myHermes, the consumer delivery specialist, has become the first company in the world to offer its customers the opportunity to send their parcels in a carbon negative, 100 per cent sustainable mailing bag. The environmentally friendly product forms part of a new range of affordable packaging launched by myHermes to provide more choice and convenience to sole traders, SME retailers and consumers.

The first-of-its-kind mailing bag has been produced for myHermes by Manchester-based packaging manufacturer, supplier and distributor Duo UK. Using a material called GreenPE, which is formed from sugarcane, myHermes is now able to offer its customers a mailing bag made from plant plastic with a negative carbon footprint and that preserves fossil fuel reserves.

The innovative product comes in two sizes, small (150mm x 290mm x 110mm) and medium (228mm x 305mm x 153mm). Both bags are 75 microns and feature strong seal and peel solution.

The new range of packaging products also includes small (290mm x 150mm x 110mm) and medium-sized (305mm x 229mm x 153mm) cardboard boxes manufactured by FSC certified suppliers. Each box is 20% stronger than the industry standard and includes a hot melt seal, which allows users to secure the boxes without any tape, as well as an innovative tear strip system to open the box. The new assortment of products also comprises packing tape and bubble wrap sheets.

These items will be now available to buy at selected myHermesParcelShops across the UK, as well as via myHermes’ brand new online packaging store.

Steve Bower, Head of myHermes Service Development, said: “We are extremely proud to become the first company, not just across the industry, but across the whole world, to offer our customers a carbon negative mailing bag. This revolutionary product illustrates myHermes’ commitment to a sustainable future.

“By launching this range of products via our ParcelShops and our online store, we are providing our valued customers with affordable and convenient access to high quality packaging solutions,” he added.

The manufacturer, Duo UK is currently the only UK manufacturer using GreenPE and is dedicated to developing and sourcing low carbon and sustainable alternatives to current packaging products.

Anthony Brimelow, the company’s Commercial Director, said: “To say we’re proud to be producing the world’s first carbon neutral mailing bag is an understatement – this is a massive global shift towards a more sustainable future for packaging and sustainable supply chains. myHermes is investing in much more than just a new style of mailing bag, using GreenPE to produce the new product means they’re also investing in a sustainable future for their business and their customers.”