You Don’t Let Good Things Go to Waste

Neither Does BoxUp

Have you become caught up in the worthwhile trend of waste reduction? Maybe you’ve taken it to the next level, riding the wave of the zero waste movement. As the article linked mentions, Americans produce an average of 4.4 pounds of trash per day. That’s way over 1,000 pounds of garbage every year. Per person! That fact alone makes a strong case for being conscientious about our personal consumption habits.

As a company, BoxUp is aware that half of that annual garbage output ends up in the landfill. So what can we do to help? BoxUp starts by using corrugated cardboard that is 50% or greater in recycled content and is 100% recyclable. We use only SFI certified corrugated cardboard. SFI, the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, is the largest worldwide standard for sustainable forestry. We’re creative people, though, so we always push to do one better. At BoxUp, we try to think, “How can we go further?”

Make it “Sticky.” Build a Better Box.

We’re big on recycled content. And we’re big on recyclable content. When we think about the end-product, the end-user and how the two relate to each other, that is when we get excited about “Upcycling.” Look at the typical BoxUp box. Far from boring and brown, the typical BoxUp box has a pattern, an image, a color scheme or branding that gives it a vibrancy and life. It just seems a shame to unpack the custom-printed box and quickly relegate it to the recycling bin.

Upcycling is the natural next stage of life for a BoxUp box. We see BoxUp customers recognizing this. Gunner Crate, a subscription box for marksmen, prints a target on the inside of its box and in doing so, adds value and a little surprise and delight to the transaction. (image of Gunner crate or another w inside printing) Other customers have included messaging inside their boxes, recipes, ideas on how to use products and even directions for how to upcycle the box (turn it into a pirate hat, create a magazine rack, etc.).

How much corrugated cardboard do you have? If it’s a big bunch, you might lay it down on the garden bed to keep weeds out, or mix it into your compost. Or, you might layer it together and create a cat’s scratching post, like Bob Vila did here. You didn’t know your favorite handyman had a creative side? A few of the other upcycle ideas from Bob include combining small cut rounds of cardboard with duct tape to create on-the-fly coasters for your next party, and wall art. The wall art might apply especially well if you have custom-printed boxes that are a work of art in themselves.

Upcycling, though a fairly recent term, is not a totally new idea. At one time or another, we’ve probably all converted a cigar box into a storage spot for pencils and school supplies or turned an old shoe box into a place for a baseball cards, carefully rubber-banded by team and year. What has changed is the context. With BoxUp, everyone can custom print his or her own box. That’s new. And now everyone can think a little bit about how long they would like their custom-printed box to stick around…and the design steps they might take to make it so. That’s a new twist on an old idea.

Where do your best boxes go? Share with us how your custom-printed BoxUp box has found a second life on your desk, in your office or child’s playroom. Share your ideas with BoxUp via Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram or via email.