The Ecobahn Packaging Recycling Instruction Generator is a simple (and completely free) tool to provide eCommerce retailers with a quick and easy way to communicate to their customers the best technique for eCommerce packaging recycling.
eCommerce retailers dispatch billions of orders every year in carefully designed packaging. Confusion around recycling leads to most eCommerce packing being immediately ripped off and discarded in the rubbish, even the carefully selected ‘sustainable’ options.
As the number of packaging options increases, so does this confusion, further increasing landfill waste from eCommerce packaging. The Ecobahn Packaging Recycling Instructions Generator looks to address this issue through a free and simple tool.
The Problem With eCommerce Packaging Recycling
Online retail is growing at an exponential rate. The amount of packaging waste is therefore following a similar trend.
Buying online is mostly an enjoyable experience, with consumers excited to receive their online orders. When the package arrives, most consumers will be able to relate to the slightly frenzied experience of ripping open boxes and satchels to get to their products.
The carefully selected packaging is more often than not overlooked, with packaging quickly gathered up and placed in the bin.
Wishcycling
For the more eco-conscious consumers, eCommerce packaging recycling presents challenges due to the range of packaging options now available combined with the increasing trend of “wish-cycling”.
Efforts by these consumers to try and reduce waste, result in them adding anything into the recycling bin in the hope they think/wish it might be recyclable.
eCommerce satchels are a great example. eCommerce Satchels, whether compostable or recycled plastic, are recyclable, but not through the traditional domestic recycling channels. This doesn’t, however, stop us from adding them anyway to recycling. The result of this is contamination of all items, with even the recyclable material then destined for landfill.
The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) reported of the 4.4 million tonnes of packaging waste produced in 2017–18, 44 per cent ended up in a landfill. Around 58 per cent of plastic put in kerbside bins suffered the same fate.
Ecobahn Packaging Recycling Instructions Generator
The Ecobahn Packaging Recycling Instructions Generator looks to address this issue head-on, making it simple and easy for retailers to communicate with their customers on how best to recycle packaging.
The Packaging Recycling Instructions Generator to can be accessed completely free at recycling.theecobahn.com.

Select the packaging in which your customers will receive their order. The Ecobahn Recycling Instruction Generator creates custom instructions for eCommerce packaging recycling.
Recycling Instructions Use-Cases
With an HTML output, the Ecobahn Packaging Recycling Instructions Generator can be used across a variety of digital and physical touchpoints. Potential use-cases include:
- Order confirmations
- Shipping/tracking emails
- Invoices
- Packing slips
- FAQ pages
- Sustainability / CSR webpages
Your customers care about sustainability. Regardless of the packaging you use, start engaging with your customers on the best way to dispose of your packaging responsibly.
Access the Ecobahn Packaging Recycling Instructions Generator at recycling.theecobahn.com.
Please note, the tool currently only provides accurate recycling instructions for Australia. More countries coming soon.
Further Reading: Pre-Cycling for eCommerce: Future of Recycling. Read More