Whether you have an online business or run a brick-and-mortar store, logistics is a crucial part of bringing your product offerings to your intended audience. Hence, choosing the best packaging solutions for your venture is said to be vital to ensure sound item transport. The same holds water for bigger companies with wider operations under their helm.
Product transportation may traverse land, air, or ocean freight. It’s believed that during the movement, products may encounter pressure, humidity, and temperature changes, among other things. These factors may potentially harm or, worse, damage your products before your customer receives them.
So, how do you select the best packaging solution to keep products safe until they arrive at the intended recipients’ doorstep? Check this helpful product-packaging guide for safe transport below.
1 Determine Your Packaging Options
There are many packaging solutions available nowadays that you can choose from to keep your products secured when it comes to logistics. Here are some examples:
- Packing Peanuts
Foam or packing peanuts are a foam-based product that resembles the shape of the root crop with its shell still intact. This protective packaging serves as filler that makes use of empty space to keep fragile items safe. Packing peanuts can aid in cushioning items and holding them in place. They’re usually included inside cardboard boxes.
- Multiwall Paper Bags
One of the most efficient and cost-effective packaging solutions for food products, fertilizers, seeds, construction materials, and for all types of goods is using multiwall paper bags.
They’re made with tough and virgin materials to produce heavy-duty packaging that’d keep your commodity safe and sound during transport. Multiwall paper bags come in various styles and professionals can help clients customize their bag to their exact requirements.
- Bubble Wrap Bags
Bubble wrap bags are composed of little air-filled sacs or wraps which cushion items for safe transport. They’re available in roll and folder-shaped options. In addition, this type of packaging can withstand a great amount of pressure and energy, keeping items inside safe.
- Packing Paper
Packing paper is identified as a specialized material that’s denser and sturdier than the average paper. It can take the form of kraft paper or butcher paper usually offered in rolls. If you sell Chinaware or silverware, use packing paper generously to prevent undue damage.
- Packaging Foam
Most believe that packaging foam solution is larger and denser in size compared to others. They usually come in foam rolls, sheets, sponge rolls, and others. You can customize packaging foam based on the level of protection required for a specific product.
- Padded Divider Sets
Packaging that comprises different compartmentalized boxes with padded surfaces is generally classified as padded divider set solutions. They’re built that way to help cover, organize, and protect shipped goods. These sets come in a variety of sizes and specially designed compartments, which are suitable for holding small objects.
If you’re shipping two or more incompatible items in one package, using a padded divider is a good idea.
2 Consider The Item Being Shipped
What type of product do you have? It’s important to consider the condition of the item you’ll be packing when choosing the best packaging solution.
Is it solid, liquid, powder, or granular? Does it have a regular or irregular shape? What are the dimensions of the item? Will the item require special handling during transport?
Below are some examples of product types and packaging recommendations for your reference:
- Food Products
Physical damage can compromise the integrity of food products even if they’re properly sealed. For concerns involving food safety, choose sturdy packaging to protect food products from damages during material handling, warehousing, and shipping. Go with sturdy boxes, plastic wrapping, and crates to prevent undue product battering from shock and trauma during the events of transit and distribution.
Some localities may have specialized regulations when it comes to food transport. Check out with authorities to be able to properly comply with them.
- Odd-shaped Objects, Items With Unusual Sizes
Some items don’t have any definite shape. Examples include flower vases, sculptures, car bumpers, car mirrors, and tires. These items don’t fit inside ordinary carton boxes.
Shipping these objects usually costs more because they may require special packaging making its transport logistically challenging. It’s believed that there are a lot of suitable packaging materials one can use for these types of products. They include sturdy cardboard boxes, shrink-wrap, bubble wrap, and the like.
Powders And Granules
For items that come in powder and granule forms, you can use multiwall paper bags and sacks. In addition, single or double pouches are recommended for use to pack solid and powder products with high precision.
3 Deal With A Reputable Packaging Supplier
It’s crucial to do business with a trustworthy and established supplier for your boxes, bags, and other packaging materials you may need. A possible good supplier is said to provide high-quality packaging materials aimed at keeping your items safe and secure until they reach the recipients.
You’ll find many companies online if you conduct a quick search. But how do you find a good one? Choose a reputable packaging material supplier, such as Zenpack, that has the necessary experience and credentials, by following these tips:
- Check Experience
Find out how long the company has been around manufacturing packaging supplies. A company with years of proven experience can vouch for its product quality and loyal clients who have been buying supplies from them for a long time. - Verify Business Credentials
Aside from business permits and licenses, make sure to also check for accreditation and certifications to show they’re in compliance with packaging product quality and manufacturing standards. - Ask Questions
Interview a customer service representative of the company to clarify your queries and concerns. Inquire about information concerning payment terms, returns policy, and promotions for bulk orders to get the most out of your money.
4 Think Of Convenience
You’ll find some packaging supplies are easier to handle than others are. For instance, packaging solution products with self-adhesive tapes don’t require you to buy separate tapes that you’d end up manually cutting one each before sealing an item’s packaging.
Of course, if you want to save time and effort to shorten the process, you can choose easy-to-use packaging solution offerings. However, keep in mind that they may be more expensive than traditional do-it-yourself or DIY ones just like the one mentioned before.
5 Look Into Destination And Mode of Transport
As already mentioned, products for transport may face different challenges along the way. Therefore, the farther the package’s intended destination is, the sturdier the packaging it may need to ensure its safety during the whole ordeal.
Also, make sure that your items are safe in transit by deciding on the best mode of transport for the specific item you’re shipping. Take note of other important considerations when choosing the best packaging solutions for items such as the weather conditions’ possible effects on products while they’re currently in transport.
Conclusion
Choosing the best packaging solution for your items for safe transport involves primarily finding out your packaging options. You’ll need to look at the condition of your goods as well as ensure that you’re getting high-quality packaging solutions from reputable suppliers. Following these tips religiously can bring you peace of mind and help ensure your products’ fuss-free transport.