How to protect shipments from moisture?

Dampness of a parcel can be caused by a number of factors – not only weather (rain, snow, extreme temperatures), but also unfavourable conditions in sorting centres. It is therefore important to remember to protect the parcel in advance. Cartons, foils, fillers – without all this, the parcel could be damaged. How do I effectively protect a parcel against damp and other external dangers?

How do I protect a parcel against moisture? The importance of adequate protection

A parcel that has been shipped and has gone out into the world is exposed to many risks, including moisture. During the journey, a number of unforeseen events can happen, such as the parcel falling into a puddle or coming into contact with another soaked parcel. As a result, the contents of the package will become soaked (damaged).

The answer to the question “how to protect a parcel from moisture” is very simple. In order to avoid unnecessary fear of damaging the contents or fear of losing money, it is a good idea to protect the parcel in advance against dampness and other potential dangers (shocks, crushing, falls).

Step one – preparing the outside of the parcel for shipment

Protecting your parcel against moisture starts at the stage of preparing the parcel for shipping – it will be necessary to secure the package from the outside. Corrugated cardboard boxes are ideal for large items that require extra protection. Smaller items, on the other hand, can be packed in large, waterproof bubble envelopes or bags – all securely sealed.

To further protect parcels against moisture, it is advisable to wrap the cartons additionally in bubble wrap or stretch foil.

Second step – protecting the inside of the parcel against moisture

Even the best protected parcel can be damaged on the inside. Strong fluctuations in humidity, combined with changes in temperature, have a detrimental effect on packages ranging from foodstuffs to electronics.

Parcels are therefore constantly exposed to changing temperatures. Extreme changes from low temperatures (outside) to higher temperatures (warehouses and loading halls) mean that water vapour can build up inside the packaging, contributing to:

• mechanical damage (scuffing, deformation, soaking, rot),
• unpleasant odour.

There is a rescue – an odourless and non-toxic silica gel. This is a special moisture absorber. These are small packets with small silica gel crystals. These absorb moisture perfectly, preventing the transported packages from becoming damp. They do not adversely affect the quality of the items. Silica gel – due to its non-toxicity – can be combined with foodstuffs or medicines without any problems.

Don’t forget to fill the empty spaces inside the parcel. Doing so will provide greater protection against any mechanical damage that might occur during transport or sorting in the warehouse.

How to secure and protect parcels from moisture during sea transport?

Many parcels have to travel a very long way, often crossing the sea. Sea transport is characterised by extremely specific transport conditions. Parcels are exposed to large daily temperature fluctuations, high salinity, restricted airflow and moisture. It is widely believed that securing shipments by sea is somewhat different.

Goods transported by sea are – first and foremost – sealed in a special box, which is placed in a large, robust container. The consignments are additionally protected with aluminium foil or PE foil. There must also be moisture absorbers, which play a very important role. First and foremost, they prevent moisture from entering the container – they lower the dew point so that condensation does not occur.

How do you protect shipments from moisture? Films

Bubble wrap and stretch film are completely different products – representatives of packaging accessories. Both, however, are ideal for protecting shipments against moisture.

Bubble wrapis made of strong, flexible, durable polyethylene (PE), which is characterised by excellent cushioning and insulating properties. This product perfectly protects the wrapped items from scratches, breakage and moisture.

Special bubble envelopes are an alternative to classic bubble wrap for very small packages.

High-performance stretch film is much more stretchable than bubble film. It is difficult to tear. It is enough to wrap the product in it. It is useful not only for securing shipments from the outside, but also for securing pallets and large-size loads (especially those of irregular, non-standard shape). It is highly stretchable. Its action is very simple – it shrinks and tightens on the wrapped items, which guarantees a strong adhesion.

Packaging accessories – only at RAJA

In the shop rajapack.pl you can find many important packaging accessories – stretch film, parcel fillers, labels. Those interested can also reach for good quality machine film and shrink film. The former is used to stiffen bulky goods. Shrink film is another element that protects the parcel and its contents from moisture.

Cardboard and cardboard boxes as primary protection against moisture

A good quality cardboard box is the basic element of protection. The stronger the type of cardboard, the greater the protection. Stakeholders usually have three-layer, five-layer and seven-layer cardboard available. Each of the proposals provides high water resistance. Corrugated cardboard is strong and not very prone to tearing.

You can also invest in so-called folio boxes, which are packaging made of very strong and waterproof LDPE film. These boxes are usually two-coloured – white on the outside and black on the inside. Like cardboard boxes, they are distinguished by their high resistance to tearing and unfavourable weather conditions.

Parcel fillers – another basic protection

If the parcel contains particularly important and delicate items, it is advisable to additionally fill it on the inside with non-absorbent filling materials, e.g. air cushions, paper, pellets, polystyrene chips, bubble wrap, flopak, SizzlePak. Parcel fillers effectively protect the contents of a cardboard box – without retaining water. There is a basic rule – the less free space inside the parcel, the better. If the area between the edge of the cardboard box and the item is empty, there is a good chance that the interior will shift and tumble from side to side during transport, which can lead to damage.

It is worth mentioning a few words about a very interesting and unusual filler, the eco-friendly SizzlePak. It provides a positive answer to the question “can a parcel filler be ecological and decorative at the same time“. SizzlePak is often used for wrapping corporate or Christmas gifts, filling gift baskets.