Going Green...what our members are doing

Last month for Earth Day, I shared a minor epiphany in my own nascent Green consciousness.  The theme was about my recent transformation from someone who liked the idea of saving the earth, but hadn't done more than remember to put the milk cartons in the right recycle container -- to actually getting out there and taking a stand (albeit a small, local one) to protect a natural resource.  (Otherwise known as "from armchair eco-friend to bonafide tree hugger," you can read my last post about my trees.) 

I also invited readers to share their own eBay-related stories about how they have put "green power" into the way they buy and sell.  I've received a few emails I want to share with you.

If you haven't already thought of doing this, here's a great tip from member onlypay4parts:

We just went and bought a new cross shredder, and after testing it, we noticed that the material created would be perfect for using as packing material.  How much junk mail do you receive a month at your home.  We now shred all our junk mail, and today, we have shipped our first package using this method.  Just imagine...If more sellers used this method...how much energy we would save!  We will have to do more tests to see the difference in weight.  This will give us an idea as to how more fuel efficient it would be, but at first signs, there might be a lot of energy savings using this method.  Due to the fact that packing peanuts are a petroleum based product, and that most peanuts end up in a local landfill instead of being recycled, we may be on to something.  Let us know what you think! 

Besides reducing use of petroleum-based packing peanuts and plastic, I can think of at least two other benefits to onlypay4parts's plan -- 1) you help keep your personal information safe by shredding any documents with your name/address, etc., and 2) you save $$ on packing material. Nice tip!

Another member who didn't leave her User Id wrote this: 

I recycle my packaging materials - i use shredded paper from the local university, and i re-use boxes and padded envelopes whenever possible. It may not be the most 'attractive' packaging, but I believe it is more environmentellay friendly.

Thanks for the article!

I was raised to never throw a good item away, so I hear you! I've also received a few eBay packages wrapped in second-hand materials, and I thought they were fine.

Finally, giraffer wrote to share a Green product line that she's been selling on eBay for over five years:

I've been going green on eBay for at least 5 years. How? I see note cards that are not made from tree paper. Tree-Free cards are made using kenaf, a plant grown in the southern United States. Kenaf uses no harmful chemicals in processing and is fully recyclable. According to my supplier the cards I've sold recently saved over 6,000 trees.  http://stores.ebay.com/Giraffes-and-Things/Tree-Free-Note-Cards.html

Wow, 6,000 trees saved by giraffer and all her customers who have purchased these cards -- that's fantastic!  But you know what is even more fantastic?  Dreaming about what we all might be able to accomplish if we each took a small step like these three members have.....

Okay, Green-readers -- here's your challenge:  Seek out more Green eBay tips and Green eBay listings, and send them to me at chatterblog@ebay.com.   In the meantime, I'm going to go hunt down some Green eBay experts here. I'll be back later to let you know who I find -- and what they have to share.