Four questions to ask before throwing away a product box

Manufacturers take great care in designing packaging that is just as appealing and stylized as the product it houses. For that reason, it may be difficult to let go of the crisp, new box your device came with, and it some cases, you shouldn’t. As you mull over recycling a product box, answer these four questions.

1. Are you within the return period?

This one’s a no-brainer. If you’re still within the return period (which is often extended beyond normal guidelines during the holiday season), keep your box.

Some retailers, such as Best Buy in the US, do accept returns sans boxes (which eventually appear as “Open Box” items on the salesfloor), but you can ensure the smoothest and easiest return process by including the box the product came with.

2. Can you resell the product when you upgrade?

I don’t know about you, but there’s something about an included box that makes a used product that much more enticing. If you plan to sell your phone, computer or even camera through an online marketplace sometime in the future, consider keeping the original packaging. You’ll likely boost your cred and make your product more attractive than gadgets housed in lackluster bubble wrap.

3. Do you plan to move soon?

Some products are much easier to move with their original box and styrofoam support. TVs, for example, can be a hassle to wrap and transport, as can monitors, larger printers and small appliances. The styrofoam (and the included box) will help keep the product secure, easy to move and a breeze to unbox when you’re ready to settle it into its new home.

4. Are you a hoarder?

Do you have a pile of product boxes from years past? Do they sit there, collecting dust, bearing no purpose at all? If you answered “yes” to even one of these questions, you may be hoarding. In some rare cases, you may decide to keep a product box for storing a device you’ll one day retire, but keep around (often seen with iPhones). But in most cases, product boxes have no use and should be broken down and recycled.

5. Can you turn the box into a DIY?

If your answers to the previous four questions suggest you should let your box go, but you still can’t do, this next solution may be for you. A number of crafty DIYers around the Web have found ways to “upcycle” product boxes into usable furnishings. At the minimum, you can use small product boxes (such as those from phones or small tablets) to organize rarely used cables, earbuds and adapters.