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We cover heaps of eco-friendly products here at TheRoundup and receive deliveries pretty much every day.
It’s a constant reminder that we must take a 360-degree approach to sustainability when shopping online.
The best eco-friendly products deserve to be shipped in the best eco-friendly mailers.
Sustainability really matters to consumers in 2025, so if you're running any type of mail-order business you need to get this right.
Amazon has been my first port of call for compostable mailers for years. I was sure this article would be a list of my favorite products available on Amazon…until I came across noissue.
Safe to say I have "No Issue" with this Overall Winner...
NOTE: If you're not a business looking for branded mailers, then you might want to scroll down a little to the options available on Amazon.
✔ Extensive Range of Packaging
✔ Compostable, Recycled or Reusable
✔ Customization Available
They Say: Standout packaging. Circular materials. On-brand. noissue. Bring your brand to life with on-brand packaging that speaks to your creativity and values. Whether you’re starting out or scaling up, our low minimums and circular materials will help you deliver an on-brand unboxing experience. Great for those wow-moments!
We Say: More people than ever are working from home. For many, that means following their dreams and starting a home business.
To ensure you maintain good eco-conscious standards, you’re going to want to think seriously about the mailers you use to send your goods out to customers.
This is where noissue. seriously have your back!
Their entire product range falls into one of three circular frameworks:
And, on the subject of the product range, it’s extensive!:
From small startups to large corporations ordering in bulk - from full customizations to plain and simple - I feel confident that noissue. has a sustainable packaging solution that will be perfect for you and your customers.
Bulk order discounts are available, so if you need to buy your compostable mailers wholesale you could pay just a few pennies per unit. Contact noissue directly for a custom quote.
Personal non-business customers are also welcome. For example, think bespoke shipping boxes for holiday season gifts or wedding gifts - or even custom stickers and name labels to mark school supplies.
Free shipping is available on all orders, with a paid expedited delivery option also available if you're in a hurry.
They Say: Made of PBAT and modified corn starch in accordance with the standards of ASTM 6400, EN13432, BPI, and OK COMPOST HOME. This material is BPA-free, non-microplastics, and represents a 60% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to traditional plastics. These biodegradable shipping envelopes are resistant to moisture, water, punctures, and stretching.
We Say: These poly mailers are made using corn starch and certified by TÜV AUSTRIA to be fully compostable (both industrial composting and home composting).
It’s a strong, durable, and waterproof mailer bag. You could definitely reuse it many times before tossing it onto the compost heap.
I also love that non-toxic, water-based ink has been used to color this compostable bag.
✔ Toxic-Free Ink
✔ 100% Biodegradable
✔ High Strength
They Say: KIPULU is on a mission to save the Earth, one compostable package at a time. Certified Toxic-Free Ink by Dincerto and International Standards are being used on KIPULU High strength seams for maximum protection. Superior tear and puncture resistance. The surface easily accepts ink, stamps, and labels.
We Say: These bubble padded mailers offer more protection than poly mailers while still maintaining high sustainability standards.
The manufacturer states that this eco-friendly packaging material will fully compost within 3-6 months (depending on conditions) and leave nothing behind.
They will even fully compost within 15-18 months in landfills. Impressive stuff!
These compostable credentials do come at a shelflife cost, though.
The manufacturer advises that the current version of these eco friendly bubble mailers will last 12 months in storage temperatures below 95F. Something to bear in mind if you're a bulk buyer like me
The plastic-free self-sealing nature of these bubble bags means that no tape or glue is required.
✔ Plastic-Free
✔ Fully Compostable
✔ Best for Small, Fragile Items
They Say: Crush-resistant mailers fold to provide double walls of protection on front and sides. These one-piece mailers fold together in seconds. No tape, Glue, or stapler needed. Corrugated Mailers are super strong yet lightweight to save on postage and packaging materials, perfect for shipping small, lightweight, fragile items.
We Say: These cardboard box mailers are perfect for mailing small, fragile items.
They’re made from top-quality 32ect-B kraft corrugated cardboard and are fully compostable.
They get shipped to you flat. You then fold them into a box when you need them. No glue, tape, or staples are required.
They are small. If you’re looking to ship bigger items, the next option might be more what you’re looking for.
They Say: Made of corrugated kraft cardboard and high tile paper. This mailer box is lightweight but sturdy. Front locking tabs and side flaps provide double strength and shipping security. The brown color is ideal for gift packaging and small business. Get creative and decorate the box with flowers, personalized stickers, or ink stamps for a bright new look.
We Say: If you’re looking for eco-friendly kraft box mailers but need more choice with it comes to size, then PHAREGE is worth a look.
They have box mailers available in the following sizes:
Whether you're shipping small or large items, there should be a size to suit. Pack fragile items with cushioning paper (see below) and you're good to go!
You can view their full range of shipping boxes here.
