What to Do With Used Plastic Shipping Bags

Online shopping has been huge lately. It’s so convenient that it allows us to access our needs even from the comfort of our own homes. 

However, we have to admit that it can be really wasteful. Since most logistics companies still require that sellers use plastic mailers to ensure products are protected, people usually end up with piles of courier packaging.

On a larger scale, we are now facing a more serious plastic problem, and online shopping has a lot to do with it. In September 2021, Greenpeace urged online shopping platforms to cut down on plastic use, noting that the use of these e-commerce sites has “doubled” since the pandemic began.

“This reflected a 55 percent growth in 2020. Some analysts also predict that the number of Filipinos using e-commerce will also reach a staggering number [of] 55.8 million users by 2025 as the access to internet begins to be more widely accepted here in the country,” Jefferson Chua, a campaigner for Greenpeace, said as per ABS-CBN News.

“These figures point to an astounding— and unsustainable— rise in plastic packaging. And yet, there’s no public data of exactly how much waste these companies produce. Neither are there any commitments whatsoever to reduce this,” Chua added.

So, what can we do now?

Of course, we can’t resolve these issues by ourselves. However, it doesn’t mean we can’t do anything about it. We can still try to help deal with the problem even in our little ways. Though recycling won’t miraculously resolve our pollution problem at once, when we all do it together, a little goes a long way.

Now you may be wondering what to do with plastic shipping bags accumulating and gathering dust at your home. Here are some tips you may want to consider:

Cut them into smaller pieces and turn them into eco-bricks

In case you haven’t heard of it yet, an eco-brick is a PET bottle that’s packed with plastic wastes. These materials are thoroughly cleaned, dried, and cut into small pieces first before they are stuffed into the bottle.

The good news is that you can do the same thing with your used plastic pouches at home. Once you are done, you can donate the eco-bricks you’ve created to organizations that accept them. 
For detailed instructions on how to make an eco-brick, you may check out this guide from ecobricks.org.

Incorporate them into your arts and crafts projects

If you’re the artsy type or are simply eager to try a new hobby, you might want to start an arts and crafts project that involves used plastic shipping pouches. 

One thing you can do is mix and match pouches of different colors and textures to create interesting collages which you can use to jazz up your space later on.

You just have to be creative! Of course, you may also check out posts on various social networking sites for some inspiration on how you can transform those plastic wastes into something artsy and stunning.

Here are some social media posts that show art projects created using plastic bags:

• Decorative Fused Plastic Leaves
• 5 DIY Recycled Plastic Bag Projects
• Hand-Dyed Plastic Bag Yarn Tutorial
• 25 Ideas of How to Recycle Plastic Bags on America Recycles Day

Donate them to friends or relatives who own businesses

A lot of people have been turning to online selling to generate income these days. If you have a friend or a relative who has an online store, you may want to ask them if they are in need of plastic pouches.

Since these pouches are heavy-duty, they can be reused to ship goods. They can also be used to store things that need protection from moisture.

Join online groups so you can meet people who may be in need of your shipping bags

Don’t have friends or relatives who can use your plastic pouches at home? Why not join online groups through which you can meet people who can take those plastic bags?

Remember, your waste can be another person’s treasure. Before you even consider throwing out those plastic bags, keep in mind that somewhere in your city, they may be another individual who’s looking for the exact same things. All you have to do is find them.

Ask the leaders in your community

You may not be aware of them, but your barangay and/or municipality may have the right facilities where you can drop off your plastic wastes. They may know of some projects that deal with such materials, too, so don’t forget to ask your local leaders what to do with all those plastic bags.

And if there are no such things yet in your community, you may be able to connect with people who want to make things happen.

Look for companies and organizations that can take your used plastic bags (and more)

There are now a number of companies and organizations that accept plastic pouches and other types of plastic wastes.

Here are some of them:

The Plastic Flamingo

Also known as The Plaf, The Plastic Flamingo is a social enterprise that gathers and turns plastic waste into a wide array of sustainable construction materials. These byproducts are then used to build new schools, homes, and shelters that can withstand the disasters the country faces each year.

It accepts the following materials:

• LDPE – online shopping plastics, bubble wraps, clear firm plastics, garbage bags
• PET – liquid or food containers, water bottles, condiment bottles
• HDPE – shampoo bottles, cleaning product bottles, milk jugs, bleach bottles
• PVC – broken hangers, pail, PVC tubes, plastic chairs, plastic trays
• PP – microwaveable containers, ice cream tubs, milk tea cups, egg trays, yogurt containers
• PS – plastic cups, utensils, straws, cd cases
• Others – water cooler bottles, eco-brick, multi-materials packaging, chips packaging

You may also donate the following:

• Plastic bottles
• Plastic Tupperware
• Plastic bags
• Plastic egg trays
• Sachets and single-use plastics

Besides these plastic materials, the organization also accepts plastic cartons, but first, you need to:

1. Snip them open and rinse their insides
2. Flatten them and put the straw back in or the cap on the pack
3. Segregate the cleaned cartons and the cleaned plastics

It does not accept these materials:

• Cotton buds
• Plastics with residual waste
• Styrofoam
• Glass
• Face masks
• Used sanitary items
• Electronic waste
• Dirty plastics

Once you’re ready, you may either drop off the materials or schedule a pickup. For more information, click here.

Green Antz Builders

It’s a waste management company that takes used plastics provided that they are clean and dry. These materials are used to create bricks for construction projects.

It accepts the following:

• Plastic containers and tubs like takeout boxes and trays
• Shampoo, detergent, and other HDPE bottles
• Plastic bags, sachets, and snack packs
• Plastic cups, lids, and utensils
• PET bottles

The company has collection stations in malls and other accessible locations. You may view the list here. 

It also offers free pickup. Learn more about it here.

JuanLoop

This social enterprise wants to promote a circular ecosystem within an environment that relies so much on online shopping. 

It accepts the following:

• Courier packaging
• Bubble wraps
• Supermarket plastic bags
• Mailers
• Small boxes

JuanLoop works with vulnerable Metro Manila communities that upcycle the collected plastic wastes. The organization sanitizes the collected plastics first before sending them to the communities that incorporate them into reusable bags.

Those who want to donate should take these steps:

1. Compress their plastic wastes
2. Take a photo of the materials
3. Schedule a pickup with JuanLoop by messaging it on Facebook
4. Wait for a collector (biker) to pick up the materials on the agreed date

More information about JuanLoop and its process can be found here.

Want to keep more plastic wastes from ending up in landfills and oceans? Tell your family and friends about these tips!