How many deliveries does your home, business, or office receive per week? I abhor packing peanuts and confetti but become seven again when bubble wrap is revealed. I have mailed postcards and packed pallets for military deployments. There are a lot of variables in between those shipping classes.
If your home is anything like mine, random packages appear from one of us on a daily basis. I break down more boxes than my local Red Rooster or Burger Project. Dunnage is available in anything from renewable resources to eco-corrupting materials. Tell me China doesn’t send everything in the cheapest packaging.
Protective packaging is more than void filling. Carefully supporting your product for a customer or gift to a friend says you care about how it is received. Carton forming for specific parts will ensure proper shipping orientation. Don’t forget the desiccant bags before sealing to mitigate moisture; very important for shipping overseas.
High package count, pallet, and larger orders may require some shrink wrapping. A handheld wrapper is easy to manage in a small office. Bigger shipments may require an automatic or orbital wrapping machine for security.
Heavy and dense items will require strapping. Corrugated boxes with loose items can also benefit from strapping. Hand tools, electric, and pneumatic options are available depending on your cargo needs.
I see packaging as another form of marketing. You already have to pay for the box. Why not let the box and packaging represent your company? Do you know what a DHL or Australia Post package looks like? Your logo and company colors can excite people from a distance.
While you are at it, use 100% recyclable materials or packaging that is reusable quality. Tell your customers you care about the world we share. Stop the proliferation of single-use plastics.
Bespoke items need bespoke packaging. Diamond rings and jewellery are placed in fabric-covered cushions, even though they are harder than steel. Maybe the love of your life has a sense of humor but a ring in a box marked “made in China” ruins the moment.
Moving dunnage and support is an entirely different realm of packaging. You will need edge guards for furniture and cabinets to prevent handling and transportation damage. Have you seen movers use heavy blankets as padding? Polyurethane foam can be awkward to use, but it is very effective for impact protection.
Are you a Christmas gift wrapper or a bag user? I think gift bags are great for reusability, ease of opening the gift, and the shapes you can fit in them while looking festive.
If you want to ship refrigerated items, I swear by using dry ice. It is cheap, long-lasting, lightweight, and easy to find. I have shipped Angus briskets to other countries with dry ice. Send your friend some holiday cheer with the arrival of a slab of coldies or a pre-chilled bottle of wine.
I found more answers about shipping materials than I wanted at our lovely environmental protection agencies. Their biggest concerns pertain to food safety and handling. Dairy, livestock, and agricultural producers reuse everything they can. Packaging reform and regulatory changes will never be wrapped up.