Why I Said No to Uline – EMTeas’ Eco-Friendly Packaging Choice

When you run a small business, you come to expect catalogs showing up in your mailbox. Some of them make sense. Most don’t. But this one was different.

A couple days ago, I got a catalog from Uline. If you’ve never seen one, it’s about 900 pages thick and heavy enough to use as a doorstop. I didn’t ask for it. I never even looked at Uline for supplies. But there it was, packed with hundreds of products that have no relevance to EMTeas.

And it got me thinking about what this business is really about.

Since day one, I’ve tried to build EMTeas in a way that keeps our impact on the environment as low as possible.

No, it’s not perfect. Nothing is. My teas are sustainably farmed, but they do come from places like Nepal and China. Some of the herbs and spices are American-grown when I can source them here. My packaging, mailers, tape, and labels are all American-made and compostable.

I’m still learning and adjusting as I go. It’s not about having all the answers, it’s about doing what feels right. Part of that is respecting people’s time and privacy too. I’ve never liked getting a bunch of unsolicited emails or catalogs myself, so I’ve made it a point not to send them. No one needs more noise in their mailbox or their inbox.

Why I Said No to Uline

I don’t have anything against companies marketing their products. But sending out several pounds of unsolicited paper to thousands of businesses, most of whom will never even open it, just doesn’t seem right to me.

When I called Uline to ask why I’d been mailed this catalog, the rep was friendly and helpful. They confirmed I’d never ordered anything or reached out to them, and explained that they buy mailing lists and send these out as a standard practice.

I thanked them for explaining, and I let them know that for me, this doesn’t really line up with how I’ve decided to run my business. Even if I ever need something they carry, I’d look for another supplier first, just because this approach doesn’t sit right with how I’ve decided to run my business.

I’m not someone who believes in punishing a business just to make a point. I know there are good people working those jobs, people doing what they have to do to support their families. Most of the time, the folks on the front lines have no say in the decisions made by executives or owners who are pretty far removed from the day-to-day reality. I respect that.

But as a business owner, I try to be thoughtful about the small decisions. I don’t expect everyone to agree with me, and I’m not claiming I’m doing everything perfectly. I just want EMTeas to be consistent with the values that matter to me.

At the end of the day, no business is impact-free. But I believe in trying and in mitigating that impact as much as I can, and I want to work with companies and suppliers who share that same commitment to doing better.

Every decision, like using compostable packaging or opting out of a huge paper catalog, adds up to building a company I feel good about.

I’m proud to keep learning how to do things a little better. If you have ideas or resources that have helped you run your life or business in a more sustainable or intentional way, I’d love to hear them.

How do you feel about stuff like this? Do you think I’m overthinking it, or does it frustrate you too when businesses send waste you didn’t ask for?

I’d love to hear what you think.