Comments on: Going Green: Is the Scrapbooking Industry There Yet?

By: VickiFlinchum

VickiFlinchum — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:41:05 +0000

That packaging sounds great! I often reuse zip bags for all sorts of things, including stamps, embellishments, buttons. Use what you have and adjust it to fit your needs!!

By: Emily

Emily — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:00:52 +0000

I recently won a prize package from Kaisercraft’s blog and was so excited when I received it, not by just all the fun product, but by those reusable ziplock bags. Those are not cheap flimsy ziplock backs, they are truly a good storage system. Kaisercraft turned their packaging green in a way that I think will be VERY appealing to consumers, AND created a whole new item (their binder) for them to sell.

The one downside is that they are sized perfectly for Kaisercraft’s product, which is sized smaller than a lot of competitors, and therefore aren’t likely to work well with other stickers or rubons I have after I use up my Kaiser ones. But I can still store my smaller items such as rhinestones and flowers in them.

By: VickiFlinchum

VickiFlinchum — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:28:59 +0000

Thank you Alison! I’m thrilled to hear Kaisercraft is using the zip-locks for acrylic stamps. What a great idea!

By: Alison

Alison — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:23:56 +0000

I agree with you Vicki, it takes everyone to make a difference. I work for Australian scrapbooking company Kaisercraft and we have just recently started using re-usable ziplock packaging for packaging our clear stamps, rubons, embellishments etc for our new collections. We’ve also made binders too – so you don’t have to throw your packaging out – it is reused as storage for your scrap supplies.

This is only one small step in moving towards ‘greener’ manufacturing, but still see it as a positive step none-the-less.

Thanks for a great article!

By: VickiFlinchum

VickiFlinchum — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:49:10 +0000

I whole heartedly agree Emily. There is much waste in packing and shipping. As an eductator, I too order direct from manufacturers and it’s the styrofaom that drives me crazy. I can use and reuse the cardboard and paper packing, but not that foam. And, you are correct, there are some manufacturers who are so careful to pack their product in just the right size box to minimize shipping waste.

And, sure, it’s all a trade off. Green is NOT always easy, convienent or cheap. And with the current economic climate, making environmentally friendlier choices can be harder on a business’s bottom line.

All we can do as consumers is be more aware of the environmental element and realize the trade-offs involved, not only for the manufacturers but for us as well.