December 7, 2007

A Greener CD/DVD Packaging Solution

I've been looking for a more environmentally friendly way to package, protect, and ship my image CD/DVDs for a while now, and I think I've finally found my perfect solution! Check it out..
Tin CD/DVD Packaging

What I love about this Tin CD Case is that it's more protective and sturdy than a jewel case and it can be mailed without ANY additional packaging. As fun as it is to pop the bubble wrap inside traditional protective mailers, it ends up being one more thing that gets dumped into a landfill somewhere. The nice thing about the tin packaging is that I can just put a mailing label on the backside, a sticker on the edge to keep it closed and it's good to go, even for overseas shipping and in bad weather! The little window makes a neat surprise in the mail and it helps you stay organized by knowing exactly what's in the tin without opening it! Also, because the tin is much sturdier than a jewel case, it's not likely to break easily, and such, not likely to be thrown out! Love it!

PS. In case you were wondering, the image is printed directly onto the CD/DVD. No labels means less waste!

34 comments:

  1. I love baby Oz...so beautiful!

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  2. Sweet. R U gonna share where you got these? I"m always looking for green solutions too. We just bought a zillion plastic ones, but GTK about the tin ones for when I'm makin the big bucks someday.

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  3. Where did you get them? I love it!

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  4. These are from American Digital:
    http://www.american-digital.com/

    They're very reasonably priced at under $1 each when you buy 100+. Also, it was only $1.64 or so when mailed with first class postage.

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  5. These are awesome. Thanks so much! Wouldn't it be cool if you could get the laser engraved with your own logo / return address?

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  6. I'm sure someone out there could do something like that for you! I'm pretty sure this company may be able to do "metal engraving" to save you time and yet another label- then you could just sharpie the client address?

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  7. perfect idea Anne!

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  8. I LOVE these. you are pure genius! What do you use to print the photo on the cd?

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  9. Anonymous11:02 AM

    Anne,
    I love it! Thank you for sharing. What cd printer do you use?

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  10. I love it Anne! I have been looking for a solution to my CD packaging.

    Loving the label too! What printer are you using?

    Cristina

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  11. Anonymous4:25 PM

    Anne these look awesome!! Love them and the idea behind everything. Good for you.

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  12. Anonymous9:13 PM

    What program do you use to print onto the cds? I've been looking for a new way to do that! Except I make DVDs, a label, and a DVD case with a custom insert....

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  13. Anonymous9:32 PM

    Haha...looks like I wasn't the only one who asked! Would MOO stickers hold the sides shut? I've been thinking about getting some of those too...

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  14. When I purchased my Epson R-series printer (2 years ago- there are better models out now), there was a simple "Print CD" Software that came with it and it has worked seamlessly. The Epson print quality is excellent and I use Verbatim Direct-Print CD/DVDs - they have a nice bright white and a matte silver that both look great.

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  15. This is an excellent idea Anne. Thanks for the find!

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  16. This is AMAZING, Anne! Thanks SO MUCH for sharing!

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  17. Oooh, good thinking about just mailing it in the tin. Just like all those AOL disc mailers I get. Why did that never occur to me, LOL?

    Thanks for posting. :)

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  18. Anonymous10:43 AM

    Nice! My only concern would be if it gets scratched and damaged while in mail... If that suppose to be a presentation packaging as a client I wouldn't want any shipping information written on it, even on a back. It devalues the product.

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  19. Anonymous3:39 PM

    I LOVE this. I have been looking for wrapping of my photography items, and I have been looking for something that people are not going to throw away. Mee too, I want to keep waste down and I think that the cases that photography items come in should be lowered to a minimum so that it doesn't go right into the trash, all the while somehow being classy. And I think this is a GREAT start!
    Thanks so much for posting it!
    Cheerio
    -Melissa E Earle

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  20. Anonymous2:51 PM

    LOVE this. I have been looking for a while. I tried the round tin ones but no flair, love that you can see the label!! Ordering some today. Thanks

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  21. I bought some of these after seeing them here. “As Seen on Anne Ruthmann's Blog!" I shared your blog link to a photographer friend of mine and she bought them too. We both love them. Thanks sweetie! ((How's that for a two thumbs up!))

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  22. Anonymous9:55 PM

    Beware though, American Digital will take your order even when these aren't in stock. I've been waiting six weeks, they set dates when it will arrive then it never comes.

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  23. Anonymous8:50 AM

    I think it is better anyway to print onto the disc rather than on a label. As when you print onto a sticky label and the stick it to a disc it is likely to peel off and cause the CD to skip.

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  24. Are you still shipping these without any packaging? I'm wondering how that's working out for you. I too have been using these cases for awhile, but I never considered sending it w/o packaging until I read your blog. ;)

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  25. Hi Rob - yes I do. I use a sticker to keep it shut and a label for the address. They hold up really well!

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  26. Anonymous7:48 AM

    AWESOME!!

    I jumped over here from your greener photography post on the photolovecat blog. I just designed a new green mission statement, and have been seriously struggling with what to do with CDs. I saw square tins that I loved that didn't have windows, so weren't quite right, but these are PERFECT!! Thank you!!

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  27. Are you printing onto the cd yourself or sending it somewhere to be printed? I love your idea here and would love more info!

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  28. Love the tin; I've been admiring for a while, but now that I've read your post I'm taking the plunge. Thanks. Quick question. What determines for you whether you use CD or DVD? Is it simply the capacity or is there any other reason to use one over the other? I'm trying to keep inventory streamlined and so have just printable DVDs. Wondering if I should also stock the CDs. Thanks.

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  29. Yeah, I think it's much more economical to simply purchase all DVDs rather than keeping stock of different capacities.

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  30. I LOVE IT!!! I'm definitely going to follow up on this! Thank you for sharing! :D

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  31. A great solution... exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for sharing!

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  32. Anne: Thanks. I love the tin as well. Joan

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  33. Love it. Thank you again for such great insight and even more valuable, your sharing this with us.

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  34. Great Post! Thanks for Sharing! We are looking for greener packaging too!

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