How to choose the right box for your parcels in 2022? | RAJA

Cardboard is a key material in our daily lives. From moving boxes to consumer packaging and the shipping cartons you receive with every e-commerce order, it’s everywhere!And cardboard has also become an integral part of the daily lives of logistics managers. At a time when consumers are becoming increasingly aware of environmental concerns and are concerned about the packaging of the products they buy, cardboard is a valuable ally.So how do you choose the right cardboard boxes for your parcels? This booklet will help you meet this challenge, enabling you to combine the protection and security of your goods with the development of your brand image.

What are the advantages of cardboard for your parcels?

It’s a fact: cardboard has definite benefits for your packaging strategy. Whether you’re a logistics manager in a

• Allow maximum adhesion of the sealing tapes, and therefore to secure your packages
• Be part of your eco-responsible packaging strategy, as this material can be recyclable, recycled or even biodegradable: this will improve your brand’s image and avoid plastic-bashing
• Personalise your packaging: nothing could be easier than printing your logos or slogans on cardboard!
• Save storage space, as most cardboard packaging can be stored flat

single, double or triple flute cardboard: what should you choose?

You may have already noticed that when you choose your corrugated packaging, it’s all about the flute.The flute is the thickness of the cardboard that makes up the packaging, and you should choose it according to your needs

• Single flute cardboard protects light and not very fragile products.
• Double flute is 50% stronger than single flute, and protects fragile or heavy products up to 40 kg.
• Double flute reinforced board is 50% stronger than double flute and can withstand loads of up to 70 kg; it is recommended for export and difficult transport conditions.
• Triple flute board is 30% stronger than reinforced double flute, can withstand heavy loads of up to 500kg, and is ideal for protecting very fragile objects; it is recommended for difficult transport conditions, export and long term storage.

what kind of cardboard packaging should you choose for your parcels?

American boxes, cases, post boxes, food packaging… Cardboard comes in a wide range of different packaging. So which one should you choose, depending on your needs? Follow the guide!

For basic and economical protection

How can you talk about cardboard for your parcels without mentioning the simple American box? Covered with a kraft outer cover, it is the most economical option, but also environmentally friendly, if you choose it made of recycled cardboard. And the good news is that RAJA has more than 1,200 different sizes of American boxes in stock!

save time on your packaging line

If you’re looking for packaging that saves time during the order picking phase, then you should choose quick- or instant-erect crates and boxes. On the one hand, quick-erect packaging has a semi-automatic bottom that only requires a quick manipulation by the operator to secure the bottom of the package. On the other hand, instant-erect packaging is even quicker to erect: the bottom is locked automatically by simply pressing the sides of the package. This saves precious seconds on your packaging line!

pour simplifier les retours de commande de vos clients

Si vous tenez une boutique e-commerce, vous faites sans doute face à de nombreux retours de commande. L’objectif, face à ce défi propre au web : s’assurer que vous facilitez ces retours pour vos clients, tout en protégeant vos produits lors du transport retour.

Pour ce faire, songez à investir dans des emballages en carton dits “aller-retour”. Le principe : ils sont assez robustes pour protéger les marchandises sur deux phases de transport, et disposent de deux bandes d’arrachage (l’une pour l’aller, l’autre pour le retour).

Disponibles au format étui postal, boîte extra-plate, ou encore caisse simple, ils vous assurent une expérience client optimale.

Pour adapter la hauteur de vos colis

De nombreux responsables logistiques cherchent à optimiser le poids volumétrique de leurs colis, pour réduire le vide dans leurs emballages, éviter de sur-emballer, et économiser du budget sur leurs expédi

for long products

Do you need to ship carpets, posters, blinds, rods or profiles? These long products can seem complicated to protect for transport, as they are so large. Here again, cardboard is your best ally. Choose..

for flat products

If your goods are flat, you should choose a parcel board that fits the shape of the goods so that you don’t need to integrate any cushioning material into the box. These types of packaging are also available in a telescopic version to make it easier for you to pack flat products of varying dimensions.

