If you are selling items that are a little out of the ordinary and they need protecting and packaging correctly to ensure their safe arrival and to meet safety compliance requirements, you will want to choose a supplier who ticks all the right boxes.
The packaging element of the supply chain process is a key part of the transaction and if you are sending out something like a lithium battery to a customer, for example, it is absolutely essential that it is protected correctly and shipped in a way that meets all the legislative and safety requirements.
Here is a look at some of the key considerations to take into account when you are choosing a packaging supplies partner.
Make a list of goals and necessities
Every product and every industry will present a unique packaging challenge and a great example of this would be food packaging.
The fundamental role of food packaging is to find a way of protecting the product from damage and external influences that could spoil the item, such as making sure that it is sealed for freshness and kept at the right temperature.
Protection combined with preservation are primary goals when it comes to packing food items and you have to find a solution that provides an answer to key threats to the integrity of the product, which are biological, chemical, and physical (with issues such as tampering to think about)
Tackling tampering
Another major issue that you will have to address is the prospect of someone trying to tamper with the contents at some point during its journey from the factor to the end-user.
If you need to transport items that are vulnerable or sensitive to contamination and damage you will want to seek out a packaging solution that makes it difficult for the item to be tampered with.
It also makes sense to consider a packaging option that gives you a clear indication and warning when the item is tampered with.
Breakable items
Another classic conundrum is when you are looking to ship items that are fragile and breakable.
The aim should be to seek out a packaging option that finds a way to transport an item that could easily break and become damaged in transit.
The number of damaged returns you have to contend with is normally a good indication of whether you have got your packaging right or it could be telling you that your courier or delivery partner is not taking sufficient care with your items.
Resistance to exposure
If you are looking to package an item that is susceptible to changes in temperature or exposure to chemicals you will want to find a packaging option that gives you the right level of thermal resistance.
On your list of priorities in this scenario will be a packaging option that provides a container and material that provides that required level of protection and keeps your product safe from the threat of a variable temperature or exposure to chemical influences.
Compliance
Shipping items that are considered hazardous or subject to legislation means that you should find a packaging supplier who understands the importance of this issue and knows how to help you meet any compliance and regulatory requirements.
Ask whether your packaging supplier has the technical knowledge and experience to be able to find a viable solution that not only meets your needs but keeps you on the right side of the law by meeting all the standards applicable.
Functionality
It is all very well settling on a great packaging design that looks great and presents your product in the best possible way but if the solution only manages to please aesthetically rather than practically, it is going to create some transportation issues.
There is a balancing act to achieve here with one eye on the sort of packaging design that looks good while also paying heed to whether the package copes with the challenge of transportation.
You want your product and packaging to have the wow factor when it arrives but if you don’t take factors into consideration like whether that the box is strong enough it could create some customer service and reputational issues damage is a regular outcome in the delivery process.
Shipping costs
The size and strength of the box you decide to use and the packaging materials you use inside all make a big difference to the end result, which is seeing it arrive safely.
Using packaging products such as shrink wrap and flexible films will help keep everything as safe as possible during shipping.
The packaging options you go for will impact on the total shipping costs, which is why you want to try and find a combination that is both lightweight and robust but still protects the contents so that they arrive in one piece.
Know your budget
It is always going to be difficult to find a material and packaging solution that doesn’t compromise on quality and safety in order to stay within your budget.
Experiment with different packaging materials options and see if you can achieve an acceptable balance between presentation and adequate protection for your contents.
Be creative with package size
Staying on the topic of budget, a good way to keep a lid on your costs without threatening the integrity of your product is to be creative with packaging sizes.
Create a list of the products that you will be shipping and see if you can create a corresponding list of packaging options that allow you to allocate a series of box options to each item that is being shipped.
There is no point filling half of the space inside the box with expensive packaging materials, especially if you can secure the item in a way that keeps everything safe and secure but doesn’t use as many materials, which will keep your costs down.
If you are looking for a packaging supplier to help you find the right solution for your technical or hazardous product make sure you ask all the right questions and consider your options so that you end up with a result that keeps you and your customers happy.
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