Nancy Dziki on wed 6 apr 11
We, as potters, do have large carbon footprints.=C2 We can check i=3D
=3D0A=3D0AWe, as potters, do have large carbon footprints.=3DC2=3DA0 We can=
check i=3D
nto solar panels and=3D0Aelectric kilns, but we can also try to ship our fi=
ni=3D
shed products=3D0Aresponsibly.=3DC2=3DA0 Here are some=3D0Asuggestions, ope=
n for di=3D
scussion, which may help you to =3DE2=3D80=3D9CDo your one thing=3D0Abetter=
each da=3D
y.=3DE2=3D80=3D9D=3D0A=3D0A=3DC2=3DA0=3D0A=3D0AMake all of the materials re=
-usable, and you w=3D
ill be doing=3D0Amore good for the environment than if you try to use packa=
gi=3D
ng made from=3D0Arecycled materials.=3DC2=3DA0 Re-using takes=3D0Ano additi=
onal res=3D
ources or energy to re-make the products.=3DC2=3DA0 Here are my suggestions=
:=3D0A=3D
=3D0A=3DC2=3DA0=3D0A=3D0A1. Don=3DE2=3D80=3D99t compromise on the function =
your packaging p=3D
rovides=3D0A(protection.) Be willing to compromise on the external beauty o=
f =3D
the=3D0Apackaging.=3DC2=3DA0 Use materials you can=3D0Aget for free and re-=
use.=3DC2=3D
=3DA0 I get my=3D0Abubble wrap from the Health Food Store that I shop in an=
yway=3D
(no extra gas to=3D0Aget there) Re-use newspapers instead of anything bran=
d =3D
new and expensive.=3D0ALiquor stores have sturdy square-ish boxes and you c=
an=3D
spray-paint (get low-VOC=3D0Apaint) the outside of the box if your post of=
fi=3D
ce does not allow alcohol labels=3D0Ato go through the mail. Try to get the=
r=3D
ight size box, 2-3=3DE2=3D80=3D9D larger than your piece=3D0Ain all 3 direc=
tions, t=3D
o reduce the amount of packaging you use. Print your own=3D0Apostage on a s=
ti=3D
cker with all the information. (One sticker instead of paper,=3D0Atape, sta=
mp=3D
s, etc. and you might be able to skip the drive to the post office.)=3D0A=
=3D0A=3D
=3DC2=3DA0=3D0A=3D0A2. Make your materials re-usable by the next person. Do=
n't=3D0Asc=3D
otch tape the bubble wrap; use rubber bands instead. Try to use the comics=
=3D
=3D0Asection of the newspaper so it will provide a laugh for the next perso=
n.=3D
Use=3D0Aonly one piece of reinforced packing tape, going all the way aroun=
d =3D
the box,=3D0Acovering both the top and bottom flaps, making a big circle, p=
ro=3D
viding extra=3D0Astrength for the box. No one likes receiving peanuts, even=
i=3D
f they are made of=3D0Acornstarch.=3D0A=3D0A=3DC2=3DA0=3D0A=3D0A3. Communic=
ate your accom=3D
plishments. Include a small note on=3D0Athe invoice and on the website abou=
t =3D
your re-usable packaging, and low carbon=3D0Afootprint to obtain the materi=
al=3D
s, and the savings passed along to the=3D0Acustomer. Offer the option for t=
he=3D
customer to pay a small fee to offset the=3D0Acarbon footprint.=3DC2=3DA0 =
(Googl=3D
e=3D0A"Carbon Off-sets.") This would be another item they could add to=3D0A=
thei=3D
r "cart" and you would send the money collected in to an=3D0Aorganization t=
ha=3D
t makes the world greener. Choose a charity that means=3D0Asomething to you=
p=3D
ersonally, and promote it on your website. Doesn't matter if=3D0Ait is envi=
ro=3D
nmental, or social.=3DC2=3DA0=3D0AThe current thinking is that the world wi=
ll not=3D
be carbon-neutral until=3D0Apoverty is gone and people aren=3DE2=3D80=3D99=
t exploi=3D
ting natural materials just to survive.=3D0A=3D0A=3DC2=3DA0=3D0A=3D0AHope t=
his helps. T=3D
here are varying opinions about=3D0Aeverything, and the more you learn, the=
m=3D
ore difficult it is to make the right=3D0Achoices. These are the best optio=
ns=3D
I have found so far, but if you have some=3D0Aothers or conflicting ones, =
pl=3D
ease share!=3D0A=3D0A=3D0A=3D0A=3D0A
Arnold Howard on wed 6 apr 11
On 4/6/2011 10:13 AM, Nancy Dziki wrote:
No one likes receiving peanuts, even if they are made of
> cornstarch.
Paragon no longer buys peanuts. Instead, we recycle the peanuts that we
receive from other shippers. We keep recycled peanuts, bubble wrap,
Styrofoam board, etc. in a large bin.
We also shred large quantities of scrap paper and cardboard for packing
material.
When you buy a small kiln--the type that can be shipped by UPS--save the
box and foam packing in case you ever need to move the kiln.
Sincerely,
Arnold Howard
Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA
ahoward@paragonweb.com / www.paragonweb.com
C. Tullis on thu 7 apr 11
Styrofoam and cornstarch peanuts are a pain to handle on both ends of a=3D2=
0=3D
shipment. But they are light, fill space well and protect the contents.=3D2=
0=3D
Peanuts made from cornstarch will do the same thing and will melt when th=
=3D
ey=3D20
get wet. Some say that's a good thing as far as the landfill is concerned=
=3D
. But=3D20
how about the production costs? Fuel, impact of farming on the environme=
=3D
nt,=3D20
and the use of resources for producing food to produce packing materials.=
=3D
All=3D20
this to melt away in the landfill?
Styrofoam peanuts will last for a very long time "in service" or in the l=
=3D
andfill.=3D20=3D20
Some say forever.=3D20
"In service" is the best place for all of them. Recycle, recycle, recycle=
=3D
.
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