SUSTAINABILITY

By FedEx | First published: January 25, 2022    Updated: November 26, 2025

Sustainable packaging isn’t just nice-to-have – it’s a vital step to protecting both the planet and your bottom line. Here’s how FedEx’s packaging solutions can help you ship more sustainably.

• Southeast Asia accounts for over half of ocean plastic pollution globally – and packaging waste is a key driver of this problem.
• With consumers and governments in the region acting to reduce plastic waste, it’s time for businesses to switch to eco-friendly packaging.
• FedEx has developed a range of sustainable packaging options to help businesses ship efficiently and responsibly.

From bubble wrap to poly mailers and plastic tape, your typical online purchase often comes cocooned in unsustainable packaging. While this packaging helps protect goods during shipping, most of it goes straight to the bin – adding to the global problem of plastic waste.

Southeast Asia currently generates over half of the world’s ocean plastic pollution. Meanwhile, Asia Pacific (APAC) is set to produce a whopping 140 million tons of plastic waste by 2030. One key cause is the region’s e-commerce boom, which has led to an explosion of single-use packaging. China’s e-commerce market alone contributes around 22 million tons in express packaging waste.

But the tide is turning on plastic pollution. Consumers are increasingly turning to brands that use eco-friendly packaging and sustainable logistics, while governments across APAC are taking action to reduce plastic waste. If your business hasn’t explored sustainable packaging, now’s the time to make the switch.

Why is sustainable packaging important for your brand?

Packaging speaks volumes about your brand’s values. As more consumers become aware of the environmental impact of their online shopping, your choice of packaging can influence whether they become repeat customers.

More than 9 in 10 APAC shoppers would stop buying, reconsider, or buy less from brands that ignore sustainability in their operations. 86% of APAC consumers also say they value sustainable packaging. By investing in eco-friendly packaging, you can help enhance your company’s brand image and build customer loyalty.

At the same time, governments across the region are stepping in to combat packaging waste. South Korea has introduced sustainable packaging regulations designed to reduce plastic waste by 50%, including a ban on hard-to-recycle plastics.

Meanwhile, Australia has established National Packaging Targets that aim to make 100% of packaging used in the country reusable, recyclable, or compostable. Adopting sustainable packaging helps you stay ahead of these changing policies.

In short, shifting to sustainable packaging isn’t only good for the planet – it can be good for your business too.

Going green with FedEx packaging options

There are many ways to make your packaging more sustainable, from choosing reusable options to reducing excess materials. For small businesses, the key is finding the right balance between sustainability and practicality. Your packaging solutions need to protect your goods while being budget- and eco-friendly.

At FedEx, we’re on the front line of sustainable logistics for businesses. As a company that delivers more than 17 million packages every day, sustainable packaging has long been a key objective for us. 

Nearly 40 years ago, we established the FedEx Packaging Lab to advance durable and eco-conscious packaging innovation. Since then, we’ve developed a range of sustainable shipping solutions to help businesses move goods efficiently and responsibly.

Carbon-neutral envelopes

All FedEx-branded envelopes have been carbon-neutral since 2012. We calculate the annual carbon dioxide emissions from all FedEx Envelope shipments worldwide and invest in offsets at no cost to customers. This means you can send documents without adding to your carbon footprint.

Recyclable and reusable packaging

From our brown boxes to our padded envelopes, FedEx-branded packaging is 100% recyclable and composed of 41% recycled content. We’ve also developed a range of Reusable Paks designed to protect your shipments through multiple uses. 

For example, the Reusable Padded Pak provides tear-resistant and water-resistant protection for your important documents. Not only does reusable packaging reduce waste, it can also be more cost-effective than single-use options.

Leaner packaging, lower costs

We want to help our customers ship more efficiently and use the least packaging possible. That’s why we price shipments based on dimensional weight, which factors in both size and actual weight. 

This allows us to make the best use of space in our aircraft, vehicles, and distribution centers – improving loading efficiency and lowering shipping emissions while encouraging customers to maximize space and reduce packaging materials.

FedEx Packaging Lab works closely with customers to optimize package size and design, helping you to reduce both your shipping costs and your carbon footprint. Our dedicated packaging engineers can recommend solutions to meet your sustainability objectives, whether that means using less polystyrene foam, less film to wrap an item, or more recyclable materials.

Smart tools to measure shipping emissions

Our FedEx Sustainability Insights tool enables customers to accurately track shipping emissions down to each individual package. Using real-time FedEx network data, this tool provides you with detailed emission reports based on your package weight, service type, transport mode, and more.

By gaining insight into your shipping patterns and environmental impact, you can make informed decisions about your overall packing and shipping strategy.

Embracing packaging with a purpose

Ultimately, packaging is your brand’s first impression – it’s the first thing your customers see when they receive a delivery. By adopting eco-friendly packaging, you can do good for the planet while strengthening your reputation as a values-led brand.

FedEx is committed to delivering a more sustainable future, and we’re constantly exploring innovations to help businesses ship more intelligently and responsibly. With the latest technology and decades of expertise, we’re ready to turn sustainable packaging into a practical advantage for your business.

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Find out more about FedEx’s packaging solutions here.