Are You Packaging Your Product Correctly?
There are many different products on the market that are used for protective packaging. Customers often ask us "which protective packaging product should I be using?" The answer we usually give is "it depends on your particular application." The simplest way to determine which packaging product will work best for you is to consult your friendly packaging experts (that's us by the way!). Nevertheless, it is still useful to have a general understanding of which product works best in which situation.
The protective packaging products we will discuss here are: kraft paper, newsprint, tissue paper, loose fill (foam peanuts), bubble pack, foam, corrugated singleface and poly products. Each product's primary protective characteristics, benefits and applications will be outlined and, whenever appropriate, compared to those of other products.
Paper Products
There are several types of paper products including kraft paper, newsprint and tissue. The two main uses of paper products for protective packaging are wrapping and void-filling. For wrapping purposes, paper is a common and, for the most part, effective solution. It is also the least expensive material, followed by foam, bubble and poly (in that order). Of all the paper products, kraft paper provides the most protection and is often used as an outer wrap whereas newsprint and tissue paper are usually used within a package. Although similar in protective qualities, tissue is more expensive than newsprint. Tissue is also more attractive, which explains its popularity in retail applications.
When it comes to void-filling, however, paper products do not generally provide good resistance to the drops, bumps, and bruises (referred to as "shock" in the remainder of this article) of transport. Paper also has poor memory, meaning it does not return to its original form after compacting due to shock. The integrity of the package is then lost, often resulting in loose products throughout the remainder of its journey.
Loose Fill Products
Loose fill, commonly know as foam chips or peanuts, is only used for void-filling. It is the least expensive void-fill product and provides excellent protection against shock. Another advantage of loose fill is its light weight; only weighing about one-tenth as much as paper, loose fill offers additional cost savings in shipping. Coupled with a dispenser system, it is the easiest product to work with, reducing labor costs and increasing productivity. Loose fill can also be reused or recycled. Usually made from polystyrene foam, biodegradable loose fill made from corn starch is also available. The disadvantages of loose fill are most apparent at the receiving end of the shipping cycle as it has an annoying habit of falling out of opened boxes and can be difficult to pick up.
Bubble Pack
Available in a number of bubble sizes, ranging from 1/8" to 1/2" in diameter, bubble pack can be used for wrapping and void-filling. As a general rule, the smaller bubble is used for wrapping and the larger bubble is used for void-filling. Bubble pack provides the best cushioning protection against shock, vibration and breakage. It also has superior elasticity, enabling the material to be stretched around irregularly shaped items; something paper cannot do. Another advantage of bubble pack is its ability to prevent product migration within a container. Product migration is common when using paper or loose fill and can often reduce their protective effectiveness. The main drawback to bubble pack is its cost. It is one of the most expensive products discussed in this article.
Foam Rolls
One of the best products for surface protection, foam is used exclusively for wrapping. It is one of the softest materials and also provides some cushioning. If protecting the finished surface of your product is very important to you, foam is an ideal choice. Not surprisingly, however, foam is one of the more expensive wrapping products.
Poly Products
Poly bags and sheets are only used for wrapping. The advantages of using poly include its transparency, elasticity and waterproof qualities. Poly is also very durable and elastic; it does not tear like paper. Used in food packaging, poly can increase the shelf life of perishable products and in industrial applications, poly can protect against leakage. Poly, however, provides no cushioning, is more expensive than paper and cannot be used as void-fill.
Corrugated Single Face
Especially useful when more rigid protection is required, singleface provides excellent surface and corner protection. Most commonly used for large, bulky products, it is a relatively inexpensive material; more costly than paper, but less expensive than all the others. Singleface can, however, be slightly more difficult to work with as it only bends easily in one direction (along with the flutes).
