How to Choose the Right Packaging Protection

Written by primepacadmin | 16/07/18

Picking the right packaging protection keeps your products safe, your customers happy and your returns down. The good news? It doesn’t have to be complicated.

This guide walks you through how to choose the right protection, with easy tips your team can use on the packing bench today.

Start With the Product

Every product has its own risks. Before you reach for a roll of bubble wrap, think about:

How fragile is it? Glass, ceramics and electronics can crack or break if they’re knocked or dropped.
What’s the surface like? Painted, polished or finished items can scratch or scuff if they rub against the box or each other.
What shape is it? Odd shapes often have corners and edges that stick out and need extra care.
How heavy is it? Heavy items need protection that holds its shape under the weight.
What’s it worth? The more valuable the item, the more it costs you if it arrives damaged.

Some products tick more than one box, so they may need more than one type of protection.

It’s also worth remembering that a damaged delivery costs more than the item itself. There’s a second delivery to arrange, time spent sorting it out and a customer who’s had a poor experience. For higher-value products, spending a little more on protection often pays for itself.

Match the Protection to the Risk

Protective packaging does three different jobs:

Cushioning absorbs bumps and drops.
Surface protection stops scratches, scuffs and rubbing.
Filling gaps holds the product still so it can’t move around.

One product rarely does all three. A soft foam layer will stop scratches, but it won’t do much if the box is dropped. Scrunched paper keeps an item in place, but may not cushion it enough. Think about which risks your product faces and choose protection for each one.

The box matters too. If it’s too big, you’ll need more filler and the item has more room to move. If it’s too small, there won’t be enough space for proper protection.

Your Protection Options

Here’s a simple guide to what we stock and when to use it.

1. Bubble Wrap

The go-to for wrapping fragile items. The air bubbles absorb bumps and knocks. Use small bubbles for lighter, delicate items and bigger bubbles for heavier items that need more cushioning. Wrap the item fully and tape it closed so it stays in place. Our Air Bubble range includes Eco Bubble Wrap too.

2. Foam Rolls

Polyfoam is a thin, soft foam that protects surfaces from scratches, scuffs and marks. It’s great for furniture, polished surfaces, glass panels and anything that needs to arrive looking perfect.

3. Wrapping Paper

Kraft paper is an easy all-rounder. Wrap items in it, or scrunch it up to fill gaps in the box. Honeycomb paper stretches into a cushioned mesh that grips the item, and tissue paper is ideal for wrapping small, delicate pieces.

4. Air Pillows

Airwave Pillow Void Fill lets you make air-filled pillows on the spot with the Airwave Pillow Machine. They’re light, quick to use and perfect for filling empty space in busy packing areas.

5. Loose Fill

Pop Starch Loose Fill is packaging peanuts made from starch. Just pour it in and it fills every corner around odd-shaped items. It’s 100% compostable and doesn’t cling with static, so it’s easy to handle.

6. Corner and Edge Protection

Corner protectors stop strapping from crushing box edges and protect the corners of furniture, panels and pallet loads. Corrugated cardboard rolls and Corflute sheets add a tough layer around flat or large items.

7. Heavy Duty and Freight Protection

For big or bulky items, Moving Blankets and Prowrap protect furniture during transport, and Prowrap also helps guard against moisture on long trips. For shipping containers and truck loads, dunnage bags fill the gaps between pallets so the load can’t shift.

Quick Match Guide

Not sure where to start? Find your item below, then adjust based on how heavy and fragile it is and how far it’s travelling.

What you’re sending	Wrap or cushion with	Extra protection
Glass, ceramics and bottles	Bubble wrap around each item	Dividers and void fill
Electronics	Cushioning, plus anti-static packaging if needed	Void fill or fitted inserts
Furniture	Moving blankets, Prowrap or Polyfoam	Corner and edge protectors
Polished or painted surfaces	Polyfoam or another soft layer	Filler to stop movement and rubbing
Odd-shaped items	Bubble wrap or honeycomb paper over exposed areas	Void fill that suits the weight and shape
Small, delicate pieces	Tissue paper, plus cushioning if fragile	Paper void fill or fitted inserts
Heavy items	Cushioning that won’t flatten under the weight	A strong box and firm blocking or bracing
Pallets and freight	Corner, edge and surface protection	Load restraint and dunnage bags where needed

Think About Who’s Unpacking It

Every product needs to arrive safely, but what happens when the box is opened matters too.

A business receiving stock into a warehouse usually wants packaging that’s quick to open, easy to identify and simple to deal with in bulk. A customer opening an order at home may care more about how it looks, how easy it is to open and how they’ll get rid of the packaging.

Think about who’s on the other end, and what they can realistically reuse or recycle.

Factor in Packing Time

Time on the packing bench is part of the cost of every order. A cheaper material that needs extra wrapping, cutting or taping can end up costing more once you add up the time across hundreds of orders.

A few small changes can speed things up:

Use boxes that fit your products well.
Choose ready-to-use protection, like air pillows or loose fill.
Keep your most-used materials within easy reach.

The goal is a packing method your team can repeat quickly and consistently, every time.

Packing Bench Tips

A few simple habits make a big difference.

Fill the bottom first. Add a layer of filler before the item goes in, so it isn’t sitting on the bottom of the box.
Keep heavy items away from the sides. Place them in the centre of the box with protection all around.
Wrap items separately. If there’s more than one item, wrap each one so they don’t knock into each other.
Do the shake test. Close the box and give it a gentle shake. If you can feel or hear anything moving, add more filler.
Don’t overfill. The lid should close flat without bulging. A bulging box is harder to seal and stack.
Seal it properly. Use good quality packaging tape across the top and bottom seams.

See How It Travels

How far a parcel goes, and how it gets there, makes a big difference. A delivery on your own truck is very different from a parcel that passes through several courier depots, gets stacked with other freight and handled many times along the way.

The best way to know what works is to test it. Send a few of your typical products through their usual delivery route, then check:

How they arrive.
How long they took to pack.
What your customers say.

This gives you a clear picture of what’s working and where you can improve.

Looking for a Sustainable Choice?

Protecting your products and reducing packaging waste can go hand in hand. Choosing the right amount of packaging for the job helps cut unnecessary material, while keeping your products protected. Look out for these options in our range:

Pop Starch Loose Fill: made from starch and 100% compostable.
Airwave Pillow Film: air cushions made of 100% recyclable material.
Kraft and honeycomb paper: paper-based options for wrapping and filling.
Eco Bubble Wrap: a lower impact option for your everyday wrapping.

Browse the full sustainable range to find the right fit for your business.