Rarely have we introduced a product that is as enthusiastically received by the green community as our custom-printed, Globe Guard® unpadded Kraft mailers. It could be because branding is proving so valuable, or possibly it’s the incredibly low, one-case minimum for custom printing. Or perhaps it’s because we manage to take all the fear and a lot of the cost out of custom printing. Whatever the reason, this product just seems to fit us and our customers extremely well.

It All Begins with a Great, Green Mailer

The ability to inexpensively custom print this mailer is like frosting on the cake because first and foremost they are rugged, water-resistant and will protect most products through just about any shipping scenario. Some people really like the stiffness of the flat mailers, and others like the gussetted sizes that create a three-dimensional container, making them ideal for high-profile products and soft goods.

These mailers are also available in white, though we will admit we have sold very few white mailers since we introduced the natural Kraft version. Customers seem to prefer the natural look of Kraft, which also happens to be constructed with a minimum of 50% recycled content. Both white and Kraft mailers include a “peel and seal” adhesive strip that makes packing fast and easy. Read the rest of this entry »

We are extremely pleased to announce that as of May 1, 2011 all shipping costs on our Globe Guard® Products.com store will be $5, $10 or $15 per unit (case, bundle, etc.), anywhere in the continental USA.

Our Way of Saying Thank You

We are sincerely grateful for the support of our products in all parts of the country. Reducing shipping costs for our loyal customers is part of an overall goal of making green packaging products available, authentic and affordable for our eco-minded customers. Read the rest of this entry »

PAPER-BASED PROTECTIVE PACKAGING SOLUTIONS

Even though we are best known for the boxes we sell, it’s what we can create for the inside of the box that truly sets us apart in a crowded field of packaging suppliers.

Recently, we have blogged about partitions and molded pulp options, and our inflatable and other “stock” void fill options are also quite popular. However, the need for custom packaging continues to grow as companies work not only to minimize packaging but also to completely eliminate unfavorable materials such as EPS foam in favor of greener alternatives. Of course, this all has to be accomplished at minimal cost and deliver the product being shipped safely to its destination. Read the rest of this entry »

If you are in the green business as we are, it is easy to get caught up in the yearly hoopla and, at times, distorted perspective of Earth Day. Companies will often use this yearly focus on green to announce a new sustainable policy or program, or perhaps launch a new green product.

However, Earth Day is not about corporate initiatives, products, or even carbon footprints. It is really about a very large and diverse group of people who contribute time and talent in an effort to create a greener and better Earth for the next generation.

This year I thought I would do something different — highlight three people who have made and are making a unique and substantial difference in the worldwide effort to preserve the environment. I shared these stores with three friends in the green media, and I am pleased to say they each have shared one of the stories with their readers. Read the rest of this entry »

More than a year ago, Packaging Digest published this article about some protective packaging work we did for Volcano Island Honey to safeguard their glass jars of rare and delicious white organic honey from breakage. Gratefully, since then companies have sought us out to help them overcome their greatest packaging challenges, especially if their objective is to solve the problem in the greenest way possible.

In some areas of packaging, there are few green solutions available. Fortunately, however, when it comes to interior protective packaging there are several. Two of the most popular are molded pulp and corrugated partitions, and below is a quick comparison for your convenience. Read the rest of this entry »

A quick look at today’s headlines or the nearest gas pump confirms oil prices are on a steep rise, which ultimately impacts natural gas and plastic resin prices as well as everything we buy or use that contains plastic. Experts tell us there is no end in sight, so as we see plastic packaging going through the roof with some products experiencing multiple price increases in the last six months, it’s a great time to remind our readers that almost any plastic packaging solution has a paper-based alternative. Read the rest of this entry »

Reinforced paper water activated tape (WAT) is a great way to brand your packaging without the cost and inventory sometimes made necessary by custom printed boxes. We work with a number of companies who simply don’t have the volume, or perhaps use too many different sizes, to make branded shipping boxes a realistic option.

On the other hand, some very large volume shipping box users recognize WAT as a great way to put that finishing touch on a customer’s order. Yet others prefer WAT because it works better and delivers a more secure and greener package to their customers. Read the rest of this entry »

If you live in an area like ours that seemed to experience an especially long and harsh winter, you are probably as excited as we are to see spring has finally arrived. Soon we’re likely to be complaining about the extreme summer heat and struggling to keep cold things cold, such as beverages, food, etc.

EPS Foam Cooler Alternative

The traditional “Styrofoam” style cooler has been around for decades and has several advantages, including the fact that it is lightweight, reusable and of course it works. The greatest problem with it is that foam coolers are almost impossible to get rid of at the end of their useful life cycle because they cannot be recycled. As a result, many areas have begun discouraging or prohibiting the use of anything made of EPS foam including soft drink cups, convenience take home containers for food and of course disposable foam coolers. Read the rest of this entry »

From the beginning, our Globe Guard green packaging products have been valued by people eager to reduce waste, as well as minimize their carbon and water footprint. Not surprisingly, many of those same customers have also achieved or are working toward their LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for their buildings and facilities. Now, thanks to the Delta Institute, Globe Guard packaging products will count and help applicants earn points in the “Sustainable Purchasing-Ongoing Consumables” portion of their application. Read the rest of this entry »

As a substantial U.S. Postal Service rate increase goes into effect on April 17, many in the mailing and fulfillment industry are seeking ways to help minimize the increase, or better yet, reduce costs. Packaging can be an important component in that effort and will either help or hurt your bottom line. Here are a few guidelines to keep in mind.

REVIEW Packaging

Size does matter and so does shape. Is the item being mailed in the smallest possible container? It is not unusual for us to see items shipping in a container that is much larger than necessary because it was created by a design or marketing person with absolutely no regard for postage or shipping costs. The USPS rewards automation and penalizes packages that aren’t automatable. That cute, eye catching die cut your designer is so proud of might be costing you big money. Read the rest of this entry »