Wholesale Compostable and Paper Mailers: What to Ask Before You Switch Your Packaging

Searches for compostable mailers wholesale, biodegradable products and wholesale eco-packaging come from the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia as much as from the United States. The words are used loosely, and the cheapest option is not always the one that will do what your customers expect. Here is how the three eco options compare, and the questions that protect you.

Three options, three different jobs

What each one is good for

• Compostable film suits brands for which the end-of-life route is part of the product story. It is a plastic-like film that is designed to break down in composting conditions, and those conditions are usually a managed industrial composting facility, not a garden heap or a bin.
• Paper-padded kraft gives cushioning without plastic bubble film and goes into paper recycling where the local scheme accepts clean paper. It suits books, apparel and small accessories.
• Recycled poly is the budget step from standard poly, with the same self-seal format and a lower share of new plastic. It is still a plastic mailer and is recycled only where soft plastics are collected.

The questions to ask any supplier, including us

1. Which standard does the compostable film meet? The usual ones are EN 13432 in the UK and Europe, ASTM D6400 in the United States and Canada, and AS 4736 in Australia. Ask for the certificate and the test report, and check that it names the product you are buying. We do not state a certification on this site that we cannot show you.
2. Industrial or home composting? The answer decides what you can truthfully print on the mailer. Many councils and facilities do not accept compostable film, so ask your local authority before you promise customers anything.
3. What is the recycled content, as a percentage? Ask for it in writing for the recycled poly.
4. What does the printed message say? Environmental claims are regulated in the UK, Canada and Australia, and vague words such as eco-friendly or green can cause trouble. Keep the message specific and provable.

Our guide to poly versus compostable mailers goes into the cost and the performance in more detail.

Printing your brand on them

All three can be printed with a logo. Printed orders are priced on your artwork and quantity, with a proof before production. Send us the artwork and the number of colours, and we price it for you.

We supply businesses worldwide. Freight is quoted for your address and the goods, never guessed at checkout, and any import duty, tax or brokerage is for the recipient unless your quotation says otherwise. Payment is by bank transfer or USDT, and nothing is charged on the website.

For market specifics see our pages for the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum order?

The minimum depends on the product: 2,000 for compostable mailers, 2,500 for kraft paper mailers and 5,500 for recycled poly. Each is worth at least $500.

Are your compostable mailers certified?

Ask us for the certificate for the specific batch before you order, and check that it matches the standard your market uses. We do not claim a certification on the website.

Which is cheapest?

Recycled poly is the cheapest, then kraft paper, then compostable film, at the published prices above.

Can I mix the three in one order?

Each product has its own minimum quantity, so each line must reach its own minimum. We can quote them together to save on freight.