Analysis of the Pros and Cons of Different Packaging Materials

As an e-commerce seller, have you ever had a headache about choosing packaging materials? The goods are damaged during transportation, and customers are constantly complaining? The cost of packaging materials is too high, and profits are being eroded? Environmental pressure is increasing, and you don’t know how to balance cost and sustainability? According to industry data, 30% of logistics disputes are caused by improper packaging. Every packaging decision directly affects your profits and brand reputation.

The choice of packaging materials during package transportation has become the focus of many sellers. Appropriate packaging can not only protect the goods from being safely delivered to customers, but also enhance the brand image and even affect customer satisfaction to a certain extent.

As an international warehousing and fulfillment service provider, Chinadivision is well aware of the importance of packaging materials. Today, we will introduce in detail the types of packaging materials commonly used in package transportation and their advantages and disadvantages, and answer the in-depth questions about packaging that everyone is concerned about, to help e-commerce sellers make more informed choices.

Commonly used packaging materials and their advantages and disadvantages

Boxes (corrugated boxes)

Advantages

Boxes are one of the most common forms of packaging, with good protective properties, and can provide stable support and protection for goods. It can accommodate goods of various shapes and sizes, and the cushioning effect can be enhanced by adding fillers. In addition, the appearance of the box can be personalized, which helps to enhance the display effect of the goods. Available in a variety of sizes, shapes and strengths (single-wall, double-layer, triple-layer). Strong protection, wide application (multiple sizes available), customizable printing to enhance brand image, easy to stack and transport. The main force of e-commerce packaging, made of multi-layer cardboard, including a groove (wave) layer for strength enhancement.

Disadvantages

The volume of the box is relatively large, which will increase the transportation cost. Moreover, if the packaging is not done properly, the box may be squeezed and deformed during transportation, affecting the safety of the goods. The cost is relatively high, the volume/weight increases the freight, and excessive packaging is not environmentally friendly.

Envelopes/Plastic Mailing Bags

Advantages

Envelopes are suitable for packaging some thin and flat goods, such as documents, small accessories, etc. It has a low cost and occupies little space, which can effectively reduce transportation costs. At the same time, the sealing methods of envelopes are diverse and the operation is simple and convenient. Polyethylene mailing bags themselves have waterproof functions, which can prevent the contents from being eroded by rain or overflow.

Disadvantages

The protective performance of envelopes is relatively weak, and it is not suitable for some fragile or valuable goods. Almost no buffering protection, easy to be crushed or bent, and not waterproof. If the goods are squeezed or collided during transportation, they are easily damaged.

Bubble film

Advantages

Bubble film is a commonly used buffering packaging material with good shockproof and moisture-proof properties. It can effectively absorb the impact force during transportation through the buffering effect of bubbles and protect the goods from damage. Bubble film has a low cost and is easy to use. It can be cut according to the size and shape of the goods.

Disadvantages

The volume of bubble film is large, which will increase the volume and weight of the package, thereby increasing the transportation cost. Moreover, the appearance of bubble film is not beautiful enough, which may affect the display effect of the goods. Manual wrapping is inefficient, storage occupies a large area, and the environmental protection of plastics is questionable.

Crepe paper/thin paper/kraft paper

Advantages

Thin paper is usually used to fill the gaps in the packaging box to buffer and fix the goods. It has low cost, soft texture, and will not scratch the goods. Kraft paper has high strength and toughness and can withstand certain pressure and tension. It has moderate cost and simple and elegant appearance, which is suitable for packaging some goods that have certain requirements for packaging appearance. In addition, kraft paper also has certain moisture-proof properties. Crepe paper has good flexibility and cushioning properties, which can provide certain protection for goods. Its beautiful appearance can increase the packaging texture of goods. Crepe paper can also be used to wrap goods to prevent scratches. The cost of crepe paper is relatively high, and it is easy to produce paper scraps during use, which may affect the cleanliness of the goods.

Disadvantages

The cushioning performance of thin paper is relatively weak. For some heavy or fragile goods, thin paper alone may not provide sufficient protection. The cushioning performance of kraft paper is not as good as that of materials such as bubble film, and the protection effect on fragile goods is limited.

Air pillow bag/inflatable bag

Advantages

The air pillow bag is a new type of cushioning packaging material. It forms independent air bags through inflation and has good cushioning performance. Fast filling speed (automatic inflator), extremely light weight, saves storage space, excellent cushioning performance, customizable size. Air pillow bags can be customized according to the size and shape of the goods, which can effectively fill the gaps in the packaging box and reduce the shaking of the goods during transportation. Moreover, the air pillow bag is very small when not inflated, which is convenient for storage and transportation.

Disadvantages

Air pillow bags require special inflation equipment, which increases the complexity and cost of packaging. If they are under-inflated or over-inflated, the cushioning effect may be affected. The initial equipment investment and single cost are slightly higher than traditional fillers (but the overall efficiency is high).

Airbags

Advantages

Airbags are similar to air pillow bags, but are usually larger, thicker, and have stronger cushioning performance. It is suitable for packaging some large, heavy or fragile goods, and can effectively absorb strong impact during transportation.

Disadvantages

The cost of airbags is high, it takes up a lot of space, and the transportation and storage costs are relatively high.

