Do you ship your goods in corrugated boxes? It’s great if you’re using eco-friendly packaging – recycled shipping boxes that are both recyclable and compostable. However, from an environmental perspective, single-use is disheartening, so it’s always better to reuse boxes a few times before tossing them in the recycling bin.
Wonder what to do with used cardboard boxes? This blog offers ten great ideas for how to reuse shipping boxes. Doing so contributes toward a circular economy, reduces carbon footprints, and helps you play your part in creating a more sustainable world, especially if you’re shipping boxes wholesale.
1. Weed Protection for Your Garden
Cardboard upcycling in the garden is a great way to repurpose larger boxes. One of the most popular cardboard garden ideas is sheet mulching – creating a raised flower bed. Clear the area and then lay down the cardboard and moisten it.
Use heavy items to hold it in place and keep the area damp. It is best to do this in the fall so that the area is ready to till by spring. Layer the cardboard with mulch or compost to make an even richer and more nutrient-dense bed. In the spring, simply till the bed, and you can begin planting.
2. Stationery and Postcards for All Occasions
E-flute is an incredibly sleek and thin cardboard often utilized to create shipping boxes. Not only does it make for a beautiful shipment, but it is thin enough to be repurposed as a postcard. Use a utility knife and cut out 4” x 6” rectangles from the cardboard box to make your own postcards.
Then, decorate them according to your preference, such as with doodles and sketches, children’s artwork, or magazine cutouts. Once satisfied with the design, flip the postcard over and draw a line down the middle. You can write your message on the left-hand side, while the right can be used for the recipient’s address.
3. Stylish Storage Solutions for Any Space
Other creative uses of a cardboard box involve simple storage solutions:
- Create a desktop organizer: Cut two cardboard boxes into small squares and glue them together. Add dividers and pockets to create compartments for pens, paperclips, and other office supplies. You can use smaller boxes and toilet paper rolls too.
- Make drawer dividers: Cut cardboard boxes into thin strips and use them for dresser drawers. This will help to keep items organized and make it easier to find what you need.
- Build a toy box: Paint a large cardboard box with colorful designs and add handles to make it easier to carry.
4. Transform Your Home with Creative Wall Art
Some craft ideas using cardboard boxes include making wall art. Old cardboard boxes are great for wall art because they’re lightweight, inexpensive, and easy to work with. They can be cut, painted, and decorated to create unique pieces of artwork that add a creative touch to any room.
If you are looking for an inexpensive way to create a fresh canvas, try using the lids of shoe boxes. After applying a layer of primer and white paint, you can decorate the lids as if they were a real canvas. This is also a great way for kids to be creative without breaking the bank.
5. Eco-Friendly Picture Frames for Sustainable Decor
Cardboard photo frames make for an awesome gift for your friends and family. Not only are these frames easy to make and extremely affordable, but they are also eco-friendly since they are made from recycled materials.
The fold design allows you to easily set up the frame on a table or mantel, making it perfect for displaying pictures! What’s more – you can update their style time and again for little to no cost.
6. Scratch-Resistant Furniture for Your Feline Friends
Other creative ways to use cardboard boxes include making pet toys that are safe, lightweight, and inexpensive. Cardboard boxes and scratching posts provide cats with a safe place to play and explore while preventing them from ruining your furniture. They can also be easily customized with holes, tunnels, and different textures to make them more stimulating and fun.
7. Eco-Friendly Paper Mache Crafts for All Ages
What else can you use a cardboard box for? Have you ever tried your hand at paper mache? While most assume you have to use newspaper, cardboard pulp is stronger. Begin by tearing up some cardboard boxes into thin strips, then soak them in a large water basin overnight.
After draining the water, add Elmer’s glue and boiled linseed oil, and blend the mixture with a drill and paint mixer bit. Keep blending and adding glue until you get the desired consistency. Put the mixture into a mold and let it dry in the sun for several days.
Once dry, remove it from the mold and smooth it out before adding detail and paint for a unique and eye-catching piece of art.
8. Add Some Fun to Your Event with Party Decorations
One of the most popular ways to use a big cardboard box for party decorations is to make banners. Simply cut a length of cardboard into a banner shape, paint it with any color or design you choose, and hang it up. You can also use stickers, markers, and glitter to add decorative flair.
Another idea is to use an old cardboard box to make Christmas tree decorations. Cut out the shapes of animals, flowers, stars, a cardboard tube, or anything else you can imagine and decorate with paint or wrapping paper.
You can also use cardboard to make centerpieces. Cut the cardboard into various shapes, such as circles, stars, or hearts. Paint the pieces, then glue them together to make a unique centerpiece for your party.
9. Attract Feathered Friends with Bird Feeders
Cardboard bird feeders are easy to make, inexpensive, and eco-friendly. To make a cardboard bird feeder:
- Start with a large piece of cardboard.
- Cut out two identical pieces of cardboard in a shape that appeals to you.
- Leave enough room for the birds to fit their beaks inside the feeder.
- After cutting out the pieces, punch two holes in each piece and thread a piece of twine through them.
- Tie the two pieces together and fill the feeder with birdseed.
- Hang the feeder in a place that is easy for birds to access and watch as they come to feed.
10. Dinner Circles for a Memorable Dining Experience
Cardboard can be used in various creative ways to set a dinner table. For starters, you can make place mats or coasters from cardboard decorated with spray paint, markers, or other materials.
Place cards can be cut from cardboard and decorated to set a fancy dinner table, or you can make napkin rings from cardboard and use them to dress up the napkins. To get more creative, you can make centerpieces from cardboard, such as a heart-shaped box or a decorative box with a lid.
Top-Quality Boxes from Brandt Box: Choose the Best for Your Needs
There are so many ways to use a cardboard box. If your company can’t do without shipping boxes, we’d encourage you to use recyclable ones and educate your customers on all the creative uses for cardboard boxes.
As a cardboard box supplier, we are dedicated to helping companies reduce their environmental impact by using sustainable materials for their packaging needs. Our Brandt Box products are designed to be durable and long-lasting.
We look forward to continuing to provide our customers with the best recyclable cardboard boxes to meet their packaging needs. Contact us today to find out more about our recyclable shipping boxes.
