The preparation of your goods for shipping is crucial to get right.
Because your cargo may be travelling a significant distance and changing hands, and modes of transport, several times, proper packaging is needed to avoid the risk of damage.
But what is the best way to package your goods?
Choosing Your Packaging
Different types of packaging materials are used to secure and protect the outside of your goods.
Let’s take a look at the main packaging groups and their pros and cons.
Cardboard – The Pros
The good old cardboard box. Bet you didn’t think that would be top of the list, did you?
Cardboard has been used for decades to protect shipments thanks to its sturdy, lightweight nature. Its rigidity makes it easy to stack, and it’s certainly a green option, given its recyclability.
Cardboard – The Cons
When it’s dry, cardboard is super strong, but when it’s wet? Not so much. The big downside of cardboard is its durability in the face of wet weather. And though it can manage more weight than you’d think, it’s unsuitable for large and heavy loads.
Cardboard is also tricky to get right for awkwardly shaped goods as it works better for geometric formations.
Wooden Cases – The Pros
Wooden cases are becoming more popular in the shipping world because they are both super strong and damage resistant. This makes them the #1 choice for valuable and delicate consignments.
As a raw material, wood is inherently strong, and similarly to cardboard boxes, these too are simple to stack and sturdy enough to withstand other cases being stacked on top of them.
Unlike cardboard boxes, wooden cases are much more reliable in the face of a rainstorm.
Wooden Cases – Cons
The only disadvantage of this type of packaging is the price that comes with it.
It’s simple, wood costs more than cardboard and requires more processing – but remember, you’re paying for a stronger product that doesn’t get soggy in a shower.
Crates – The Pros
We know what you’re thinking. Aren’t crates the same as cases?
A crate is similar to a case, but it’s not the same. Crates are also made of wood, and they, too, have four solid sides and a floor… But they also have a top.
Crates are ideal for large valuables as well as fragile items such as glassware or electronics, and different types serve different purposes. Frame crates work well for heavy objects, open crates allow air to circulate to keep fresh produce ventilated, and closed crates for extra security during transport.
Crates need to be packed to capacity, and any gaps need to be filled to stop goods rattling around to avoid the risk of damage in transit. They can hold a large volume of goods and are a safe option for your cargo because they are fully enclosed.
Crates – The Cons
Crates are BIG. They take up a lot more storage space because of the sheer volume they can hold. This also means they require serious machinery to be loaded and unloaded, and because they are so heavy, they can increase your freight rates because they contribute to the weight of your cargo.
Pallets – The Pros
We’ve all seen a pallet. They are most commonly used in road freight and are more of a wooden platform than a box.
Pallets are much cheaper than crates because they use less wood. And, when they’re not in use, they can be stored much more easily for reuse at a later point.
As long as the goods they’re supporting are packaged correctly, palletising your cargo is a robust method of packaging. This method is robust, simple, and easy for a forklift truck to load, unload and move around.
You can use pallets for most kinds of cargo, however…
Pallets – The Cons
Pallets are not suitable for fragile cargo. This is because the goods aren’t enclosed; nothing protects them from all four sides – or the top.
When you use pallets to package your goods, you also need to consider how to ensure your consignment remains dry. To weatherproof your palleted goods, you’ll need additional packing materials.
Container – The Pros
Containers are big metal boxes made from corten steel. These things are the creme de la creme of secure packaging.
Corten steel is corrosion-resistant and incredibly strong. When you choose containers to ship your goods, you’re choosing a highly secure method of packaging that provides heaps of space and is also easily moved from ship to truck.
And even better? You can ship pretty much anything in a container. Electronics, valuables, foods, awkward and heavy loads… You name it.
Container – The Cons
Whether full to the brim or half empty, you’ll have to pay the same shipping rates to get your container to its destination. This is a big blocker for many shipping companies who don’t need the whole volume of a container for their goods, but LCL shipping can be an option… Read more on that here.
