What Are the Types of Packing Materials for Shipping?

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The right shipping materials get your products to consumers safely and without breaking. You have plenty of options depending upon the type of items you want to ship. Select the box you want to use, then fill it with packing peanuts, bubble wrap or another material that eliminates any gaps or spaces. The best types of packaging materials for shipping will depend on what you need to ship.

Bubble Wrap

Some people prefer bubble wrap to other alternatives because it is easy to use and does not make a mess. Bubble wrap comes in large rolls that you can cut to the size you need. You then wrap it around an item and secure it with a piece of tape. A popular option is recycled bubble wrap, which lets your customer base know you care about the environment. You can even buy bubble wrap in different colors to match your packaging.

Packing Peanuts

Packing peanuts come in two common styles. The first uses Styrofoam and is one of the oldest shipping materials around. One of the best things about the peanuts is that they don't weigh much and won't add to your shipping cost. Packing peanuts made from starch are available and are popular because they're biodegradable. With some of the new varieties, your customers can simply run the peanuts under water to break them down.

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Paper Packing

Paper is not as popular for shipping because it doesn't add as much protection as bubble wrap and packing peanuts do, but it is still used to ship some items. If you need to ship goods in large boxes but have empty spaces inside, use the paper to fill in some of the gaps. You can wrap the paper around each item and write its name on the outside. 

Some people use paper on the outside of their boxes. Packing paper is like craft paper because it comes in large sheets attached to a roll. You can now pick different colors if you're not a fan of the classic brown shade. Crinkle paper is another possible option. Not only does it come in colors and patterns, but it's also made from recycled paper.

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Molded Inserts

Whether you ship complex tech gadgets or products that easily suffer damage during shipping, consider molded inserts. They are one of the more expensive options but keep your items securely in place. You work with a company that takes scans and measurements of your products. They then create molds of each one and use those molds to build inserts that fit inside your shipping boxes and crates. Molded inserts offer the most protection for your goods.

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Foam

Although similar to molded inserts, foam packing materials are cheaper. Styrofoam sheets are easy to cut into the sizes and shapes that you need to fill out a box. You can also find thinner polyethylene sheets. Styrofoam works best for larger and heavier items such as computers and televisions. 

As polyethylene sheets are more flexible, they work best when you need to wrap a small or delicate item to keep it from breaking. You can use these sheets as fillers inside large boxes. Polyethylene is a good choice for environmentally conscious people. The Children's Health Network found that some types of foam can break down and release chemicals into the water supply.

Air Pillows

Amazon is just one of the big companies that use air pillows in their shipments. Most of the pillows you find measure roughly 4 inches by 8 inches, but you can order bigger or smaller sizes as needed. You need to choose between pillows you inflate and those that come already inflated. An inflated pillow has the right amount of air already inside, while the others require you to add air before using them.

Gel Packs

When you ship foods or delicate items, consider gel packs and other absorbents such as silica packs. They come in sizes that weigh from 1 pound to more than 3 pounds. Once inside your boxes, the gel packs absorb moisture from the air that can damage your goods. As the weight limit for shipping packages through the U.S. Postal Service via Priority Mail is 70 pounds, you may want to stick with smaller gel packs.

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Wrapping It Up

With so many shipping materials to choose from, finding the right ones for your business and goods is easy. When you find the perfect shipping materials, you are confident in knowing that your products will arrive safely to your customers.