What happens to the packaging material?

Good point. The packaging itself has a return address and your delivery address on it — that's the most basic requirement, but honestly, there's a lot you can read into those two simple lines. The return address is often a generic location or a remailer, which kinda tells you something about how the vendor handles logistics. If it's printed directly on the mailer, that's one thing; if it's a sticker, it might be a more manual operation. The delivery address formatting can also hint at whether the shipper is using automated label systems or hand-writing stuff.

As for courier choice, you can sometimes guess based on the barcode style or label dimensions, but without seeing the actual package it's hard to say. In general, most novelty ID shipments go through standard postal services or budget tracked options. Transit hubs are where things get interesting — once it hits a major sort facility, the packaging really matters. A flimsy bubble mailer might get crushed or torn, especially if it's going through automated sorting machines. A rigid cardboard envelope or well-taped poly bag holds up way better. Durability is key because customs scans often happen in those same hubs, and a damaged package raises some flags.

Customs observations are usually pretty minimal, tbh, unless the package has a customs form attached. If the return address is domestic, it might slip through without extra checks, but if it's international they'll be looking at the declared contents. The packaging itself doesn't scream "novelty ID" unless it's obviously oversized or has weird markings. Overall shipping speed is a mixed bag — sometimes you get lucky with a smooth run through the network, other times a package sits at a hub for a few extra days. The material won't change the speed, but it can affect whether it arrives intact. So yeah, those two addresses are just the tip of the iceberg when you think about everything else that happens to the packaging along the way.

Shred is better than toss for any document-like packaging. Smart habit generally.

Public trash bin on your way to wherever is the standard practice.