An Expert Review on the Role of Packaging
Packaging is now a part of our lives and something that is not going to go away any time soon.
Unfortunately, nobody really pays much attention to it, never giving it any thought. Common
packaging products include boxes, bubble wrap, plastic, bags, cloth and cartons. Here are five
of the most common types of packing materials that can accommodate a wide variety of
company needs.
Crates & Pallets
No matter what kind of product you need to move, crates and pallets are an important
part of the shipping and packaging process. They act as secondary wrapping and keep
the actual goods safe until they are delivered.
Foam
Foam is used for packaging TVs, gadgets, glass, furniture and other things that have
sharp edges.
Shrink Wraps
Shrink wrap is used as either primary or secondary packaging. You can shrink wrap your
actual product, like the shrink wrap around CD cases or loose notebook paper, or you
can shrink wrap an entire pallet of packages to hold the packages together and make
them easier to move.
Cardboard Boxes
Cardboard boxes are appropriate for packaging materials wrapping. It can be used in the
form of boxes, sheets and corrugated cardboard. In all cases, this packaging material is
easy to recycle/reuse.
Plastic
Plastic is the most common packaging material and one of the most difficult material to
dispose. They are light, strong and cheap to manufacture. That’s why it is used
commonly and as an alternate to cardboard.
Let’s have a look at the importance of packaging.
Protection
The basic benefit of packaging is the protection of goods. It prevents damage during
transport and storage from the elements, vibration and compression through a physical
layer of protection.
Product Identification
Packaging serves as an identification of the product. It helps in identifying the product
quickly and easily.
Convenience
Packaging provides convenience in the carriage of the product from one place to
another and in stocking.
Security
Product security can be provided through packaging. Packing can make items weather
resistant, can help reduce theft and can help prevent harm from dangerous products.
Now that you know the importance of packaging products, let’s have a look at how to choose a
packaging material supplier. Here are the top characteristics to look for when researching
packaging suppliers.
Reputation
First of all, do they have a website? Do they have years of experience under their belt?
Can you find what others have to say about them? Awards won are often a great
indication of quality. Quality speaks volumes, so if you can’t hear anything, avoidance is
probably a smart idea.
ServiceAre deliveries on-time? Is there accountability? You don’t want to have a great product
but then suffer because service is not on par.
Up-to-date
The packaging industry is always evolving, so make sure that your supplier is keeping
up with current trends.
Sustainability
Sustainability isn’t just a buzz word is critical, especially with packaging. But make sure
that just because it is eco-friendly doesn’t mean you are sacrificing on strength.
Communication
Is the supplier easy to get in touch with? It can be really frustrating when you have a
question or your calls are not returned, so make sure that the lines of communication are
continually kept open through a variety of channels.
Once you’ve decided the type of packaging material you need, it is important that you choose
the right industrial packaging supplier.