It’s the time of year when many of us pack up gifts to ship to friends and family all over the world.

Styrofoam peanuts are not exactly the most environmentally friendly packing options.

You just want something to soften the blows that will most likely occur during shipping, and you probably have plenty of cushiony packing materials right around your home!

Here are some ideas:

• You can pop some popcorn (without all the salt) to use as a cushion for gifts.
• Ball up some old newspapers or fliers and use those as a barrier. I have even torn apart one of the many huge phone books we receive each year and used that paper to protect our breakables.
• Use any extra brown paper bags as a barrier.
• You can also cut down your cardboard box to make sure it is the exact fit for your present (if the present isn’t breakable) and not bother with fillers.
• Obviously, if you recently received a package with nerdles or bubble wrap, then re-use them!

The deadline for shipping packages Parcel Post with the post office is December 16th. The deadline for First Class and Priority Mail is December 20th, and you have to have your packages in by December 23rd for Express Mail.

Do you have any other environmentally friendly suggestions for shipping packages?