'Greener' ways to ship
In the most recent issue of Quilting Arts Magazine, Natalya Aikens writes about her eco-friendly journal quilting techniques.
At Quilting Arts, we have been looking for ways to lessen our impact on the earth, including recycling shipping materials. If you'd like to help, here are some tips for choosing "greener" packing materials when mailing your artwork, as appropriate:
1. Use less packaging. Unless your quilt has breakable or bendable embellishments, ask yourself if it's really necessary to add several layers of tissue, bubble padding, or foam padding.
2. Avoid foam peanuts. If you need to immobilize your artwork, try using popcorn, shredded paper (from your paper shredder), clean pea straw (used for the garden), or old cardboard boxes torn into strips and rolled tightly.
3. Use products made from recycled or biodegradable materials (such as boxes made from recycled paper and packing made from starch). They're available at most post offices and office supply stores.
4. Re-use the packaging you have. Don't pop that bubble padding! Save and use it again for the next mailing. Same with boxes and other padding.
5. Re-use packing materials in your art. Bubble and foam padding make great textural stamps, Tyvek® envelopes can be painted and stitched, and cardboard can be cut up and used as a stencil or mask, or as protection for your work surface.
Do you have an idea for more earth-friendly ways to pack and ship quilts? If so, send them to us and we'll put the best ones on our website. Send your tips to cprato@interweave.com.
Art above and at top by Natalya Aikens. |
