Which wrapping materials to keep, reuse or recycle

Whether you buy something in a physical store or online, chances are the item itself is not the only thing that arrives at your home. The item might be in a bag, maybe sealed in plastic wrap, maybe packed in a nice box that is placed in a shipping box, surrounded with packing peanuts. The upside: everything made it in one piece to your home. The downside: what to do with all that extra material? Not to worry, we got you covered.

Manufacturers have made some progress in efficient and sustainable packaging, whether by encouraging customers to bring a reusable shopping bag instead of getting a new one with each purchase or designing protective packaging using less material and choosing recycled options. Nevertheless, every shopping trip will result in packaging that you do not need once the item reaches your home. We have put together a list to help you sort through those things while making sure you avoid wasting hidden value.

1. Open carefully To get the most value out of the packaging, open it carefully. Check the wrapper for instructions, in case it has an integrated mechanism. If you need to make cuts, avoid cutting the box itself, and get an appropriate tool, rather than ripping through it with your hands. Opening the packaging carefully will not only make it easier to reuse later but also avoid damaging the contents.

2. Check the goods Before getting rid of any packaging, make sure that what you bought works as intended. If you need to return, it will be much easier to do using the original packaging rather than having to find a new box or wrapper.

3. Keep If you bought an electronic device, keeping the original box can be a sound financial decision, as it can increase the resale value. Reselling your phone in the original box can get you an extra $50-$100, according to this TikToker. This obviously does not apply to the generic brown shipping box, though you might want to reuse them.

4. Reuse If you like to sell items you no longer need, keeping the brown shipping boxes and any wrapping material can save you lots of money. Whatever your reason for keeping them: make sure you stow the materials in a dry place to keep them in a good condition for when you need them. If you no longer need them, there might be people in your vicinity, eager to reuse your packaging materials. Try https://boxgiver.com/ or check online for options near you.

5. Upcycle Packaging materials, be they boxes, wrappers, or styrofoam, offer limitless opportunities for creativity. You can find a lot of inspiration and instruction online on how to use old boxes to organize or embellish your home, make gifts, or entertain your kids for a while.

6. Recycle If you did not find another way to give the wrapping materials a new purpose, recycling may be your last option. Make sure you flatten any boxes and plastics completely (incl. removing air from air pillows, etc.). Make sure the materials are largely clean (styrofoam contaminated with food cannot be recycled, for example), and put them in the right bin, according to your local recycling program.

We hope these tips help you get the most out of your packaging. And don’t forget to add the item you just unwrapped to your Savvee app (for Android and iOS), we will help you make it last longer.