The Ultimate Recyclable Packing Material for Shipping Food

Every year the holiday season comes around and nearly everyone finds themselves shipping something to someone. Of all things sent, nothing is so precious to the recipient as food. Cookies, brownies, even cakes from home remind us of better times with those we care about.

But as society makes efforts to go green a little more every day, the desire to use less styrofoam or bubble-wrap puts a small obstacle in our way. Well, when it comes to shipping edibles, my favorite recyclable packing material is also delicious. I use marshmallows.

Edibles like brownies, cookies and fudge are often placed within a re-usable tin, inside of the shipping box of course. But during shipping, the package itself gets bounced around and turned all directions. It can't be helped. Although my mom's fudge would be worth having even if it is broken all to pieces, we might not want it to happen. Maybe the recipient wants to share their treats with friends.

So, inside of the tin fill any remaining space with marshmallows. They're soft enough to absorb the pressure of the lid and they'll prevent the contents from shifting during transit, without crushing the contents.

This works for cakes just as well. I once sent my oldest daughter a birthday cake from Louisiana to Pennsylvania. I didn't want to ruin the frosting with plastic, styrofoam or anything else inedible, but I also didn't want the cake to be destroyed by the rigors of shipping. Marshmallows fit the bill here too.

The other obvious advantage to using marshmallows as packing material for shipping food is they're not just recyclable, they're an extra treat. The food stays safe. There's zero waste to throw away and the recipient is now just two ingredients shy of s'mores.

For those who want to take the idea a step further, flavored marshmallows also work. I found bags of them at my local dollar store and they proved to be a nice touch. There's no need to just use plain old white marshmallows.

If they're still fresh (and perhaps even if they're not) "Peeps®" work wonders too. Although the original versions work fine, the company has developed entire new lines for the holidays too. Just take them out of their packages and place them around whatever food items you're shipping to fill the extra space in your package.

These are just two ideas which have worked well for me in the past. Have you ever used edible packaging when shipping food to friends and family? Please, tell me what works for you in the comments below. Someone, somewhere would love to hear your ideas. And if you really like this idea, I'm willing to accept tips in the form of homemade brownies.