Head-to-head Matchup: Mailer vs. Box

The two most popular shipping materials in today's ecommerce marketplace are plastic mailers and cardboard boxes. Aside from the cost of packaging, there are other important considerations when choosing the best way to package and ship an item. Below we are putting mailers head-to-head with boxes in five key areas of consideration, so you can make the best overall choice for your shipping needs:

1. Shipping costs. WINNER: Mailers
   Mailers are far lighter weight and almost always take up less space than boxes. Use this handy Mailer vs. Box Tool to see just how much you can save on shipping by using a mailer instead of a box for your specific product.
2. Sustainability. WINNER: Mailers
   It may seem counterintuitive that a plastic mailer would be more environmentally friendly than a cardboard box, but it is true. While both options are recyclable, it requires 91% less energy to recycle a pound of plastic than a pound of paper. It also requires 19 times more energy to make a cardboard box. Combine this energy savings with a lighter shipping weight and mailers come out ahead of boxes with a significantly lower environmental impact.
3. Space Requirements. Winner: Mailers
   Boxes are bulky to transport, store and assemble. Mailers can stack efficiently in far less space in transit and in a warehouse. They also fit more neatly into mailboxes and post office boxes.
4. Fulfillment speed. Winner: Mailers
   A mailer can be stuffed and sealed in seconds. Compare that to the amount of time it would take to assemble and tape a box and you have a clear winner.
5. Customizable features. Winner: Mailers
   Boxes and mailers can each be printed with custom graphics, but mailers come in a wider variety of types and colors. From metallic finishes and thermal mailers to waterproof and smell-proof materials, mailers win for their wide variety of materials and customizable features.

The results are in and mailers win in all five of these important categories of consideration for shipping ecommerce goods. But don't purchase just any mailer on the market. Make sure you partner with a reputable manufacturer with high-quality products that will withstand the rigors of shipment and protect your products properly.

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*This coupon cannot be combined with customized pricing, other promotions, or applied to previous purchases.