The world we live in is constantly changing, and adaptation to new conditions and trends is the only way to survive and thrive. It seems like the rate of change is continually accelerating. In business, you will be forgotten fast if your methods are not up to date. Get on the train quickly or stay behind. Currently, the train you need to get on fast is the one that runs on electricity, solar power, or other environmentally friendly fuel. As e-commerce is booming (party because of the pandemic and lock-downs) it also must adapt to the green expectations of the consumers.

In 1907 Bakelite was invented. This was the first fully synthetic plastic ever made. Until 1930 nothing much happened, but after 1930 the mass-production of synthetic plastics was mastered. And after World War II, there was a boom in the production and use of petroleum-based plastics to recover the economy. And there it all started. No one could have predicted how it would end up.

Plastics are not evil; the way we employ them might be. Plastics made life better for many people, allowing for advancements and development. We can now access products that were unachievable for the majority before (cheap material, easy production). The problem with plastic we face now lies in the overuse of single-use plastics. Before single-use plastics were in the picture, there was not much garbage at all. Everything was reusable and made of durable materials.

Single-use plastics were so convenient that we stopped using milk bottles, shopping baskets, reusable food containers. We stopped decorating with textile banners or garlands, quit washing dishes after parties, etc. And without noticing it at first, we created a massive plastic pollution problem. How big? It is so big that there is no definite number to define the amount of plastic trash in the oceans, rivers, lakes, mountains, and cities. All we know is there is plastic everywhere, from the deepest point in the sea to the top of Mount Everest. Most recently, the smallest of plastics are creating the most significant issues. Microplastics are poisoning wildlife and entering our food chain. It is estimated we might consume up to 5 grams of plastics per week. That's like munching on your credit card!

The oil we are using was created millions of years ago from the remains of marine organisms, like plants, algae, and bacteria. We extract it, process it, shape it, ship it around the world, just to use it once and to throw it away. That really seems like a waste of raw material. Using single-use plastics creates two problems: using up non-renewable materials and creating pollution.

Fortunately, in the 1960s and 1970s, the green movement changed things. In the beginning, their voice might have been very faint, but eventually, it grew louder. Thanks to thousands of individuals and organizations, most people are now aware of plastic pollution. We have Greta Thunberg to thank for calling so much attention to environmental problems in recent years. With her school strike, she ignited the movement. More people started to change their lifestyles to protect the environment and demanded change from institutions, governments, and companies. As a result, many countries legislate against plastic pollution and other environmental issues.

Even though New Zealand is viewed as a green country abroad, unfortunately, this is far from the truth at this point. Currently, we are one of the top 10 per-capita producers of landfill waste in the world. The change started in 2019 when New Zealand banned most single-use plastic products. Still, we will phase out all the remaining single-use items between 2022 and 2025 to live up to our green reputation. These new bans will mainly include hard-to-recycle and single-use items.

As a result of the growing awareness, consumers are rapidly changing their habits. One of the first changes they make is to examine what they use on a daily basis and how that impacts the environment. The first things to go are single-use water bottles and shopping bags. Every article giving tips on becoming more sustainable will advise you to quit as many single-use items as possible and replace them with an assortment of reusable items.

Living in the information age means that most consumers spend a lot of time learning about things close to their hearts. If they want to become more sustainable, they realize that their individual daily action might not be enough. They will search for ways to increase their impact. They quickly learn they can "vote with their money." The influence is much more prominent if you only support companies that have transparent and efficient green policies in place. Environmentally conscious consumers will only buy from brands that genuinely care for the environment. That means your company must provide an ecologically conscious final product or service and keep the manufacturing process, packaging, and even HHRR policies eco-friendly and ethical.

Therefore, it is becoming essential for retailers and e-commerce to revise their packaging options. Since long ago, plastic bags are not trendy. 87% of New Zealanders are concerned about sustainability, and 30% would pay more for a sustainable product. Offering your customers eco-friendly solutions like compostable and recyclable courier bags communicates that your brand is conscious of the effects of direct-to-consumer retail.

Reusable or recyclable materials such as paper are becoming the new norm. But do you know what is chic and gets a lot of attention nowadays? Pay close attention to compostable materials! Why? Recycling is necessary, but it still uses a lot of energy, and at some point, the materials become useless. The final product of composting is nutrient-rich soil that can be further used in gardening or improving your neighborhood's soil quality. When handled properly, compostable materials have no toxic residue. They just turn back to the raw material. Also, consumers can directly control the disposal of the packaging if they have a home composter.

Our compostable courier bags with handle are a much better solution than a traditional postal envelope. We use only non-toxic ink and an aesthetically pleasing design. They are certified for commercial composting. More importantly, they are also approved for home composting (Remove all labels and adhesive strip prior to composting.). Each bag is made from 100% biodegradable, compostable materials. Using sustainable alternatives, you communicate to customers that you are doing everything possible to reduce your carbon footprint. Let us help you to improve your packaging options with our bags.