eBay's Green Team recently announced a new pilot program promoting the use of a specially designed reusable shipping box called the eBay Box.
The new boxes are made from 100% recycled FSC-certified corrugated cardboard according to the company. They were made available to participants at eBay On Location in San Jose and a limited number of users who had signed up to be part of their Green Team and opted to participate in the pilot.
eBay is offering incentives to sellers and buyers to encourage use of the new eBay Box.
Its not entirely clear how eBay members who signed up to be part of the Green Team received notification to participate in the pilot program. I've been an eBay member since 1998 and signed up with the Green Team a while back and haven't received any notification regarding the program.
Encouraging the reuse of shipping materials is without question a positive thing and if this new colorful box helps some eBay users recognize the importance of reusing materials then I am all for it.
As a seller myself for many years I've been reusing shipping materials for as long as I can remember. Also having bought a fair number of things on eBay over the years I can say many eBay members actively reuse shipping and packing materials.
Green packaging expert and SISG contributor Dennis Salazar posted a very interesting piece on thew new eBay Box on his blog Inside Sustainable Packaging. Dennis talks about the merits as well as some of the short comings of the new box in terms of sustainability - its well worth checking out.
When I have more information from eBay Green Team on the pilot program I'll post it here on SISG.
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any chance Ebay, Amazon and the like will start moving more consistently towards renewable sources such as palm fiber or bagasse etc? Seems like recycled paper is still the go-to.
Posted by: I Love Palm Fiber | September 28, 2010 at 01:41 PM