![[logo] US EPA](http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
Plastic Envelopes
Plastic envelopes are used in heavy-duty, security-related, and other specialized mailing applications by the express mail, banking, legal, and other industries. They are lightweight, tear-resistant, durable, water-resistant, and can be manufactured using recovered plastic.
- Recommended Recovered Materials Content Ranges
- Product Specifications
- Product Information
- Additional Links
Recommended Recovered Materials Content Ranges:
EPA's Recovered Materials Advisory Notice (RMAN) recommends recycled-content levels for purchasing plastic envelopes as shown in the table below.
| Material |
Postconsumer Content
(%): |
Total
Recovered Materials Content
(%): |
|---|---|---|
| Plastic | 25 | 25-35 |
Paper and Paper Products
²EPA's recommendation does not preclude procuring agencies from purchasing envelopes from another material such as paper. It simply requires that a procuring agency, when purchasing plastic envelopes made from plastic, purchase these items made from recovered materials when these items meet applicable specifications and performance requirements.
Product Specifications:
- The US General Services Administration (GSA), the US Government Printing Office (GPO), and the US Postal Service (USPS) all currently purchase plastic envelopes made from Tyvek® containing recovered HDPE. GSA specifies "DuPont Tyvek® or equal." USPS requires "DuPont Tyvek®." GPO requires "white spunbonded polyethylene with the characteristics of DuPont's product number 1073;" the title of the solicitation, however, states "Tyvek® envelopes or similar."
- The Navy requests that plastic envelopes not be sent to ships in order to minimize onboard disposal of plastic.
Product Information:
Database
of Manufacturers and Suppliers
This database identifies manufacturers and suppliers
of plastic envelopes containing recovered materials.
GSA Advantage!
The General Services Administration (GSA's)
Federal Supply Schedule Group 75, Schedule V includes
Tyvek envelopes, available through its online ordering
system. In addition, GSA publishes various supply catalogues,
guides, and schedules for recycled-content products available
through the Federal Supply Service.
Additional Links:
2007
Buy-Recycled Series: Nonpaper Office Products (PDF) (7 pp, 92K, About PDF)
This fact sheet highlights the nonpaper office
products designated in the CPG, including plastic envelopes,
and includes case studies, recommended recovered-content
levels, and a list of resources.
Technical
Background Document
This background document includes EPA's product
research on recovered-content plastic envelopes as well as a
more detailed overview of the history and regulatory
requirements of the CPG process.
