Can You Recycle Plastic Mailing Bags?

Shopping online is quick and convenient, and it gives people plenty of options to get the best deal possible, but it comes with an environmental cost. Shipping items at scale produces carbon emissions, while using non-recyclable packaging increases landfill waste.

Mailing bags are a great option for online retailers to get products to their customers cheaply and efficiently. They’re flexible, lightweight and suitable for shipping a range of items.

But not all mailing bags are recyclable.

Most are made from non-recyclable plastics, creating a widespread issue. The vast majority of mailing bags are designed for single-use, meaning millions of bags are disposed of as general waste every year.

So, are there any types of recyclable mailing bags, or are there any eco-friendly alternatives?

Related: Can You Recycle Bubble Wrap?

Featured: Compostable Mailing Bags from Packaging Supplies

What Do You Do with Old Polythene Mailers?

The majority of lightweight goods are packaged in polyethene mailing bags. They’re low-cost, water-resistant and convenient to store. But can you recycle these mailing bags? The short answer is no. You can’t recycle polyethene-based mailers at home, but you can take them to carrier bag collection points if they’re made of low-density polyethene (LDPE). 

Why Are Mailing Bags So Popular?

They might not have the best eco-credentials, but mailing bags remain incredibly useful. There are numerous reasons why brands opt for plastic-based mailing bags:

• Protection: Mailing bags are typically made from durable yet flexible plastics such as polythene (PE) or polypropylene (PP). This provides protection against moisture, dust and minor impacts during transit.
• Versatility: Available in various sizes, mailing bags are suitable for shipping various items, from clothing and accessories to cosmetics and electronics.
• Lightweight: Mailing bags are designed to save space. This helps keep storage and shipping costs down, which is especially important for international shipments where size and weight heavily impact pricing.
• Security: Once sealed, mailing bags are hard to tear; it’s obvious if mailing bags have been tampered with. They can also keep the contents a mystery to anyone but the recipient.
• Cost-effectiveness: Mailing bags are produced on a monumental scale, making them a cheap and cheerful option for businesses shipping smaller items or operating on tight budgets. 

What’s more, the global industry is expected to grow to $3.9 billion by 2031, in line with continued growth in the eCommerce sector and increased demand for flexible packaging.

However, as most businesses know, consumer behaviour is evolving, and most prefer brands that champion sustainability. This makes sustainable packaging a wise investment to win more eco-conscious customers.

Related: Unboxing Experience Mastery Guide for 2024

Are Mailing Bags a Good Option for Businesses?

Some types of bags can be recycled at specific locations, yet this is an inadequate solution for consumers who prefer to make their purchases online — it’d be much easier if their packaging could be disposed of responsibly at home.

This has forced online businesses to consider different packaging options to enhance their customer experience.

Featured: Compostable Mailing Bags from Packaging Supplies

Eco-Friendly Alternatives to Plastic Mailing Bags

Just because some mailing bags aren’t recyclable doesn’t mean they’re bad for the environment. There are plenty of eco-friendly options when selecting your packaging: 

	Compostable Mailing Bags  These mailing bags are made from natural, biodegradable materials that decompose naturally in a matter of months — a very short time compared to similar plastic packaging that can take centuries to fully degrade. Our black mailing bags are made from cornstarch, which shares similar properties to plastic. They’re printed using vegetable and water-based inks so that when they degrade, they won’t leave any nasty chemicals behind.
	Padded Mailing Bags Padded envelopes and mailing bags offer more protection than standard, unlined mailers. Our range of plastic-free padded envelopes boasts 100% recycled fibre padding that expands with use to protect your products. These mailing bags make an excellent alternative to bubble wrap mailers, which need to have the materials separated to be recycled.
	Cardboard Envelopes Envelopes are an eco-friendly alternative to traditional bubble wrap mailers. Sustainable and multi-functional, our plastic-free envelope mailers are perfect for shipping flat or thin products. They also help keep postage costs to a minimum by reducing weight and excess weight, an important consideration for businesses when distributing products at scale.

More Sustainable Alternatives to Mailing Bags

Need to ship fragile items? We have a range of letterbox-size packaging to make shipping small, delicate items easier. If you’ve got larger products, check out our postal boxes, which are available in a range of sizes to suit your requirements.

For added protection, use our boxes in conjunction with eco-friendly void fill. This works by reducing the space between the product and the external packaging. Void fill products like PuffPack and EcoNutz are super effective and 100% recyclable.

No matter what kind of packaging you need, we’ve got you covered!

Buy eco-friendly mailing bags from our online shop and get FREE shipping with no minimum spend.