How to recycle the packaging from your Loop & Tie gift

To say sustainable practices are a passion for us here at Loop & Tie might be an understatement. As the first and only regenerative gifting platform, we are committed to leaving the world in a better place than where we found it. To help you reduce your carbon footprint, here is a step-by-step guide on recycling the packaging from your Loop & Tie gift. 

How to recycle our cardboard

The boxes used to send Loop & Tie gifts are both recyclable and compostable. 

Cardboard is an icon in the recycling world; it is one of few materials that can be recycled up to 5 - 7 times and is compostable.  

To appropriately recycle cardboard, make sure you have removed all of the packing materials that came with your gift. Remove all tape and packing labels from the edges and around the perimeter of the cardboard.

Important: because of the adhesive backing, not all postage stamps are recyclable or compostable. If you do not have a USPS postage stamp — which are recyclable — make sure to remove these from your cardboard boxes as you’re breaking them down. 

If you are composting your cardboard, the same steps apply however you might opt to tear or cut your cardboard into smaller pieces. This will help speed up the composting process and, depending on your at-home composting practices, these smaller pieces will make it easier to tumble or til.

Lastly, don’t underestimate the importance of reusing cardboard. From storage containers to imagination stations, cardboard can have many lives beyond carrying your Loop & Tie gift.

💡 Did you know? According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, cardboard waste makes up over 31% of landfills. With a bit of intentionality and mindfulness, we can have a direct impact on reducing that waste. 

How to recycle our GreenWrap

Loop & Tie GreenWrap is both recyclable and compostable. 

If you received a larger item in a cardboard box from Loop & Tie, it’s likely your gift was wrapped in GreenWrap. An alternative to bubble wrap, GreenWrap is made out of paper yet offers similar cushioning and support as bubble wrap. Because it’s made completely out of paper, this means GreenWrap can be recycled in your local recycling stream and is compostable making it also biodegradable.

💡 Did you know? COVID sparked significant growth of greenwrap usage as people increased their online purchases.

How to recycle our bubble wrap & bubble packaging

Loop & Tie bubble wrap and bubble packaging are recyclable.

While we try to use GreenWrap as often as possible, there are some fragile products that need more protection. For these products, our team will use bubble wrap or bubble packaging to ensure its safety. 

While your local curbside or mixed recyclables might not accept it, bubble wrap is in fact recyclable. Because of its classification as “plastic film,” similar in classification to plastic bags or shrink wrap, most local municipalities who process “hard plastic” products (ie, milk jugs, cans, or glass) will not accept bubble wrap in their weekly rounds. In fact, in the hard plastic recycling system, these soft plastics are considered contaminants in their processes and can be harmful to machinery. 

Not to worry. Most of your local grocery stores & pharmacies provide designated recycling bins for soft plastic recycling. Next time you head to the store, gather your soft plastic products — plastic bags, bubble wrap, shrink wrap, bread bags, etc. — and place them in the recycling bins at the entrance of your store. 

💡 Did you know? Bubble wrap was originally invented in 1957 to be three dimensional wallpaper made out of plastic. 

How to recycle our tissue paper

Loop & Tie’s tissue paper is both recyclable and compostable. 

However, similar to bubble wrap, tissue paper might be considered a “contaminant” material to certain municipal waste management providers. If your local provider does not accept tissue paper, consider reusing it for your own gift wrapping or for safely securing your prized possessions for storage. 

It’s important to note that while Loop & Tie’s tissue paper is recyclable, not all tissue paper is recyclable. If tissue paper is reflective or has a glossy effect, it’s likely made with mylar, an aluminum-coated plastic film. Mylar is not a recyclable material and putting it through your local recycling streams could end up causing issues in the machinery at the recycling facility. 

💡 Did you know? In the early 20th century, people started wrapping gifts with tissue paper as it became popular. 

How to recycle our packing tape & stickers

Loop & Tie’s packing tape & stickers are both recyclable and compostable. 

Recyclable packing tape or “kraft paper tape” often made with fiberglass threads can be placed in your normal recycling streams or put in your household compost. It’s ideal for both the recycling & composting processes to remove the tape from the cardboard box and discard separately. 

Most non-recyclable packing tape is clear and includes petroleum, a non-recyclable material which can damage recycling machinery. While you might also be tempted to recycle painter’s tape or even masking tape since it’s not clear, avoid recycling these as both of these kinds of tapes include a rubber adhesive which also contains petroleum.

💡 Did you know? Kraft tape is water activated. Similar to an envelope, once a box has been sealed with kraft tape, a permanent bond has been created between the two materials.

Recycle, reuse, or compost

Loop & Tie proudly sources packaging materials from noissue, EcoEnclose, Mailers HQ, and Sticker Mule that are all eco-friendly. When you receive a Loop & Tie gift, you can help extend the positive impact we're making to the planet by properly recycling the packaging materials.

Want to learn more about Loop & Tie — the first and only carbon regenerative gifting platform? Click here.