The mail order and logistics sectors are booming. In the last eight years alone, the volume of shipments has grown from around 2.3 billion to 4.1 billion shipments in 2021.

This places certain demands on the packaged goods and, above all, their packaging. The external influences acting on packaging can be diverse and severe while the package is on its way from A to B. We will now show you how modern protective packaging works and what requirements it has to meet.

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Packaging protection: Why is it important for consumers and businesses?

The desire for good, secure packaging is expressed equally by both parties. For consumers, secure protective packaging brings many advantages: They can be very sure that the ordered goods will be delivered undamaged. This significantly increases trust in online retailing and makes it possible in the first place.

If a relatively high percentage of delivered goods were damaged, the willingness to order online at all would be very low.

There is therefore certainty about the nature of the purchase. Consumers can be sure that the transaction is completed when they receive the goods - no returns and returns. These cost a lot of time and usually disrupt consumers significantly in their everyday lives.

Functioning protective packaging is therefore enormously valuable in boosting trust in mail order - but what about companies?

Company and the shipping protection

For companies, every unnecessary kilometer of distance traveled is a cost factor they want to avoid. If a load is not adequately secured - whether B2B or B2C - there is a risk of damage to the packaged goods. In such a case, it must either be replaced or repaired. In all circumstances, however, there is a risk of high costs.

Good protective packaging reduces the rate of returns in online retailing, for example. Consumers will not accept a damaged smartphone, for example. The device is returned, has to be replaced, and the shipping costs are incurred again. By investing in secure packaging from the outset, companies can drastically reduce this rate and save money.

Additionally, there are factors to consider with companies such as customer service and image. If a company is "known" for often shipping faulty goods, customers will soon stay away. A high level of merchandise security, made possible by appropriate protective packaging, solves this problem.

Sustainability is another positive aspect of a low returns rate. Every kilometer not driven saves a little CO2 and improves the carbon footprint of shipping companies and online retailers.

Protection variants at a glance

Not every product needs to be immunized against the same external influences. Instead, there are many different protective packages designed for different requirements.

Protection from shocks and pressure

Good protection against impact and pressure is widespread, as many packaged goods are sensitive. These include all electronic products, all goods made of glass, all delicate, delicate products - or even bottles filled with wine. Products such as corrugated board are well suited to provide a buffer effect that cushions many impacts.

Stability is therefore the most important factor for this type of packaging. It must withstand high pressure - from other packages being stacked, for example - and at the same time withstand sudden impacts. Corrugated board achieves this goal well, as it can be adapted to the packaged goods. Single-wall packaging is sufficient for lightweight shipping goods, while triple-wall variants are more suitable for heavy contents.

Clothing is a counterexample. It does not normally have to be secured against impact and pressure. However, it should be very well protected against climatic influences such as dirt or moisture. The application and thus the packaged goods therefore determine which packaging variant is suitable for which contents.

Protection from dirt

Some things must necessarily remain clean, such as the already mentioned

Clothing. Products with stains are not accepted by consumers and cannot be sold in stores. Therefore, certain covers, often made of plastic, which are stretched around the shipping cartons, are suitable in these cases. This keeps moisture and dirt (from rain, for example) out in equal measure.

If everything is to be particularly well secured, bags made of pure plastic can also be used. However, if the bags and cartons are disposable, their environmental performance is very poor. This should be taken into account when shipping.

Protection from moisture

Moisture is a problem for the vast majority of packaged goods - from electronics to clothing to food. In most cases, therefore, these products are safely wrapped in plastic anyway, regardless of the shipping carton. The only exceptions are for short-distance shipping - for example, when ordering goods from a local supermarket. Over this manageable period, packaged goods get by without separate packaging.

However, protection against moisture plays a key role in long-distance shipping. This is especially true for electronics, which would probably immediately suffer a defect without secure moisture protection at the consumer.

