My job often takes me on client visits to self-storage facilities. These visits are ones I particularly look forward to because it seems I always walk away from them having learned something new and interesting. One trend I’ve begun to notice in recent visits is the way people are now incorporating eco-friendliness into their packing and storage methodologies. I’m seeing a lot of new products and a lot of good ideas. Many of them are not only practical but amazingly resourceful as well. Here are just a few examples:

Biodegradable packaging materials:
Plastic bubble wrap and polystyrene peanuts are slowly becoming things of the past. Now I see a different kind of peanut that’s starch-based and biodegradable. This peanut has proven itself to be a very effective packing solution and you can dispose of it by simply dissolving it in a sink! And for cushioning applications, the plastic bubble wrap is slowly giving way to paper-based protective wraps which are not only biodegradable but in many cases consist of completely recycled content. A new packing product on the market known as MycoBond is made from crop waste materials which have been inoculated with a mushroom treatment. This product is particularly efficient compared to traditional foam packing material because it requires much less energy to produce and generates a comparatively small fraction of the carbon dioxide yielded by foam. 

Green storage containers:
Packing materials aren’t the only things going green. Containers are becoming eco-friendly, too. Bamboo storage boxes are becoming increasingly popular. Not only are they environmentally friendly, but they are also stackable and very attractive looking. An especially innovative storage solution involves making storage boxes out of brown paper bags! This link explains how.

Other eco-friendly packing alternatives:
Even tape is getting into the eco-friendly act. Biodegradable cellulose tape, made from wood pulp, is becoming a very popular adhesive choice. The same can be said for gummed tape made from 100-percent recycled brown craft paper. And some people are even starting to think about green ways to frame their storage boxes. Eco-friendly closet organizers, made from solid hardwood or plywood, can serve double duty as innovative framing mechanisms for arranging and partitioning storage boxes.

The green revolution has found its way into packaging and storage. People are continually coming up with ways to go green in their packing solutions and the result is truly amazing. With every new innovation that comes along, storage is growing greener all the time.

Kenneth McCall builds creative and innovative tools for customer seeking self storage units. Kenneth is the director of operations at storage.com which  provides Boston self storage listings, and storage units in many locations across the country. In his spare time he likes to get outside, ideally with a boat and water skis.