Is Bubble Packaging Recyclable? Read on To Find Out

Each package containing heavy-duty and fragile items comes with our favorite thing in the entire world: bubble wrap. Back in the day, we did not have pop-it products, but bubble wrap. The joy of opening a package just to find it wrapped in beautiful, clear bubble wrap is something we still cannot explain today.

But with the increasing global warming and climate changes, people have been rethinking their habits, which includes the most asked question: Is bubble wrap packaging recyclable? Read this blog to find out the answer and how you can make eco-conscious choices by ensuring every product you sell or purchase remains unharmed.

What is Bubble Packaging Made of?

Bubble packaging, be it bubble-padded mailers or bubble wrap, is made from a type of plastic. For many people, the term plastic is alarming, as they think every type of plastic ends up in a landfill. But that’s not entirely true; there are types of plastic that can be recycled and even repurposed, and thus do not become a landfill.

Bubble mailers and bubble wraps are made from low-density polyethylene (LDPE), which is a lightweight and soft material. This material has high corrosion and chemical resistance and offers durable protection. This is the reason bubble wraps are used to wrap around fragile items like glass, ceramics, and even furniture pieces.

What is the Difference Between Bubble Wrap and Bubble Mailer?

On the surface, these two look different, but bubble mailers and wraps are not very different. Bubble mailers are just an extension of wraps and can be used as the only packaging for a product. The inside of the bubble mailer is filled with bubble wrap. Most brands are reducing their packaging size and switching to compostable bubble mailers. Because they can keep the products safe from dust, water, and other factors.

Bubble wraps are wrapped around a product and then added inside a sturdier packaging box, while the bubble mailers are used as the packaging bag inside which the product is added. Brands add their own touch to the bubble mailers to create a unique brand identity in the market. You can add the following materials inside the bubble mailers:

• T-shirts
• Stationery
• Jewelry
• Books
• Documents

What Are the Different Types of Bubble Mailers?

If you are switching to the bubble mailers, you might as well get to know the different types of mailers available in the market. You can customize these mailers by choosing the colors of your desire, the charming designs, and get your brand’s logo printed for a unique brand identity. Most brands go for compostable bubble mailers, which help the customers to compost the packaging right in their backyard. Let’s have a look at the following types of bubble mailers you can choose for your lightweight and non-fragile items:

• Poly Mailers

When you are shipping products that are vulnerable to water and other external factors, choose poly mailers. The poly mailers have an outer layer of the soft plastic known as polyethylene. It is a clear plastic and is often used to pack t-shirts, towels, socks, and other similar items.

• Kraft Mailers

When you are a brand with a sustainable goal in mind, choosing Kraft mailers is the wise choice to go with. The inner layer will be made of bubble wrap, but the outside layer will have a Kraft layer. You can design the outer layer by choosing visually appealing patterns for an attractive look.

• Thermal Mailers

As the name suggests, thermal mailers have an insulation of aluminum inside bubble mailers. By doing so, you can ensure that the items that need temperature control during shipping. Thermal mailers can be used to ship food products or medicines as well. You can ship a bubble mailer package alongside other bubble mailers added within a sturdy and durable carton.

How to Recycle Bubble Wrap the Right Way?

If you are a brand packing products in bubble wrap, you need to know the ways to recycle it. Most of the time, customers have questions about the packaging before purchasing it. One thing is for sure that you cannot recycle the bubble wrap at home. Yes, you can repurpose the bubble wrap by painting it and hanging it up as decoration, but that will also not solve the problem.

Send the Bubble Wrap to a Nearby Recycling Facility 

Most grocery stores do not accept bubble wrap, but that does not mean it cannot be recycled. Soft plastic cannot be mixed with the hard one, as the machinery can get damaged. When you receive the package with bubble wrap, you can search online for the recycling facilities and drop off the material.

Why You Should Reuse Bubble Wrap?

Now the next part is reusing or repurposing the bubble wrap, if you do not find any nearby recycling facility. You can reuse the bubble wrap in different ways, as it will still offer cushioning to products after one use. Stash it away for when you need to gift someone a fragile item. Or you can also give it to a friend or someone you know who is moving.

One of the best things about bubble wrap is that it can still do its job even after two or three uses, unless you see all the bubbles flattened out. When that happens, you can then take it to the recycling facility. One of the ways you can do so is by researching online, looking at people’s forum’s communities, and other social platforms.

Are There Any Alternative Options to Bubble Wrap?

Yes, you can find alternative options to bubble wrap by opting for honeycomb wrap, also known as hex wrap. It is a more eco-friendly alternative and is widely being used by different brands as the demand for it increases. You can get it customized as well to give a personal touch to the wraps.

Get Your Bubble Wrap to Keep the Products Safe!

Choose the high-end bubble wrap to make your products safe and to increase the customer retention rate. Custom Boxes Lane is a high-end packaging manufacturer where you can find custom packaging solutions of all sorts. Whether you need a bubble mailer or a bundle of bubble wrap, we can offer you high-quality products. You can contact us and get a free custom quote.