Packaging at Jute and Jackfruit

At Jute & Jackfruit, we take our environmental footprint seriously. For months we have been researching our printing, packing and shipping options and would like to share with you what we have chosen to do and why. This is the first of three posts on this topic. Here we will cover our packaging and print materials. Stay tuned for shipping and gift wrapping.

Our overall goal with shipping, printing and packaging is twofold: to provide you with the most environmentally-friendly, low carbon footprint solutions available, while at the same time managing cost and efficiency. We want to create the best value proposition for you and are therefore constantly looking for new ways to improve. Here’s what we are doing so far:

Recycled Packaging.
When a package arrives to Jute & Jackfruit (e.g. from one of our designers or artisans), it typically arrives in a few layers: a cardboard box filled with recycled paper as well a few plastic bags to protect against the elements. Whenever possible, we re-use all packaging. One way we do this is to pass it on to you to improve the shipping process and reduce our footprint.

Cardboard boxes.
We re-use cardboard boxes. Cardboard boxes can typically be used up to 3 times. Boxes that arrive to Jute & Jackfruit are re-used for shipping to reduce our environmental footprint. We also buy new boxes from ULine as needed. Our ULine boxes are a minimum of 50% recycled, 30% post-consumer fiber. If you receive a box that has pre-existing labels, it is because it is reused. We encourage you to reuse these boxes as well!

Plastic bags and wrapping.
Any non-biodegradable plastic bag or wrapping that you receive in a Jute & Jackfruit package is passed on from our designers and artisans. All plastic bags that we purchase are biodegradable and come from Trellis Earth. (see below). All other packaging materials we receive we also try to reuse in whatever ways possible.

Biodegradable plastic bags.
Only when items do not have a pre-existing plastic bag, do we include a new one. When shipping, we use these bags to protect the merchandise from water damage. We have chosen to work with Trellis Earth, which is one of the nation’s largest suppliers of corn-based biodegradable bags. These bags also make great kitchen bags, so we encourage you to reuse them.

Padded envelopes.
Our padded envelopes are made from 77% recycled fibers and 62% post-consumer content. The envelopes are padded with shredded paper and have a 65-pound outer paper liner and a 45-pound inner paper lining. Padded envelopes take up less space than boxes and generally have a lower carbon footprint than the boxes. They are recyclable.

Packing paper.
If you receive a box from us, it may include gray packing paper as padding. Our choice of paper from ULine, known as “bogus paper” in shipping terms, is made from 100% recycled paper, 100% post-consumer content.

Paper Products.
Our paper products, including postcards, note cards, clothing and handbag tags are all made locally here in Massachusetts using Mohawk paper. We are SO excited about Mohawk paper! Mohawk is at the forefront of environmentally sound manufacturing. Their facility uses wind power to manufacture their papers and is also Carbon Neutral. Mohawk recognizes their responsibility in preserving the precious resources that their industry relies on such as water, forests, and energy. They invest heavily in these resources as well as adopt practices that create sustainability of those resources. Along these lines, they are certified by Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). FSC certification means that they adopt green conservation methods of production and work to conserve the forests they use. They are also certified by Green-e.org and Green Seal.

We constantly strive to improve our business practices and would love to hear from you. Please send us your questions and comments to Customerservice[at]juteandjackfruit.com