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About Those Air Cushions in Amazon Packages

theatlantic.com

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Re: About Those Air Cushions in Amazon Packages

#41

Post by anexprogrammer »

alex- wrote: post #30
eridius wrote: post #26

> At the time, bubble wrap was invented for use as wallpaper. How would that work? Nobody wants wallpaper that they have to replace each week because it keeps popping.

http://m.mentalfloss.com/article.php?id=13092 Looks like they tried textured wallpaper and green house insulation before packing. Maybe it was a lot harder to pop in the wallpaper version?

It works surprisingly well as cheap insulation. Put the bubble side to the glass and limit accidental popping. Ideal for garages and sheds!

Even seen it recommended for cheap double glazing for those of limited means or renting.

Re: About Those Air Cushions in Amazon Packages

#42

Post by spilk »

waterphone wrote: post #28
justinator wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

the last package peanuts I seem to remember finding in a package were disposable by putting them in compost, which seems like an advantage over plastic bags.

I haven't seen anyone else using it yet, but iFixit uses a paper/cardboard lattice/expanded mesh as packing material.

If we're talking about the same thing, I see electronic component vendors like Digikey/Mouser/etc. using that paper mesh a lot.

Re: About Those Air Cushions in Amazon Packages

#44

Post by noarchy »

drcode wrote: post #33

How 'bout those little things they put in the middle of pizzas to stop them from getting crushed? Too bad I'm not a journalist, because that would make for an awesome story. /s

Where I live (in Canada) they tend to use balls of dough in the middle of the pizza to get the same effect, instead of the piece of plastic I've seen elsewhere.

Re: About Those Air Cushions in Amazon Packages

#45

Post by niij »

madeofpalk wrote: post #7
bwang29 wrote: post #2

My apartment complex has a large delivery bin area and I always wish I can leave the packaging boxes and padding/cushions in that area and only bring back the content of the box (provided that nothing is sensitive and nobody is watching). Would it be great if the delivery person can unbox the item at the delivery location with a fee and then bring the box back for recycling?

I struggle with a similar problem - I use a weekly food delivery service that delivers in a rather large polystyrene box and two ice packs. They offer to take last weeks when they deliver to recycle them, but leaving it out is rather difficult to do in my large apartment complex so I have to resort to always leaving them in the garbage room and I feel terrible for not recycling.

I'm sure your environmental impact of having food delivered to your door by a courier is much greater than a single box anyway.

Re: About Those Air Cushions in Amazon Packages

#46

Post by massysett »

anexprogrammer wrote: post #36
greglindahl wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

UPS wants 2 inches of space between the product and the outer box... keeps real damage from happening if the outer box is slightly punctured by something. https://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resources/ship/packaging/g...

That's sensible. What isn't is the often vast oversize of Amazon packaging. Like sending one hard drive in a 2cu ft box with lots of packaging. There's now lots of scope for the item to move around so the single item inevitably ends up in a corner against the outer box. Amazon never seem to actually bubble wrap anything any more - which has led to damage more than once. Neither the string of air pockets, as in the ar…

Amazon ships a huge box, then loads it halfway with paper or air bubbles. Everything shifts around, so it protects nothing in transit. They often ship non-delicate items like clothes in cardboard boxes, where plastic bags would be less wasteful and more protective. Overall, the result of their shipping is that I spend a lot of time deflating plastic, breaking down boxes, and moving lots of garbage to my garage and, subsequently, the curb. Then a truck hauls it some more. All for packaging that ultimately protected paper towels, or that was so loose that the box rattled anyway. It's worse than worthless--it destroys value, takes time, is inconvenient, and hurts the environment, all for no useful result at all.

And Amazon does not seem to care. It is so bad that I have shifted purchases offline to Costco in part so I don't have to deal with all this shipping waste. Costco doesn't even give me a bag.

Re: About Those Air Cushions in Amazon Packages

#47

Post by eli »

MaxLeiter wrote: post #10
madeofpalk wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I struggle with a similar problem - I use a weekly food delivery service that delivers in a rather large polystyrene box and two ice packs. They offer to take last weeks when they deliver to recycle them, but leaving it out is rather difficult to do in my large apartment complex so I have to resort to always leaving them in the garbage room and I feel terrible for not recycling.

Out of curiosity, are you talking about Blue Apron? I could benefit from a similar solution

Pretty sure Blue Apron provides return postage for recycling the box and packing materials.

Re: About Those Air Cushions in Amazon Packages

#48

Post by eli »

r00fus wrote: post #12
bwang29 wrote: post #2

My apartment complex has a large delivery bin area and I always wish I can leave the packaging boxes and padding/cushions in that area and only bring back the content of the box (provided that nothing is sensitive and nobody is watching). Would it be great if the delivery person can unbox the item at the delivery location with a fee and then bring the box back for recycling?

Ok - what about returns? I have to remember to keep the box (at least) and packing materials (to suppress any complaints) for a week or two until I can ascertain that the item is fully functional/undamaged.

I just toss the box and packing materials. In practice, it's rarely been an issue.

Re: About Those Air Cushions in Amazon Packages

#50

Post by thekevan »

dclowd9901 wrote: post #43

Easy solution: require companies that produce waste products to also fashion a waste recovery arm. Force them to build externalities into their business models from the get go. I'm sure they'll figure out the most efficient way to manage it.

The article says they are recyclable but most localities don't do them, they have to be taken to the grocery store & deposited with bags.

Why would you target every small business with this expense?

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