Overview
Lumi considers products low weight if they fall below 25% of the average weight of other options that perform a similar function. In lifecycle analyses examining the environmental impacts of packaging, reducing weight is a critical way to reduce carbon emissions in transport.
For example, a poly mailer is considered a lightweight option for ecommerce shipping when compared to a corrugated box which can weigh 10 to 20 times more.
Why choose it
As most of our goods are trucked and shipped around the world in fossil fuel vehicles, reducing the weight of a package is one of the best ways to reduce its carbon emissions.
Companies opt for low weight packaging as a way to use less fuel in shipping to their warehouse and to their customer. Lower weight can also drastically decrease shipping rates.
Energy Footprint of Packaging Options in Material Use, Processing, and Transport (Million BTUs per 10K Packages)
Source: Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (2004)
Box with Cornstarch Peanuts
289M BTU per 10K packages
Why not choose it
Focusing only on weight incentivizes packaging options like plastic poly bags that can be difficult to recycle and don’t naturally compost or biodegrade.
Companies may choose higher weight materials that excel in other properties like recycled content or curbside recyclability.