For very fragile products to be shipped

If your most fragile products require special protection, cardboard is again the ideal material to ensure that your goods arrive at their destination in excellent condition: choose cardboard boxes with integrated cushioning. These are available in various formats and have a simple principle: they already have the cushioning material inside the box. There is no need to select cushioning from your roll of kraft paper or bubble wrap: it is all available to you at the time of delivery

• Integrated recycled foam cushioning: this type of cushioning provides high impact and scratch protection for the most fragile products
• Integrated film cushioning: choose this type of cushioning for a neat presentation and a product that is firmly held in place by the packaging
• Antistatic film cushioning: this is ideal for electronic products requiring antistatic protection

for simplified delivery and handling

Sometimes the carton of your packages allows you to simplify the delivery or handling of your products. This may be a logistical need that you have identified if..

• You need cardboard packaging for take-away sales
• You deliver your products to your home
• You want to use your cartons for picking

in these cases, choose cardboard packaging with handles: these will make it easier to transport your products, both in the warehouse and from the point of sale.

To send your parcels through the letterbox

Your products are not very large, and you want to improve the delivery experience for your customers? What if you were to think about sending your orders through the letterbox, as soon as the postman passes by, so that they don’t have to go to the post office? To do this, there are very specific cardboard packages postal packagingthey are designed to fit standard letterbox sizes and come in a variety of formats, which are..

• Postal boxes and cases, for your larger products
• Extra-flat boxes, for your products that can be shipped flat
• Microflute cardboard sleeves, for products with the least need for protection

palletising quickly and efficiently

Do you sell products by the pallet or use pallet packaging to store your products? Cardboard packaging can also be part of your palletising strategy to help you protect your products

• Palletisable cardboard boxesthese are designed to withstand high vertical loads, and therefore prevent the goods from being crushed during palletisation.
• Cardboard pallet boxesthese are packaging materials that allow the cartons on your pallet to be stacked correctly, and that follow the overall shape of the pallet.

for packaging temperature-sensitive products

If you think that cardboard is only used for products that are not likely to come into contact with humidity or too many temperature variations, you’d be wrong: cardboard can be used to create insulated boxes and cardboard packaging!The principle: the packaging has a cushioning system that separates the material from the cold accumulators (rigid or flexible) that you insert to keep the products cool. If you need more protection against heat or cold, you can integrate a temperature indicator into your packaging to let the recipient know whether the minimum or maximum storage temperature of the goods has been reached during transport.

For shipping bottles safely

Cardboard is not strong enough to protect bottles during transport special cardboard boxes and packaging for shipping bottlesyou can choose between..

for packaging hazardous products

If you ship hazardous products, you know: they must be packaged in cardboard boxes uN approved boxesand the good news is that these boxes can also be made of cardboard, and can be palletised or not. Before being packed, your hazardous products must be placed in a 50, 80, 150 or 200 micron plastic bag, depending on the model and size. Then they are inserted in vermiculite (VERMEX M), to prevent the products from touching each other. To complete your hazardous packages, the UN-approved cardboard boxes must be closed with reinforced adhesive tape

Do you need a customised or bespoke carton?

At this stage of your reading, you’ve probably found the ideal carton format for your packages that protects your products without over-packing. But if you want to take the customer experience you’re creating a step further, perhaps you should consider creating a customised, or personalised, carton. The benefits of a customised carton are many

• It highlights the brand’s image from the moment of contact with the packaging… which is the first physical contact between the customer and the company in e-commerce, remember that!
• It can allow you to work on the unboxing of your products, i.e. their unpacking, and therefore word-of-mouth
• It can reduce the weight-volume of the packaging (if you work on the format of the cardboard), to reduce transport costs and limit the environmental impact of your packaging practices
• It can facilitate the packaging of your products, to increase the speed of your packaging line

from simply printing your marketing material on the inside or outside of the carton, to creating a bespoke format or a carton with a particular thickness, the possibilities for customisation are plethora! What if you too used the carton as a lever for a differentiating customer experience?