Four Types of Package Cushioning to Consider
Shipping departments each prioritize in different ways, so a number of packaged box fillers are available for sale to satisfy a wide array of diverse needs. While different methods vary from company to company, all of them have the responsibility to protect the contents of their packages and occupy empty space with safe and secure padding and adequate fillers.
What you regularly ship will dictate which way is the best to get the job done, to a certain degree. Electronics, for instance, are suitable for padding with wraps that are non-static and packing peanuts that contain no electrical charge during shipment. There are many packaging supplies in Los Angeles to consider when you ship out packaged products to vendors and/or customers.
1. Bubble Wrap
Bubble wrap provides a formidable first line of defense against impact, and can definitely work inside boxes that have an irregular shape to them. Bubble wrapping will typically serve as a lining of insulation between the product and the siding of the box that the product is inside of. With bubble wrap inside of a box along with a product, the product will be snugly secured. Bubble wrap is made by sealing together two plastic sheets to create a series of air bubbles on each. Bubble wrap is available in rolls with or with no perforations, in addition to sheets and pouches that smaller products can be tucked inside of, before putting into a box for packaging. Bubble wrap is also available in larger bubbles, allowing for greater protection. Bubble wrap comes in an adhesive form as well, made to cling to the inside of the box with sticky surfaces and not leave any residue.
2. Foam
Foam can help shippers in two big ways: Foam can wrap around objects, and also corner edges. Foam is a porous material, and when it comes to shipping, this is a big benefit. Modern air foam products are made to imitate the properties of bubble wrap, protecting packages in similar ways that bubble wrap does. As a matter of fact, foam sheets also derive from the air pockets inside of them, cushioning against impact throughout many phases of the shipping process. Sheets of air foam are for sale in retailers that sell packaging supplies in Los Angeles, and come in a number of different widths, and are sold in rolls with or without perforations. Like bubble wrap, foam can be made into pre cut sheets and pouches for additional packaging options.
3. Kraft Paper
Kraft paper is typically made for envelopes to ship small packages and documents, but it too can serve as a layer of protection for packages. Crumpled Kraft paper is used to fill voids inside boxes of irregularly shaped products. Multiple types of Kraft paper are available for sale, including poly-coated Kraft paper and wax paper for unique applications. Kraft paper can either be 100 percent recyclable or made using virgin fibers. Kraft paper is sold in pre-cut sheets and can be shredded, so that you can fill the package with as much paper as necessary.
4. Polystyrene Peanuts
Loose fill made out of polystyrene peanuts is used to protect contents in a box from all sides, providing a balance of resistance from impact and shock absorption. Anti-static peanuts provide little to no static charge, so they are ideal with shipping electronics. Some peanuts are also biodegradable, made of all natural materials so they can disappear while leaving no trace. Biodegradable peanuts are also non-toxic, so they will not poison a person or animal if eaten.