Another huge disadvantage to container shipping is sourcing your containers. From the ongoing ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic to seasonal shortages, sometimes there just aren’t enough containers in the right places, and that can cause serious delays that impact the whole supply chain.
What About Packing Materials?
Packing or filler is used to cushion your goods so that they don’t get damaged. The industry term for this is dunnage, and it acts as a shock absorber as well as helps to absorb moisture in transit. Preventing damage with proper packing keeps your goods in pristine condition; without dunnage, your goods might become unsellable, or in such poor condition that they get returned.
There are three types of dunnage, and you’ll need to choose which suits your merchandise best. Let’s take a look at each.
Solid Dunnage
Solid dunnage is used for heavy goods.
Wood
Wooden solid dunnage creates a frame around heavy, strong goods, maintaining a barrier between multiple items that might otherwise crash into each other in transit.
Wood is renewable, so it speaks to shippers with a green conscience, AND easy to get your hands on, so you won’t be stuck in a veritable packing crisis… But the bad news?
Some countries don’t allow it.
And some countries charge custom import on it.
Steel
Steel is an extremely pricy packing option and is commonly used for high-value goods for this reason or if a very strong barrier between heavy and light goods is required.
Plastic
Unlike some other types, solid plastic packing is brilliant for protecting goods against scrapes. It’s strong and can be moulded into various shapes that will fit into any container. This makes plastic packing great for awkwardly shaped products.
Solid plastic packing is pretty expensive, but for high-value cargo, it’s worth the investment.
Soft Dunnage
Soft dunnage materials are typically used when shipping small and lightweight goods.
Styrofoam
Whilst these used to be more common, packing peanuts or styrofoam balls aren’t used much these days because they’re so bad for the planet. They work by filling the gaps between your goods and their outer packaging. Moulded styrofoam is a customisable option that can work well for higher-value goods or goods that are fiddly shaped.
Bubble Wrap
Ah, good old bubble wrap. Flexible and cheap, bubble wrap is the most commonly used packing material because it’s just so easy – and it can be reused over and over again. As long as the bubbles don’t pop.
Air pillows are a newer invention but based on the same premise. Both of these materials don’t contribute much to shipping costs and are easy to store.
Wood Chips
Wood chips are 100% recyclable and cheap to get hold of. They are a great choice if there is moisture to deal with and aren’t a hazard through dramatic temperature changes because they aren’t conductive.
Paper-Based Dunnage
These types of dunnage materials are also used for lightweight items.
Shredded Paper
Shredded paper is inexpensive, reusable and recyclable. This type of dunnage is most often used in the shipping of breakables because it provides such a soft cushioning for the goods inside their outer packaging.
Cardboard
Much like paper, cardboard can also be bought shredded and used similarly. Cardboard can also be cut up into thin sheets to pad out boxes and protect the goods inside. It works well because it is both strong and flexible.
Selecting The Right Packaging For…
Different goods need different containers to ensure their safety during transit.
Perishables
If your goods need to remain cool or frozen, you’ll need to make sure you’ve got a solid cold chain in place to prevent spoiling. The packing you choose needs to withstand moisture, and for some goods like fresh fruit and vegetables, air needs to be able to circulate. Crates work well for this.
Read more on shipping perishables in our recent blog.
High-Value Items
High-value goods need strong packing that ensures they remain in prime condition; no one wants to deal with expensive goods that arrive damaged. Steel and solid plastic packing work best because they are extremely sturdy, and plastic especially prevents abrasions.
Large Goods
What do you mean by large? Crates can protect large valuables, but containers combined with proper packing that matches the properties of the goods might be the way to go. For heavy large goods, opt for steel barriers and plastic packing, but plenty of bubble wrap could be sufficient for lightweight large goods.
Labelling Your Cargo
Once packaged, your goods need appropriate labels. Different goods have different requirements, depending on what they are and where they’re going. