I’ve received my first sample of the journal and I’m now looking to order a second sample. By having the actual physical product in my hands, it makes me feel and realise just how real this whole process has been. It’s also a little scary in one way, as I’m now not far away from ordering the journals in bulk. As I get closer and closer to this next huge milestone of reaching the production stage, I’ve now got to make some decisions around the type of packaging that I’ll be distributing the journal in.

I’ve admittedly already spent quite a bit of time considering this stage and exploring potential options, but my goal for this is to now lock in a particular packaging method so I can finally tick it off the list.

To help me make the decision, I recently created a survey on Instagram, and the results were quite eye-opening.

The reason I went to social media to look for answers is because the journal will ultimately be for the users, not for me, and so I want to ensure I’m creating something (from packaging to product) that they’re going to enjoy and be happy with. I also got some new ideas from others who had messaged me after seeing the post.

When it comes to packaging, I feel that I also have a moral obligation to choose an option that has the least negative impact on the environment as possible AND is practical. In addition to this, like running any business, I also need the cost to be considered as it wouldn’t make sense to go for an option that isn’t financially viable.

So with all this in my mind and the survey results in, these are the top 5 options (of many) that I have been considering.

Option 1 – plastic mailer bags

Pros

• Super cheap (in bulk, I can get these for around $0.05 per bag)
• Water-resistant (great if the package is left outside in the rain)

Cons

• Terrible option for the environment
• They don’t contain any padding (offer zero protection for the items within)
• I would need an additional piece of packaging to use inside the bag

Option 2 – bubble mailer bags

Pros

• Price (in bulk, I can get them for around $0.20 per bag)
• Water-resistant
• Offer protection for the goods inside
• Wouldn’t need additional packaging
• Convenient and practical

Cons

• Terrible option for the environment

Option 3 – cardboard book wrap mailer

Pros

• Made from recycled paper
• Is recyclable
• Very convenient and practical
• I think they look great
• Offer some protection for contents inside

Cons

• Not water resistant (if left out in the rain, the water would be an issue)
• Would likely require an additional piece of protection to make it more water resistant
• Constrained to only fitting a journal inside the box (no add-ons could be included)
• Price (around $0.54 in bulk – it might not sound a lot but this adds up if extra packaging is required)

Option 4 – personalised cardboard box

Pros

• Made from recycled cardboard
• Can be recycled
• Fully customisable – I could build compartments and make the opening of it as an experience for the customer
• Contents would be safe and well-protected

Cons

• I would still need to use some type of protective bag in case of wet weather
• Price can be high with customisations (around $0.97 per box)
• Bulky to send (a lot of wasted space – and size matters with postage prices)

Option 5 – plastic-free padded mailer bags

Pros

• Made from recycled paper
• Is recyclable
• Can be compostable
• Offers protection from drops and some protection from rain
• Convenient and practical
• Lightweight
• Price is good (around $0.42/bag)
• No additional packaging would be required

Cons

• Some are made with a honeycomb waxing to help prevent water from damaging it – this makes it difficult for some shipping labels to stick
• Bags could potentially pierce easily if pressed against sharp corners (fairly low chance of this happening, but still worth considering)

Which one to choose?

With all these options laid out and the survey results in, I’ll be deciding between option 3 and option 5. Option 3 is almost perfect, however there is always the worry about it being susceptible to water damage. If I can find a suitable solution for shipping labels to stick hassle-free, then option 5 would almost be a no-brainer. It’s cheap, great for the environment, doesn’t have any wasted space and protects the products inside.

When trying to make any decision, personal or professional, it can always help to list out your options with the pros and cons as it allows you to see everything clearly. Even through the process of writing this blog, my mind feels much clearer and lighter!