Sustainability at Pinultimate

Leaving the planet better than we found it is super important to us. As a seller of physical goods and running a small business, it’s wild how much waste is produced. Because of that, we’re hyper-conscious about being as eco-friendly as possible, and we want to lessen our impact and carbon footprint as much as possible to keep this world shinin’ on. 

Here’s a breakdown of how we approach sustainability at Pinultimate. 

eco-friendly packaging

When we started Pinultimate in 2018, we set a goal to become plastic-free. It took a while to get there, but we can now (super excitedly!) say that we are 100% free from single-use plastic in our shipping process. All of the packaging we use today can be reused, recycled and/or composted. Curious what we use?

• Kraft Boxes – reusable, compostable, recyclable
  From: PackM
  Made in: United States
  Made of: Partially recycled cardboard and non-toxic ink
  
  
• Padded Mailers – recycled, compostable, recyclable
  From: EcoEnclose
  Made in: United States
  Made of: 100% recycled content, 20% post-consumer waste, macerated newsprint, and algae ink
  
  
• Rigid Mailers – recycled, reusable, compostable, recyclable
  From: EcoEnclose
  Made in: United States
  Made of: 100% recycled content, 90% post-consumer waste, and algae ink
  
  
• Paper Tape – recycled, compostable, recyclable
  From: noissue
  Made in: China
  Made of: Recycled FSC-certified paper and soy-based inks
  
  
• Paper Bags – reusable, compostable, recyclable
  From: Hygloss
  Made in: United States
  Made of: Kraft paper and water-based ink
  
  
• Tissue Paper – recycled, reusable, compostable, recyclable
  From: noissue
  Made in: China
  Made of: Recycled FSC-certified paper and soy-based inks
  
  
• Void Fill – recycled, reusable, compostable, recyclable
  From: Incoming Packages
  Made in: Varies
  Made of: Void fill saved from any incoming packages we receive
  
  
• Packing Slips – recycled, compostable, recyclable
  From: EcoEnclose
  Made in: United States
  Made of: 100% recycled content and post consumer waste
  
  
• Thank You Cards – compostable, recyclable
  From: Jukebox
  Made in: Canada
  Made of: Bamboo paper and plant-based biomass inks
  
  
• Note Cards – compostable, recyclable
  From: Jukebox
  Made in: Canada
  Made of: Bamboo paper and plant-based biomass inks
  
  
• Stickers – recycled, compostable, recyclable
  From: noissue
  Made in: United States
  Made of: Recycled FSC-certified paper and soy-based inks
  
  
• Shipping labels – recycled, recyclable
  From: EcoEnclose
  Made in: United States
  Made of: 100% recycled and recyclable paper and release liners
  
  
• Pinultimate Backing Cards – compostable, recyclable
  From: Jukebox
  Made in: Canada
  Made of: Bamboo paper and plant-based biomass inks
  
  
• Mystery Bags – reusable, compostable, recyclable
  From: Uline
  Made in: United States
  Made of: Kraft paper
  
  
• Badge Inserts – compostable, recyclable
  From: Jukebox
  Made in: Canada
  Made of: Bamboo paper and plant-based biomass inks
  
  
• Clutch Labels – compostable, recyclable
  From: Jukebox
  Made in: Canada
  Made of: Bamboo paper and plant-based biomass inks
  
  
• Clutch Bags – recycled, reusable
  From: Our Pin Manufacturer
  Made in: China
  Made of: The bags our pins are sent in!

curious what we mean? 

Recycled: These materials come from products that have been given new life at a recycling facility and transformed into materials we can use in our packaging process. 

Reusable: So much of packaging is single-use and needs to be disposed of or recycled after it’s used. Our reusable packaging materials can be used again by you in different ways.

Compostable: Our compostable materials are created from plant-based materials and other biodegradable materials that can be easily composted by you. 

Recyclable: As a last resort, these items can be picked up with your curbside recycling.

carbon neutral shipping

Carbon emissions are out of control and hurting our climate in so many ways. We refuse to contribute to the problem, and because of that, we’ve implemented carbon neutral shipping practices within our business. By offsetting the carbon impact of all shipments delivered to and sent from us, we’re able to support sustainable development and climate cooling projects to neutralize our impact. 

improving the manufacturing process

While we’ve implemented steps within our own packaging and shipping process to reduce our impact on the environment, we recognize that the pin manufacturing process in and of itself could be a lot better. Many of the pins produced today are manufactured in China so there’s a big disconnect between maker and manufacturer, making it difficult to get the full picture of the practices in place during this process. We are dedicated to doing the necessary research, maintaining transparency, and creating an informed community of advocates who can help us work toward becoming a more sustainable pindustry. We hope you’ll join us!

how you can help

In order to take care of this planet of ours, it will take all of us coming together and making responsible and thoughtful choices. 

Here are a few actionable ways you can help be part of the solution: 

• Buy Less: We know, it’s absolutely absurd for a business to push *not buying*, but minimizing your consumption of non-essentials is easily the most impactful solution you can implement. 

We get that buying less isn’t always ideal, so when you do buy try thinking about: 

• Quality Over Quantity: Prioritize products that are going to last and stay out of landfills for as long as possible. As far as flair goes, pins are long-lasting and versatile so they make great alternatives to stickers, buttons, patches, and other goods made from lower-quality materials. Plus, they’re super easy to regift when you no longer want them!
• Buy In Bulk: When you order in larger quantities, you reduce the amount of shipping waste and carbon emissions that come with sending multiple shipments out. Get your friends and family together and place one large pin order, then have yourself an exchange party once they’re delivered.
• Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, Compost, then Recycle: There’s a reason we’ve always heard “reduce, reuse, recycle” in that order. Whenever you can, make sure to dispose of things mindfully and recycle as a last resort (landfill as a last, last resort).
• Support Businesses That Truly Care: Vote with your dollar. As consumers, it’s our responsibility to support businesses that are doing the work to be better and avoid the ones that are not. Greenwashing is so common nowadays that it’s hard to differentiate truth from performance, but shopping small is usually a safe bet.