How to Prevent Damage to Your Packaging Boxes (and its Contents) during Shipping

Shipping damage is a very real occurrence and it is one of the major causes of loss incurred from shipments. It is not an unavoidable scenario. With adequate precautions and preventive measures, you can easily ward off the agents that could cause damages to the packing boxes.

The problem lies in the lack of effectiveness in the packaging of the products. If care is not taken during the packaging process, then there is a good chance that the package might have ruptures or it could open up. Such “opened packages” are almost always subjected to slower processing times, which often results in delays that extend beyond 1-2 days. Such a delay might not seem quite a lot if it is a personal package comprising a single item, but for other consignments this could mean a complete loss of business opportunity. This is not acceptable for any business transaction. More than often, the products are carried forward to a new destination after the products have been received at a particular place. Moreover, no one likes to receive an opened / damaged package because the quality of the products cannot be assured (at least not to the customer).

If you want to save yourself from the hassles of filing claims and dealing with angry customers who have not yet received their packages owing to faulty packaging methods, then follow these tips and you should be able to avoid damages during shipping.

Get the Right Size of Packing Boxes

The packing box for your products should be of the right size. Too big a box would require a lot of cushioning along with other materials for filling up the excessive void. Too small a box would cause the product to be fit very tightly and this can damage the packaging during shipping. The best packing box is one where your products fit nicely and there is a little space for adding cushioning (if required). For items such as clothes which do not require cushioning, make sure that the box is filled completely to avoid damages.

Place the Product Correctly Inside the Packing Box

The product’s placement inside the packing box is crucial for assuring the safety of the contents during shipment. Fragile items need to be mandatorily kept in an upright position with the top portion of the product facing the largest side of the corrugated boxes. Try to avoid placing it along the narrow top of the box as this position is not effective in keeping the product upright.

Add Sufficient Amount of Cushioning (Whenever Required)

Cushioning is an absolute must if you really want to add a good amount of protection for your items. The trick to getting the job done in the right manner is to cover the product with cushioning all around in an even manner. While packing peanuts are preferred by almost all shippers, you would find bubble wrap to be a better choice for fragile products (with no sharp ends).

The bubble wrap engulfs the product while keeping it protected from all sides in an even manner. If you need more protection, then you could opt for a bubble wrap with larger bubbles or you could also wrap it around multiple times. In either case, you would be able to put a thick layer of protection around your fragile products.

Be Generous With The Packing Tape

If you are stingy with the packing tape, then it is possible that you would end up making a weak packaging. While less number of tapes will not cause any direct damage to the package, it would certainly cause the contents to spill out during transit or handling. The best way to secure the package would be to apply three strips of packing tape along the seams and the flaps. Additionally, you may also apply two more strips right across to secure the package further.

Don’t be casual if you have light weighted materials in the box. They can rub against the adhesive and loosen the bonds, resulting in the contents spilling out from the package. If you have heavy components, or maybe a small box containing a lot of metal items, then the best thing would be to secure the package with lots of tape. Trust me, it would save you a lot of hassle which you would have to bear otherwise.

Be Nice to the Shipping Executives

Instead of being overly bossy or rude to the employees of the shipping company, try being nice for once. It makes a world of a difference in the way your packages are handled. They won’t deliberately manhandle your packages, but they do have their own frustrations (resulting from being underpaid as compared to their manual efforts and lack of appreciation for their contributions).

By flashing unpleasant gestures or being rude, you only aggravate their frustrations and in turn, they do not handle the packages with care. So if you don’t want your consignment to get damaged, then flash a smile at them and be nice. Trust me, it works every time!

Why Recycled Cardboard Should Not Be Used for Chocolate Packaging?

Recycled packaging materials are preferred by everyone these days because they help to keep the costs low and also contribute towards establishing adequate sustainability for the respective business. However, chocolate packaging is a rare exception to this practice. Apparently, any cardboard packaging or packing boxes for chocolates must be made up of virgin fibres only.

Taste and odour neutrality are the most important factors that are considered during the selection of packaging materials for chocolates. Since the products / contents are brought directly in contact with the packaging material, the possibility of issues pertaining to tainting, odour and migration are high. Recycled materials may not be completely ineffective, but the risk of contamination is always there.

Moreover, the ongoing debate on the possibility of mineral oils in the recycled fibres contaminating the contents, also makes it difficult for a chocolate manufacturer to settle for recycled packaging materials. It is therefore important for the manufacturer to stay updated with the latest developments on the environmental impact of recycled materials and the way that these materials could have an effect on the quality of the contents. 

Even if you consider wrapping up the chocolates individually and then storing the entire lot together, you need to be absolutely certain that the packing box would provide a neutral environment. Usually, any new packaging material that a chocolate manufacturers selects, is tested thoroughly for 6 months (minimum) in a controlled environment to analyse its impact on the contents. 

This is an important consideration because the chocolates need to have a decent shelf life. There is a good probability that the package would have to spend quite a long time on a shelf in a retail outlet before a customer picks it up. Even during the transportation of the consignment, the immediate surroundings / environment cannot be controlled completely. This clearly indicates that the packaging needs to be able to protect the contents and preserve them with no negative impact being witnessed on its quality. 

As a preventive measure, experts believe that manufacturers should stick to virgin fibre cardboard boxes to ensure the maintenance of the quality of their products once they have been packed and prepared for shipping. The cost of packaging would be comparatively high, so the manufacturer needs to consider the profit component of the packaging so as to set a final selling price for the product. This has to be further accentuated with the maintenance of high quality levels in the product so that the customers do not mind bearing a slightly high price resulting out of the use of virgin fibre cardboard packaging material.

