knife or blade is necessary for the cut, making it safe and easy to use. Read the rest of this entry »

CLEAR, RECYCLABLE BUBBLE ON DEMAND IN TUBE CONFIGURATION

As the name would imply, “bubble on demand” is essentially un-inflated bubble packaging you inflate on an as needed basis. The benefits of this type of packaging material are enormous when you consider the cost of transporting and storing “pre-inflated” or ready to use flowable materials such as foam peanuts, pre-formed paper products or even rolls of pre-inflated bubble packaging. All of those space consuming products also leave a substantial carbon footprint behind compared to bubble on demand type products. Read the rest of this entry »

I’ll put it bluntly but politely – most secondary packaging (boxes, tape, etc.) we receive from overseas is not very good. People have shared countless stories with us about boxes that smell funny, are weak, thinner than expected, don’t stack well, don’t hold up in shipment, etc. And it matters little whether the packaging originates in China, India or almost any place else on the globe.

Domestically produced boxes, even boxes like our 100% recycled content Globe Guard® boxes, are better and stronger than the vast majority of corrugated boxes that are used to ship the imported products we all purchase. It is widely accepted that when the US buyer negotiates a lower price with a foreign manufacturer, one of the areas that is most easily cheapened is the packaging used for shipping it here. Read the rest of this entry »

Programs that send new or promotional product samples to the home have been around for a while, but in most cases they are directed and financed by manufacturers eager to get their products into consumers’ hands.

The Conscious Box is different in that manufacturers cannot “buy” their way into your home. The products are carefully reviewed and approved for their authenticity as well as for the value they deliver to subscribers. The program is also an excellent way for consumer/subscribers to learn about and try new fair trade or eco-friendly products offered by small- to mid-size manufacturers. Read the rest of this entry »

I have visited some of the cleanest, neatest, pick-and-pack fulfillment warehouses in the country, yet I have never seen one that does not create and accumulate dust. Between paper dust from boxes, paper void fill and from the products themselves, or even from fork lift use, slow moving or seasonal products can look very old and very dirty in no time at all.

We’ve all seen open boxes in a warehouse covered with dust, but what we don’t always see is the products within or how often they have to be discarded because they are no longer sellable. Or, worse yet, when customers complain because they received the item they ordered and it looks soiled or used. Read the rest of this entry »

Corrugated partitions are an excellent green packaging solution because, just like corrugated boxes, they typically have a high recycled content, are reusable, 100% recyclable/repulpable, biodegradable and even compostable. Also, when they are designed and used properly, they usually minimize or eliminate the need and use of other, less green, products. Read the rest of this entry »

We realize our newest product is not really a box “sealer” in the traditional sense in that it does not actually glue, tape or staple a box closed. We considered calling it “The Reusable Top, Major Box Flap Temporary Holder Downer,” which is probably a much more accurate description, but we were advised that would make for a terrible name from a labeling, marketing and promotional perspective.

However, our new Globe Guard® Reusable Box Sealer is a unique product that fits perfectly into our product line, not only because it is reusable, but also because it makes every box it is used on also reusable. We meet people on a daily basis who are eager to reduce their overall corrugated box and packaging expenditures, and this versatile little tool can help make that possible when a box only has to be closed, temporarily. Our new product is for when easy re-access is not only desirable, but also may be necessary. Read the rest of this entry »

L’Oreal is serious about sustainability, and that commitment goes well beyond the surface. You might say like beauty, it’s more than skin deep.

They have proactively helped lead the cosmetics industry, making their products and primary packaging as sustainable as possible. I am pleased to say they also see the value of making their secondary packaging consistent with everything else they do and believe.

This world famous French company consists of 27 different brands, many of which are household names. Domestically in the U.S., they include retail consumer brands like Maybelline, Softsheen and Garnier, as well as professional product lines including Matrix, Redken and Pureology, to name just a few. Read the rest of this entry »