5 Common Packaging Mistakes Your Business May Be Making

Packaging plays a crucial role in ensuring that products arrive safely, securely, and on time. For businesses, properly packaging your items is especially crucial to avoid losing revenue due to broken items and frustrating your customers due to items arriving in a poor condition.

Whether you're shipping fragile items, large products, or international orders, it’s important to take packaging seriously when shipping items by post. Read on for the 5 most common packaging mistakes businesses make and how to avoid falling victim to these common pitfalls.

1. Using the Wrong Size Box

Using a box that is too small can cause the contents to get squished, leading to damage during transit. Alternatively, solid items in an undersized box may break through the walls of the box, leading to a hole in your box and exposing the contents to rain and damage. On the other hand, using a box that is too big can lead to the item knocking around inside the box during transit which can cause damage to the item inside. Instead, choose a box that fits the item snugly, leaving room for padding to keep the item nice and secure.

2. Inadequate Padding

Padding such as bubble wrap, packing peanuts, and air pillows should always be used to pack a cardboard box, especially when the contents are delicate or valuable. Padding helps to protect the item and ensure safe transit. Without it, the contents of the package can become damaged and arrive in a sorry state.

3. Using Cheap Materials

While it may be tempting to cut costs by using inexpensive packaging materials, opting for cheap cardboard, weak tape, or low-quality cushioning can increase the likelihood of the contents of your packages becoming damage during transit. Instead, invest in strong cardboard boxes, reliable tape, and plenty of padding materials to ensure your items reach their destination unharmed.

4. Not Sealing Boxes Securely

Whilst it may seem obvious, ensuring your cardboard boxes are taped properly is an essential yet often overlooked step in preparing a package for shipping. Properly taping the top and bottom of your box with high quality tape will ensure your contents stay inside the box for the whole journey and ultimately reach your sender. Always feel free to add a few more layers of tape to ensure the parcel is fully secure before shipping.

5. Not Considering Seasonality

During the winter months, your parcels are much more likely to be exposed to extreme cold and damp conditions during shipping. With foresight of this, you will be better able to ensure your items are protected. Use waterproof packing materials such as plastic wrap and double walled boxes to give your items the best possible chance of avoiding moisture damage. Also, label boxes correctly as “perishable” if the contents are susceptible to cold temperatures, such as flowers or food items.