✔ Unbleached
✔ Budget-Friendly
✔ Versatile
They Say: Be prepared for sending out business letters, holiday notes, important documents, and photos with these versatile number 10 envelopes. The kraft paper design allows these envelopes to stand out when compared to traditional white envelopes, and the warm brown color provides a welcoming feel.
We Say: This is a product we all use regularly so everyone knows what it is and what it does. It's annoying when you run out though, so it's always good to have supplies to hand when you need them.
I’ve not got a great deal to add, other than to say you'll like the price!
These are great value, ready to use, basic #10 envelopes that don't cost the earth…financially and literally!
Does what it says on the label, with a clear conscience.
✔ Perfect for Fragile Gifts
✔ Unbleached
✔ Biodegradable and Reusable
They Say: The honeycomb paper packaging is made of reusable and degradable environmentally friendly kraft paper cushioning material, making nature more green and beautiful.
We Say: I recommended this kraft cushioning paper in my 9 Most Eco-Friendly Wrapping Paper & Gift Bags article, and it's still my ’go-to’ when I need to pack fragile gifts for shipping (usually wine to my parents!).
A little goes a long way, thanks to its 1:1.6 stretching ratio, and my grape-based offerings always arrive undamaged.
Just like plastic bags, traditional poly mailers (also known as low-density polyethylene (LDPE) or plastic #4) take hundreds of years to break down and leach toxins into the earth.
Fortunately, there are now numerous sustainable mailer options to help you ditch the plastic bags and ‘mail green’.
Sustainable mailers do not pollute the earth when they reach the end of their life. They can be biodegraded or composted back to nature. Usually either at home or in commercial facilities.
Eco-friendly poly mailers are made from plastic-like materials that can biodegrade or compost under the right conditions.
Similar to a poly mailer, a biodegradable/compostable bubble mailer offers more protection to fragile items.
Usually made from cardboard, mailer boxes are more rigid than poly mailers. This makes them ideal for shipping bulky and heavy items.
Always ensure that any mailers containing cardboard or paper use trees from a sustainable source. The Forest Stewardship Council certification is a good one to look out for.
Brown bags are a hybrid of poly mailers and boxes. They’re usually made from cardboard-like materials but are not as rigid as cardboard boxes.
Brown paper envelopes are often more sustainable than white ones. This is due to the harsh chemicals used to bleach white envelopes.
Kraft paper is a thin version of cardboard (usually sold on a roll or in sheets, like gift wrap). It’s great for wrapping/shipping hard, sturdy items, such as books.
The definition of biodegradable and compostable has become somewhat blurred over the years.
They’re often interchanged for each other or simply misused.
But there’s a subtle difference between compostable mailers and biodegradable mailers, as explained here.
This is a tricky one to give a specific answer to as it depends on your needs. Is the item heavy, fragile, susceptible to water damage, etc.?
All of these will have a bearing on the mailer you choose. First, identify your needs, and then select a mailer that you can reuse and eventually dispose of in a zero-waste manner.
Soft compostable mailers are usually made from a renewable, corn-based plastic called PLA. Rigid compostable mailers are usually made from cardboard/kraft paper.
Yes, regular bubble wrap is bad for the environment. Bubble wrap is made from plastic, specifically polyethylene, which is derived from non-renewable petroleum. When bubble wrap is disposed of improperly, it can take hundreds of years to break down, and even then, it doesn't fully biodegrade.
Bubble wrap also poses a threat to wildlife when it ends up in waterways or natural habitats. Animals can mistake it for food or become entangled in it, which can lead to injury or death.
The alternative is Kipulu™ bubble mailers, one of my featured product recommendations above. These are fully biodegradable and will not contribute to plastic waste.
I would not recommend doing so. This might lead to blockages and eventually burning out the shredder motor.
It’s pretty clear what we need to be doing when shipping eco-friendly gifts and cards to our loved ones. Use sustainable mailers that can be recycled, composted, or biodegraded.
However, the sustainable packaging issue is less clear regarding companies and brands.
Sure, in an ideal world, everything we buy would come shipped with zero plastic.
However, as this report by Patagonia highlights, sometimes the environmental cost of wasted/damaged stock outweighs the benefits of some sustainable mailers.
A balance needs to be found here.
We should all do our bit to use sustainable mailers whenever possible. To help limit plastic waste and reduce carbon emissions.
But maybe don't freak out when a company uses plastic mailers to protect the items they’re sending. Especially if that plastic mailer can be reused/repurposed multiple times before being disposed of as responsibly as possible.
Where do you buy your mailers? Have I missed your favorite poly mailer or kraft box of choice? Drop me a line and let me know.
Our core values mean we always prioritize sustainability over profit. We carefully evaluate and personally test every product to ensure they meet our high standards. All products recommended in this article were tested in accordance with our Review Methodology.
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