Due to the fact that e-commerce is expanding at a rapid pace packing parcels is an integral part of online sales. When preparing a package for shipment, it is important to pack it properly so that it reaches the recipient intact and its contents is not damaged. This will help to avoid complaints caused by damages of the product in transit. This is important both when packing fragile items and when packing heavy and bulky products. So let’s find out how to pack your parcel safely.
How should I prepare a package for shipment? – prepare the right cardboard box
The process of packing shipments should start with finding the right outer packaging where to put the products. A cardboard box will fulfil your expectations in this case, however you must pay attention to both the size of the box and the durability of the box.
The cardboard box should be slightly larger than the products you want to pack, but it should also not be too big. The best option is to leave a space on each side in order to properly protect the products from being damaged. Remember that if the space exceeds more than a few centimeters, will not be appropriate, as it will make it difficult to keep the products in place inside the box and will cause a lot of unnecessary usage of the materials used to fill the package.
When choosing a cardboard box, it is also worth paying attention to the thickness of the box, as this has a direct impact on the durability of the box. The heavier the contents of the parcel, the thicker the cardboard box should be. If the box will be too thin, it may not be able to withstand the load and will be damaged in transit.
Securing products inside a parcel
In order to safely pack the goods in the box to be ready for shipment, the goods need to be protected properly. That is why you need to fill the space between the box and the goods in the box. Air pillows, are lightweight and aesthetically pleasing, they are ideal for filling cardboard boxes to prepare them for shipment. They can be used to wrap the goods which are to be shipped and protect protruding parts or to secure the goods in the box, i.e. to fill the free space in the box, which prevents the products from moving during transport. Air pillows, as well as other fillers are used to keep the goods in place and to secure the goods in the box. The name air pillows refers to their shape, which resembles a pillow in shape, the ones we use for sleeping. Other parcel fillers can also be used, as described in the article ‘Parcel fillers – an overview of possibilities‘.
Fragile products such as ceramics, porcelain, cosmetics and home décor items require special protection inside the cardboard box which is used for shipping. The safe packaging of a shipment with fragile products is of great importance, especially when we take into account the aspect of protecting the goods inside the box to prevent damage during transport, or from damage caused by other inside the package. To do this, each item can either be wrapped in bubble wrap or air mats, with small air bubbles which are the size of a 2 or 5 zloty coin. Air mats with larger bubbles (the size of a bar of soap) can be used as a spacer, or a cushioning layer, between the particular items of goods.
Using an air mat instead of air pillows can prove to be more effective and convenient, as it both protects the items inside the package from damage and also allows you to fill in the empty spaces around them. As a result, in order to safely pack a parcel where we have a small space between the items being packed and the cardboard box – we only need to use one type of parcel filler thus it fulfills two functions, this in turn will certainly streamline the packing process. It’s also worth thinking about the amount of filling you use. When using bubble wrap, for example, we usually wrap products two or three times. When using air mats, we only wrap them once, because the larger air bubble allows us to have an adequate insulation and a protective layer with the first wrapping. If, despite the use of air mats, there is still a space in the carton, i.e. an empty space, we should fill it with air pillows for safety reasons.
The most important feature of air cushion mats and air pillows is their low weight, which means that they do not increase the weight of the parcel and therefore do not increase the costs of shipping.
As you can see, packing parcels safely for shipment is not a complicated task, and all you need to do is remember two main rules: the correct size of the cardboard box which is to be used for the products and the use of good protection for the products inside. There are other ways you can use to keep your parcel safe during transport, some of which can be found in the article ‘How to pack a parcel – practical tips straight from the warehouse‘.