How to Cover Packing Boxes with Fabric

What do you do with corrugated packing boxes once they have served their primary purpose? You put them to use in a creative manner! One of the most common uses of cardboard boxes is as organizers. With organizers, it becomes pretty easy to manage your stuff and keep them together in one place so that you don’t have to spend a lot of time searching for it later. 

Now in order to protect these used packing boxes from excessive wear and tear, and to give them a touch of visual enhancement, it is best to cover them with a fabric of your choice. After all, you would definitely want to make an impression with these wonderful little boxes of joy that serve as organizers. Check out our method for covering the simple (and rather boring packing boxes) with fabric and converting them into beautiful storage boxes. 

Things You Will Need

·         Used Packing Boxes

·         Duct Tape

·         Hot Glue Gun (with sufficient glue)

·         Regular scissors

·         Fabric Scissors

·         Your Choice of Fabric

·         An old piece of cloth to cover the surface you would be working on

Initial Preparations

First of all, you need to prepare the boxes. There is a minuscule chance of the used box fitting your specifications accurately. In most cases, you would have to piece together different pieces (of the packing boxes) and strengthen them with duct tape. By taping the seams carefully, you would be able to ensure adequate durability for your storage box / organizer. 

The next thing that you need to take care of is the working surface. If you have a separate craft table, then there could be nothing better. However, if you do not have one, then the best alternative is to choose a good surface and cover it with a sheet of old cloth or some newsprints so that the surface is not damaged. 

Before you start covering the box with fabric, make sure that the box in itself is perfect and is exactly as you require. No modifications would be feasible once the fabric has been put on. While it may not be impossible, it will most certainly prove to be tedious and a frustrating waste of time. So check everything beforehand to avoid hassles later. 

Covering the Box in Fabric

·         Place the box on the sheet of fabric that you have selected. Make sure you place it on its side such that one the base is facing you and the open end is facing the other way. The fabric should be long enough for it to overlap at the centre. 


·         Now cut off the extra fabric length at the base after measuring around 6 to 7 inches from the base itself. Use a fabric scissor to cut the sheet as any other tool would not prove to be as effective. 


·         Now remove the fabric from the box and cut it as per requirement. Before actually gluing it on, you need to iron the fabric to ensure that no creases are left on the material. Creases, if present, would ruin the overall finish of the box and would not give a good enough presentation. 


·         With the fabric cut as per requirement and the box prepared to your specifications, it is time to glue the fabric on to the box. Take the hot glue gun and put a line of glue along the seams. Pull over the fabric and constantly stroke it to ensure that no creases are left behind. You don’t need to apply glue all over the box. It only needs to be applied at the edges and at the important junction points. 


·         An important point to remember is that if you cannot get a straight continuous line of glue from the gun, then create a line of dots. This would help you to get a firm grip on the fabric. 


·         For the top and the base section, simply fold the fabric inwards and apply glue along the edges to get them to stick. 


·         With the fabric taken care of, you just need to finish up by sticking sheets of paper to cover the brown section of the inside and also cover the junction of the fabric with the interiors. It just gives a better presentation and also prevents the fabric from coming off due to continuous usage of the packing box. 

Now that was easy, wasn’t it? With a little time and some patience, you can create some of the most wonderful things out of inanimate objects like the humble corrugated packing box. You can turn this craft into a business idea also. If you need bulk quantities of custom packaging boxes, then you can get them online at DCG Pac. You can also get a wide range of packing supplies and stationery to help you along the way. So what are you waiting for?

Can Edible Wrappers and Containers Solve the Packaging Solutions Sustainability Issue?

For years, experts have been pondering over the possibility of coming up with a completely biodegradable packaging solutions that would not harm the environment even if the disposal was not done in a proper manner. However, the focus has now changed to a whole new direction where the possibilities of edible packaging are being considered. 

If you think about it, this is a brilliant concept wherein a possible waste could be turned into something nutritional. The waste would be biodegradable and it would not be difficult to manage it. Several companies are trying their best to come up with an edible packaging solutions that could be launched on a widespread commercial basis. However, one of the main challenges that rests with the packaging designers is ensuring the edibility of the packaging after it has been processed through logistics. It is also important to maintain the hygiene levels when the products are being stored in shelves across various retail outlets. 

A popular Burger Joint chain in Brazil called Bob’s had recently launched a so called “stunt” where it offered edible packaging for its burgers. The stunt involved people eating the burgers along with the package. From a marketing perspective, this activity communicated a clear message that the burgers at Bob’s were so delicious that people are willing to eat it along with the packaging. The officials made it clear that package was indeed edible and did not pose any health concern whatsoever. 

Edible package is not a completely new idea. Experts have been trying to find a viable method for making it a reality. The buzz around this approach has increased lately owing to actual experimentation and prototyping of materials which have indicated a bright future for the packaging industry altogether. A talented chef by the name of Heston Blumenthal has come up with an edible wrapping for his caramel based products where he uses a combination of glycerine, gelatine and water to come up with a packaging that is not only protective but is also edible. 

Source: http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2011/dec/14/salted-butter-caramels-edible-wrappers-recipe

The idea behind edible packaging is the reduction in waste. Do you know the amount of waste that is created in just meat products? Perpeceuticals, a UK based firm, has recently been awarded a grant for developing anti-microbial films that would be edible. These films are being designed specifically for meat products as of now, wherein the new packaging would help to extend the shelf life of the product. 

Edible packaging does indeed hold great prospects if the challenges were to be overcome in an effective manner. This form of packaging, though effective, is good only for edible products. While it would certainly help to control and minimize wastage for food products, there is a dire need for coming out with biodegradable packaging materials for providing a universal solution for all packaging needs.