Think about the packaging
The other day I received my new cheques in the mail and was pleasantly surprised to see the new way they were packaged. I love, love, love that they sent them to me in a container that, when I’m done using it for my cheques, I can use over and over again for all sorts of other things. It’s not expensive and it’s not elaborate but it’s functional and oh how I love functional. How did they send them to me?
In a pencil case.
Less waste, more re-purposing. It just makes sense!
What can I say, I get excited by the little things 🙂 So often the packaging that comes with products is so over the top ridiculous.
Have you ever been happy dance giddy pleased with the way a company has creatively packaged their product?
Ooooh that is so great! I use pencil cases for just about everything, they are so versatile. Perfect for traveling too! That’s awesome that your bank sends you checks in that instead of cardboard waste. 🙂
I love when I can reuse any type of packaging! I use yogurt cups as planters to start seedlings, milk jugs as cloches, junk mail to make art, etc. But my favorite reuseable package was the bamboo box that held some flowering tea. I repurposed it to organize my seed packages!
I received a Vocalpoint mailer this week with flu facts and it came in a pretty green striped cardboard wallet which Velcros shut. This will work great for those quick trips into the store when I just need to bring in a few coupons, my loyalty card and some cash. It now has a special place in my coupon binder just for those trips. Thank you Vocalpoint!
Like Alea, I use yogurt cups to start seeds, too, and I received the same pretty green binder from Vocalpoint. I repurposed the same as Mary.
My other contribution would be the tubs that cream cheese come in get used for snack containers for school days. I find that the wide tops and shallow bowls are more kid-friendly for crackers, pretzels, cheese, etc. than other reusable containers.
Bill-paying envelopes get repurposed for mailing envelopes for my coupon traders group, too! Who pays bills by mail anymore, anyway?
Heehee, I like that I don’t have to buy bags to take with me to the dog park to clean up after my pup. We get a newspaper subscription and the papers come in plastic bags that are perfect for the job!
I thought the same thing when I got that Vocalpoint mailing! Laura, I do like when something comes in a nice reusable package. Sometimes, just for being a nice size and shape, I’ll use it as a gift container. You may need to use stickers, wrapping paper, or tissue to cover up markings though.
I just reordered cheques so I wonder if I’ll be getting something like that too. My MIL was the queen of repurposing. She was reusing before it ever, ever became a catch phrase or the thing that was done. One time I even got a frozen pie that she had baked wrapped in a mens dress shirt plastic bag that they came in (back in the day). LOL.
Please stop by my blog and see what I did to a coat closet. Can you tell I am happy? Happy about organizing!!!!
Ally
Not yet, but today (despite a good sale and a great coupon) I refused to buy yoplait yogurt, just because of the containers. Not recyclable. What is so hard about putting them in something that doesn’t end up in the landfill?
Love the pencil case idea! Very neat!
Love repurposing! But I used the cardboard boxes to keep things in. Reuse, repurpose, recycle!!!
Nope, I can’t say that I have ever received anything in the mail that made me giddy with delight over the packaging. Lately I have been noticing that despite all the talk about landfill pileup, it seems likeI get more packaging (and harder to open packaging). So, I like the idea of checks coming in a pencil bag. What is the name of the check compnay?
I guess I grew up in a generation raised by those who came through the Depression as children. Everything was re-used! We always used oatmeal round containers as boxes (covered with Contact paper), cut to the size we needed them. Hate to throw them away now. I love the checks coming in the pencil case, which started me thinking of a use for one that my daughter and I talked about yesterday. She needed something to carry disposable “silverware” for her kids when they eat out. A pencil case would fit the bill. Thanks for the idea!
Packaging drives me nuts and it is so nice to see something that is useful and well thought out. My daughter received a gift of a Littlest Pet Shop set last week and it took me 5 minutes and a cut finger to get it open – there was more waste than actual toy. Very frustrating & annoying especially for someone like me who is very conscious of waste.
I’m with Greta, above, for the plastic bags, too! We use any plastic bags we get for pet waste (we have 3 cats & a large dog). Just wish it was compostable!
i had my 3rd baby in July and was given some flowers. when they died i removed the cellophane and noticed they were in a pretty purple tin bucket. i discarded the flowers and the girls love their little bucket. they fill it with all sorts of treasures from the back yard. they are never without it when playing in the yard now!
I began using my Vocal point mailer, the same day I received it as a quick coupon carrier also. Great idea
I love the zippered pouches that some sheets, blankets, and other linens come in. I use them in a variety of ways, and love that they are clear so you can instantly see what’s inside.
I also have started reusing boxes, like the instant oatmeal box now holds my miscellaneous spice packets in the pantry. I have boxes in the back of my van to organize things like baby wipes, tissues, a first aid kits, jumper cables, my shopping bags, etc.
After reading some of these other comments I’m going to take a look around the house and see if I have some of the things other people mentioned and figure out a way to reuse them!
Have you seen the container that the snacking Diamond almonds come in! Clear, easy to handle. I already used them to store other misc Nuts that were in plastic bags in the freezer. Really cool!!!
Used the clear oval container from the Kraft olive oil mayonnaise substitute to store a bit of brown sugar.
I had to look up “cloches” from above ” a transparent plant cover used outdoors especially for protection against cold” That makes sense, great reuse.