Bubble envelopes

Advantages

Bubble envelopes combine the advantages of envelopes and bubble films. They have the characteristics of lightness and convenience of envelopes, and the shockproof and moisture-proof properties of bubble films. It is suitable for packaging some small fragile goods, such as electronic product accessories, glass products, etc. It is an ideal choice for small and medium-sized, medium-pressure-resistant goods (books, small accessories), with high cost performance.

Disadvantages

The size of bubble envelopes is relatively fixed, and may not be suitable for some irregularly shaped or large goods. It is less protective than hard boxes and is ineffective for sharp or heavy items.

Gel packs

Advantages

Gel packs are mainly used for fresh-keeping and temperature-controlled packaging. They can absorb or release heat to keep the goods within a certain temperature range. It is suitable for transporting some temperature-sensitive goods, such as food, medicine, cosmetics, etc.

Disadvantages

Gel packs are expensive, and they need to be handled in accordance with relevant regulations after use, which increases the complexity and cost of packaging.

Environmentally friendly materials (recycled paper/corn starch, etc.)

Advantages

With the increasing awareness of environmental protection, environmentally friendly materials are becoming more and more popular. Such materials are usually degradable, recyclable, environmentally friendly, and help enhance the company's sense of social responsibility and brand image. For e-commerce sellers who focus on sustainable development, using environmentally friendly materials to package goods is a good choice.

Disadvantages

The cost of some environmentally friendly materials is relatively high, and their protective performance may not be as good as some traditional materials. For example, some degradable paper materials may have certain limitations in moisture resistance and shock resistance.

FAQs and user pain points

How to choose the right packaging material according to the type of goods?

For fragile goods, such as glass products, ceramic products, etc., it is recommended to choose materials with better cushioning performance, such as bubble film, air pillow bags, air bags, etc., and combine them with boxes for packaging to provide adequate protection. For thin and flat goods, such as documents, small accessories, etc., envelopes or bubble envelopes can be selected for packaging. For temperature-sensitive goods, such as food, medicine, etc., temperature-controlled packaging materials such as gel packs are required.

How to balance packaging costs and protective performance?

When choosing packaging materials, it is necessary to consider the value of the goods and the transportation risks. For some low-value and non-damageable goods, you can choose packaging materials with lower costs, such as thin paper, kraft paper, etc. However, for some high-value and fragile goods, you cannot choose packaging materials with insufficient protection performance in order to save costs, otherwise the goods may be damaged during transportation, causing greater losses.

Which packaging combination should be chosen for fragile items?

Use carton + bubble film or airbag + kraft paper filling to ensure multi-layer cushioning. Chinadivision can customize shockproof packaging solutions for you.

How to improve the environmental friendliness of packaging?

You can choose environmentally friendly materials for packaging, such as degradable paper materials, bio-based plastics, etc. At the same time, reasonably design the packaging structure to reduce the use of packaging materials and avoid excessive packaging. In addition, customers can be encouraged to recycle packaging materials to improve resource utilization.

Environmentally friendly packaging is expensive and fragile. Is it really worth investing?

Absolutely worth it, and it is an inevitable trend! Many European and American countries have legislated to force/encourage environmentally friendly packaging, and non-compliance = loss of market. Consumers are willing to pay for environmental protection and improve brand loyalty. The performance of modern environmentally friendly materials has been greatly improved. We select high-quality environmental protection solutions that take into account performance and compliance.

How can I make my package unpacking experience better and increase repeat purchases?

Use neat, undamaged boxes. Internal fillers (such as crepe paper) enhance texture and protection. Consider custom printed packaging (brand logo/slogan). You can also attach a small card or thank-you note. Chinadivision provides professional unboxing experience optimization services, so that your customers will fall in love with your brand from the moment they open the package.

Choose Chinadivision to make packaging and fulfillment easier

At Chinadivision, we know that packaging is far from trivial. It is the armor of your products, the first business card of your brand, and the key link in cost control. As a professional e-commerce order fulfillment service provider, Chinadivision has rich packaging experience and a professional packaging team, and can provide you with the most suitable packaging solutions according to the characteristics of your products and transportation needs. We provide a variety of packaging materials for you to choose from, and ensure that the packaging process meets international transportation standards to ensure the safety of your products.

What services does Chinadivision provide you?

Global warehouse network: close to your customers, shorten transportation distances, reduce packaging requirements and transportation risks.

Packaging expert consultation: Based on massive commodity data and transportation experience, we tailor the best packaging solution for you, and find the golden balance between protection, cost, efficiency and environmental protection.

Automated packaging system: Integrate automatic inflators, intelligent packaging equipment, etc. to greatly improve efficiency, reduce manual dependence and error rate.

Diversified environmentally friendly material library: Provide environmentally friendly packaging options that meet the regulatory requirements of various regions around the world to help you travel green.

One-stop fulfillment service: From warehousing, picking, professional packaging, to global distribution, we seamlessly connect, you only need to focus on the core business.

If you need to learn more about the selection strategy of packaging materials or obtain sample testing solutions, or are still worried about the selection of packaging materials, you may wish to contact Chinadivision. Our professional customer service team will provide you with detailed consultation and suggestions to help you quickly complete the packaging and fulfillment of orders, making your e-commerce business smoother. Contact us now to start an efficient and convenient e-commerce order fulfillment journey!