Compostable mailer
Compostable film200 minimum · 10 to 12 business daysA compostable mailer is a soft shipping bag made from a compostable film blend of PBAT and corn starch, with a compostable peel and seal strip. Certification documentation for the film is supplied with the quote. We produce them from 200 units in 10 to 12 business days after proof, printed one or two colors. The most common sizes are 10 by 13 and 12 by 15.5 inches.
When to choose it, and when not to
Choose a compostable mailer when your brand has made a plastic commitment and needs the shipping bag to keep it. It does the same job as a poly mailer for apparel, textiles and soft goods, and it looks and feels a little softer and more matte. Where the film certification covers your spec, its mark can go on the print, which is more useful than any claim you might write yourself; the documentation comes with the quote. It suits clothing, bedding and subscription refills.
Choose a poly mailer when the bag will sit in a warehouse for more than a year, because compostable film has a shelf life and the seal weakens. Choose an eco kraft mailer box when the product is rigid or the unboxing matters, since a paper box recycles with paper and gives structure.
Specifications
| Film | PBAT and corn starch blend, 2.5 mil, compostable; certification documentation supplied with the quote |
|---|---|
| One or two color flexo, water-based ink | |
| Finish | Matte, natural cream or white |
| Closure | Compostable peel and seal strip |
| Insert | Optional second strip for returns |
| Shelf life | 12 months from manufacture in a cool dry place |
| Minimum | 200 units |
| Lead time | 10 to 12 business days after proof |
| Ships | Flat, in packs of 100 |
| Sizes we run | 6 x 9 in 10 x 13 in 12 x 15.5 in 14.5 x 19 in any size from 6 x 9 to 20 x 26 in |
Materials that suit it
Questions people ask
What is the film made of?
A blend of PBAT, a biodegradable polyester, and corn starch, at 2.5 mil. It is made to break down in composting conditions. The certification documentation for the film, the seal strip and the ink comes with the quote, so you can see exactly which composting claims it supports before anything is printed.
Is it as strong as poly?
Close, not equal. The film has similar puncture resistance to 2.5 mil poly and is fully water resistant on the outside. It is a little more prone to stretching at the seal under heavy load, so we suggest keeping contents under 4 pounds and going to a carton for anything with sharp corners.
Why does it have a shelf life?
Because it is designed to break down. Stored cool and dry, the film keeps its strength for 12 months from manufacture. After that the seal strip and the film start to weaken. Order what you will use in a year rather than stocking up, which is why the 200 unit minimum matters here.
Can I print the compostable marks?
Where the film supplier's certification covers your spec, yes. The documentation comes with the quote, and a mark goes on the proof only when it matches that documentation. What we will not print is a general phrase like eco-friendly with no certification behind it, because it is not backed and can be challenged.
Can customers put it in curbside recycling?
No, and the bag should say so. Compostable film contaminates plastic recycling. The right path is the composting route the film certification covers, which the documentation with your quote spells out, or general waste where no such program exists. We print a short disposal line on the back on request.
How is the compostable mailer different from the poly mailer?
Film and claim. The compostable mailer is a 2.5 mil PBAT and corn starch film with a compostable seal strip and certification documentation supplied with the quote; it has a shelf life of about 12 months and prints one or two colors. The poly mailer is 2.5 or 3 mil polyethylene, up to three colors, with recycled-content film on request. Both start at 200 units in 10 to 12 business days after proof. If the brand has made a plastic commitment, the compostable mailer. If not, the poly mailer is the simpler one to stock.
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Ready to price your compostable mailer?
Send the size and quantity for a quote and a dieline, usually within one business day. Your digital proof follows, usually within one business day of your artwork. Design help and the Swatch Book of materials are free.