5 must-have shipping packages for your e-commerce orders
6min read
29/10/2022
It’s decided: to make your e-commerce brand even more attractive, you’re going to change your shipping packaging!
And, as you ask around, you see that there is no shortage of options: postal boxes, cardboard boxes, cardboard crates, recycled products, recyclables, pouches…
It is to help you make the right choice that we reveal in this article the 5 must-have e-commerce shipping packages, to choose according to your needs.
4 key criteria to consider when choosing your shipping packaging
Before you look at the wide range of e-commerce shipping packaging that exists for your business, it’s important to keep in mind the 4 criteria that make up the ideal packaging.
To ship your goods optimally, consider choosing packaging products:
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- Protectors. Your packaging must be resistant to handling and transport, and therefore to impact. But other properties may need to be considered as well: scratch-resistant packaging for the most sensitive products, or additional protection against external conditions (humidity, temperature changes, etc.)
- That care about your customer experience. When opening their packages, your parcels need to have a real unboxing experience, so they are delighted.
- Eco-responsible. Whether it’s reusable, biodegradable, recyclable or made from renewable materials, your packaging should clearly work to protect the environment. A key criterion in an age when consumers are increasingly aware of environmental issues.
- Simple to integrate into your picking chain. Make sure your packaging is simple to assemble, but also simple to store in your warehouse.
What packaging solutions should you consider for your e-commerce business?
Now that you have these 4 criteria in mind, you’re ready to discover the leading packaging solutions for safe e-commerce shipments that don’t cut into the customer experience.
Envelopes and pouches
To package documents, very flat products, or small bulk items, there’s nothing like envelopes or mailing bags. Their big advantage? They’re lightweight and can be stamped to go through the letterbox on the first pass of the carrier.
As for envelopes, make sure you choose them made of kraft paper, for an eco-friendly brand image. Make sure you select them with or without a window, depending on whether you want to show part of the product or the document.
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As for the bags, they are available in different materials: polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) or kraft. The thickness of your cat should depend on the weight of your products, and their protection needs.
To properly choose your bags, check out our short dedicated guideright now. |
Postal pouches and cases
Do you want to choose packaging that allows you to get your lightweight, non-fragile products into a post office box the first time the postman comes? Opt for a postal packaging, such as a pouch or a postal case.
The soft packaging that is padded pouches are both shock and scratch resistant. They come in versions:
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- Ecological, made of 100% eco-friendly kraft paper.
- Opaque, to ensure the privacy of your orders.
- Waterproof plastics, to protect your goods from moisture.
As for postal cases, they are simple to assemble, and allow you to ship larger products without going through the US checkout, which is too big for many e-commerce shipments.
American crates and packing cartons
For your larger and/or more fragile orders, turn to the most famous cardboard packaging available: the American crate, or cardboard box.
In fact, corrugated cardboard remains a must-have for protecting your shipments during transport. It is tear resistant, shock resistant, and even moisture resistant in some cases. Just be sure to select the right cardboard flute for the weight and protection needs of your products.
To do this, we have designed for you a very simple little guide to choosing the right flute.
Another important criterion to consider when choosing your packaging board is whether it is instant fit. With a slight pressure on the edges of the shipping carton, it assembles automatically, thus significantly reducing order picking time.
And to close your cardboard packages, there are three options:
- Either you choose cases with an integrated adhesive closure
- Either you select an adhesive tape securing your crates
- Or you opt for gummed tape, which is totally eco-responsible because it can be recycled, making your packages tamper-proof
Returnable packaging
Do you know about round-trip packaging? As the name suggests, they are designed to withstand two consecutive shipments, and therefore, to facilitate order returns. As an e-tailer, this is a great additional value to offer your customers!
The return packs also have a double tear strip, which allows customers to secure their returns.
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Of this type of shipping packaging, you can also choose Hipli packages. Reusable up to 100 times, and highly resistant, they are available in the form of boxes or pouches, to make your shipments both eco-responsible and vectors of customer experience! |
Isothermal packaging
Many e-tailers need to protect their shipments from temperature variations during shipping. To do this, they need to acquire suitable isothermal packaging.
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So you can choose
These shipping packs are to be combined with cold accumulators, which allow you to control the temperature at which products are kept during delivery. Clever! |
How to choose your cushioning, a key element not to be neglected?
Choosing the right industrial packaging to ship your orders is good. Also selecting the cushioning material that fills the void in your packages and further protects your goodsis better!
Your cushioning material should of course protect your products. But it is also part of the customer experience you offer to consumers, as it is one of the first things the customer sees when unboxing.
So avoid loose cushioning particles, which wander around the package and can annoy your customer. Instead, opt for one of the innovative cushioning materials that are :
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- Kraft paper, the ideal packaging paper for an ostensibly eco-responsible image
- Silk paper, customizable with your brand colours if needed
- Bubble wrap, 100% recyclable, rather than traditional plastic bubble wrap
- Air cushioning padding, which makes your packages feel transparent and light
- Recycled textile cushioning fibres, soft and very light
And to dig deeper into the subject of cushioning your packages, head over to our dedicated article.
| What if you mechanized your wedging?
Did you know that there are machines and systems for dunnage today, which allow you to speed up the rate of order picking in your warehouse? In particular, you can turn to…
To find out more, feel free to download the guide to the subject. |
