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5 simple switches to cut your packaging waste

Written by the WRAPMEADOW packaging team — supplying UK makers since 2014 Last updated 4 June 2026

Cutting packaging waste doesn't need a full rebrand — it starts with a few swaps you can make on your next stock order. Here are five practical switches a small brand can make this week, each one trading a hard-to-recycle item for something that recycles with the parcel or stores flat. None of them slow down dispatch.

In short: swap plastic tape for kraft paper tape, bubble wrap for honeycomb paper, plastic mailers for kraft pouches, single-use void fill for reusable air-cushion sleeves, and oversized boxes for right-sized ones.

1. Swap plastic packing tape for kraft paper tape

Plastic packing tape has to be peeled off before a box can be recycled — most never is. Self-adhesive kraft paper tape is paper-based, so a sealed carton recycles as one with no peeling. It sticks straight from the roll, tears clean by hand, and even writes on. Our guide covers the three widths and how to seal a box for a secure, plastic-free finish.

2. Replace bubble wrap with honeycomb paper

Expandable kraft honeycomb paper wraps fragile items the way bubble wrap does, but it's plastic-free and goes in the same recycling as the box. It ships flat and expands into a cushioning honeycomb when you stretch it, so it stores in a fraction of the space. For the bigger picture on plastic-free protection, see the sustainable packaging guide.

3. Move from plastic mailers to recyclable kraft pouches

For food, coffee and dry goods, recyclable kraft stand-up pouches replace mixed-material plastic packs with a kerbside-friendly option that still seals and presents well. Resealable zip-lock and heat-sealable formats mean you don't lose shelf life or convenience. Our guide on choosing the right kraft food pouch walks through sizes, windows and fill weights.

4. Cushion bottles with reusable air-cushion sleeves

If you ship glass, single-use void fill adds up fast. An inflatable air-cushion bottle sleeve inflates from flat, cushions the bottle on all sides, and can be reused by the recipient — no loose plastic peanuts. Pair it with a double-walled box for posting. Our guide to shipping bottles safely covers when to use a sleeve, a box, or both.

5. Right-size the box so you're not shipping air

An oversized box wastes board, needs more void fill, and can cost more to post. Match the box to the order — a snug carrier box for drinks, the smallest mailer that fits for everything else — and you cut both material and the cushioning needed to stop things moving. Less air shipped is less waste and, often, a lower postage band.

Where to start

You don't have to do all five at once. Pick the swap that touches the most parcels — for most makers that's the tape — and roll the rest in as you re-order. Every switch above keeps dispatch just as quick while sending less to landfill.

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