Best eco-friendly options for shipping small products.
The best eco-friendly options for shipping small products are a right-sized compostable or recycled poly mailer for anything that can’t break, a paper bubble mailer for small items that need some padding, and a small kraft corrugated mailer box for anything fragile or giftable. The biggest win is size: the smallest pack that protects the product uses the least material and needs no void fill.
Small mailers, priced online: 6 × 9 in compostable poly mailers with your logo start at $128.90 for 500, Free US shipping included.
See my priceStart with size, not material
Most of a small shipment’s footprint is the pack itself. A box twice the size it needs to be uses twice the board, needs filler to stop the product rattling, and costs more to ship because carriers price many parcels by size as well as weight. Measure the product, add its thickness, and choose the smallest pack it fits.
The three options, matched to what you ship
| What you ship | Best option | Size to start with | Starting at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soft, unbreakable items: socks, scarves, prints in a sleeve, fabric goods | Compostable poly mailer, or recycled poly mailer | 6 × 9 in (fits about 5.25 × 8.25 in inside) | $128.90 for 500 compostable ($0.258 each); $301.00 recycled |
| Small items that need light padding: cosmetics, accessories, small electronics | Kraft paper bubble mailer | 6.5 × 9 in (fits about 5.25 × 8 in inside) | $312.69 for 500 ($0.625 each) |
| Fragile or gift items: candles, glass, sets, anything that must arrive looking perfect | Kraft corrugated mailer box | 6 × 4 × 2 in inside | $327.92 for 100 ($3.28 each) |
Starting-at prices from our live order pages, checked October 17, 2026: one design, Standard delivery to a US address with Free US shipping built into the price. Your price moves with size, material, print, quantity and delivery speed. Mailers are printed one color on the front.
How each option ends its life
- Compostable poly mailers are made to break down in composting conditions. Ours are described as home-compostable film. Tell customers to compost them, not to put them in plastic recycling.
- Recycled poly mailers keep post-consumer plastic in use. They are still film, so they are recyclable only where film drop-off is accepted.
- Paper bubble mailers have a paper outside and a plastic bubble lining, so many curbside programs won’t take them whole. Print a short disposal note.
- Kraft corrugated boxes go in curbside recycling almost everywhere in the US, and they protect best.
Five ways to make small-product shipping greener
- Right-size every SKU. One snug pack beats a big box and a bag of filler.
- Make the mailer the packaging. A printed mailer can replace a separate retail box for many small products.
- Use one ink color. One-color logo mailers start at 500 per design; full color starts at 5,000.
- Choose the material your customers can dispose of. Compostable only works if they compost.
- Order what you need, then reorder. We keep artwork on file for 24 months, and reorders skip setup fees.
Ready to price yours? Pick a size and material on our custom mailers page, or see every eco option on our sustainable packaging page. For fragile items, our custom boxes store prices kraft mailer boxes from 100 boxes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most eco-friendly way to ship small items?
Use the smallest pack that protects the item, in a material your customer can recycle or compost. For unbreakable items that is usually a compostable or recycled poly mailer; for fragile items, a small kraft corrugated mailer box.
Can I recycle a paper bubble mailer?
The outside is paper, but the bubble lining is plastic, so many curbside programs won’t take the mailer whole. Check local rules and tell customers how to dispose of it.
What size mailer do I need for a small product?
A 6 × 9 inch poly mailer fits about 5.25 × 8.25 inches inside. A 6.5 × 9 inch paper bubble mailer fits about 5.25 × 8 inches.