Recycle your bubble envelopes!

While it is necessary to use envelopes with plastic bubble wrap to cusion the buttons and other goods, there doesn't seem to be an alternative as yet, like paper filling for these envelopes or something (If you have seen one - do let me know!). However, there is a way to make it a bit more environment-friendly.

If you cut the sides of the envelope, you will sii that the bubble wrap and the paper are separate layers.

Once separated, you can reuse the bubble wrap. It also makes it easier to recycle the paper. Mind, that you cannot place the cut sides along with the pure paper, as it is permanently attatched.

The bad news is that the majority of the envelopes produced in the USA does not allow to separate the plastic and paper layers. The European envelopes, though, mostly do. The bubble wrap in my orders is all recycled - it came to me or people from my family along with their on-line purchases, such as books and small electronics. And I do encourage you to reuse it. If not, at least recycle it along wiith the rest of the plastic. I have a feeling that in, say, a hundred years we will be fishing for plastic in the ocean, because new plastic will be scarce, as the oil reserves are already shrinking.

Hopefully they find a better solution to the envelopes soon!