Related to protection against moisture is corrosion protection. This is essential for very sensitive products with many metal components. Desiccants enclosed with the packaged goods perform well. They remove moisture from the environment so that it does not reach the sensitive metal.

In general, the same tips as for protection against dirt also apply here: plastic outer packaging and plastic films stretched around existing cartons do a good job. In some industries, such as the shoe trade, this is essential to prevent partially sensitive surfaces from being ruined in advance.

If you notice any defects in the packaging when you receive the goods, you should make a complaint immediately. If you open everything and take the product in your hands, you will no longer be able to prove that the damage was not your fault.

Protection from cold and heat

Many products today are specified for a certain temperature range. For example, they operate without problems in a range between -20° Celsius and +55° Celsius. In the case of a particularly narrow temperature delta, it may be that even transport at temperatures common in this country can become problematic. To avoid difficulties, packaging exists specifically for temperature-sensitive products.

A widely known thermal packaging is, for example, the bubble wrap. Materials that are also suitable for this purpose are cellulose and hemp. So-called pallet hoods protect entire pallets of cardboard from both cold and heat.

Important in this type of packaging is its insulating capacity. Neither cold nor heat should ideally reach the product. Packaging of this type is usually specified with a temperature difference over a certain period of time. For example, thermal packaging could be labeled so that transport service providers can see that the contents become half a degree Celsius warmer per hour. Which packaging is sufficient for which application can thus be quickly calculated.

In some industries, protection against temperature rises or falls is even critical. A good example is food, which must not exceed the freezing point. Maintaining the cold chain so that ice cream, for example, arrives frozen at the supermarket is essential for this industry.

Protection against packaged goods loss through labeling

Surely you have seen imprints on cartons that read "Caution, glass!" or similar. These labels are important on all fragile products at risk of breakage. This can include electronics - such as a TV whose display can theoretically break.

Companies face the problem that they themselves know their products very well. However, as soon as they leave their own premises, they find themselves in the hands of third parties - mostly transport service providers. Their only job is to drive the goods from A to B. They usually don't know the contents of the packaging. As a rule, they do not know anything about the contents of the packaging.

Therefore, there are markings that let third parties know how they should handle the packaged goods. "Fragile" are very well-known imprints, "Store in a cool place" is also common. Warnings are also printed on some electronic products, such as rechargeable batteries.

Companies also protect themselves against misuse and fraud by using the right labels on the shipped goods. If very expensive products are shipped, security labels are worthwhile. They provide immediate information on whether a package has already been opened or not. This prevents packages from being opened unnoticed or reduces the likelihood that this will happen.

The safety of your items plays a major role? If you have any questions about the protection of your products, please contact us directly.

Optimal protection in practice

There can be no "optimal protection" in the way, because it always depends on the different contents and goods. Step by step, the search for the right packaging in companies can look like this:

• Inventory: What needs to be shipped?
• Problem analysis: What potential external influences must the packaged goods be able to withstand?
• Choice of packaging: Which protective packaging is suitable for eliminating or largely containing the influences mentioned?

In this way, suitable packaging can be found quickly that is suitable for the specific packaged goods. At the same time, it is important to remain realistic. Insuring against unusual events, such as sudden floods, would be uneconomical.

Conclusion: The importance of the right protective packaging

Without perfectly packaged and shipped goods, e-commerce would grind to a halt. Designing ever better protective packaging is therefore essential for consumers and businesses alike. They also reduce the need for ever more extensive returns and thus help to minimize CO2 emissions.

FAQ

1. What is the best protection for packaging?

   There can be no such thing as the absolute best protection. The packaged goods themselves determine which protective packaging is most suitable. In case of doubt, it is always better to protect a product too well than too poorly.

2. What is the best packaging protection from an environmental point of view?

   When it comes to achieving the most positive carbon footprint possible, the corrugated board carton is number one. It has the edge over all other variants. Only special plastic packaging, which is very frequently used for a large number of transport routes, performs even better.