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I’m a bit of an online shopping addict. I don’t really like to go out to the shops unless I’ve got a fair bit of money and can make a day of browsing. If I need something specific (or a few things), I prefer to acquire them with a click or two rather than in person.
The only downside to this is that everything I order, comes with a lot of packaging. Every parcel tends to be well packaged – sometimes overly so. I also subscribe to beauty boxes, which come in a fancy box full of goodies, with external cardboard packaging too. Even things that don’t require boxes arrive in padded bags or polythene envelopes.
How I Re-Purpose Packaging
Lots of packaging comes through this household and I was starting to feel guilty about the environmental impact. To combat this, I decided to re-purpose packaging at every opportunity. I also try to go for products that are ‘naked’ from packaging or businesses that reuse and recycle their own packaging.
Cardboard Boxes
My mum always saved cardboard boxes when I was growing up, so saving them as a matter of habit isn’t new to me. It just felt like another aspect of adulthood that when I see a good box, I save it just in case. At first it was just large boxes, I’d take of the tape and store them flat in the garage because I knew they’d come in handy for moving.
Later came the smaller boxes. Since becoming a blogger, I send and receive a lot of post. I’ll often save cardboard boxes for shipping competition prizes or sending gifts to families. Most boxes I receive now get folded flat and stored until I can reuse them.
Padded Envelopes
I seem to have an inability to part with any packaging, especially padded envelopes. I don’t think I’ve bought a padded envelope since the early 2000s because there’s never been a need. I open them carefully, peel off any name and address stickers, or stick paper over my details if they’ve been left on the envelope. Saving envelopes saves so much cash on posting items and it helps save the environment!
Beauty Box Packaging
Beauty boxes are too nice to throw away. Fact. It’s clear a lot of work goes into their packaging to make them look beautiful. It makes them very easy to re-purpose because they look so good no matter what you use them for.
I like to use them as drawers for my various makeup items. The drawer-type boxes are handy to categorise lipsticks, eyeliners, and miscellaneous samples, while those with a lift-off lid are perfect for storing nail polish. The pretty boxes make my beauty collection look even more gorgeous!
Plastic Envelopes
While I don’t tend to get many items in this type of packaging, do still save and reuse it. Some of my family members like to de-clutter by selling on eBay so these envelopes come in handy. I generally open them by cutting in with scissors then try not to rip anything so they’re easy to reuse. Then why I pass them on, it’s easy to stick a sticker over my my address and seal the envelope with postal tape.
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