The Carbon Benefits of Lightweight Rigid Mailers
Lower your carbon footprint with lightweight board-backed envelopes that still protect.
Carbon benefits
Quick answer
Choosing the lightest board weight that adequately protects your contents reduces carbon at every stage. A 400gsm board uses roughly 30% less material than 600gsm. This means less production energy, lighter parcels for carriers, and more envelopes per pallet in your supply chain. For documents that do not need maximum rigidity, lighter board is the greener choice.
Lighter is greener
Material weight correlates directly with production emissions.
Every gram matters across millions of postal items.
Lower weight means lower postage, incentivising the lighter option.
Material choice: GSM guide or recyclability.
Balancing weight and protection
Choose the minimum board weight that protects your specific contents. Standard documents need only 350-400gsm. Prints and photographs need 500-600gsm. Only irreplaceable originals justify 700gsm+. Over-specifying wastes material, money, and carbon.
Lightweight board-backed envelopes
Optimised-weight envelopes that protect contents and the planet from ProcuraPack.
Browse do not bend envelopesFrequently asked questions
Less material means less production energy, lighter parcels, and more efficient transport.
350-400gsm for documents. 500gsm+ for prints. Match weight to contents.
Yes, staying in lower weight bands reduces postage costs.
No, all board weights are equally recyclable.
Roughly proportional to weight reduction: 30% lighter = roughly 30% less production carbon.
Part of our guide
Product Guide: Do Not Bend Envelopes
Expert guides on rigid mailers and board-backed envelopes for protecting documents, prints, and certificates.
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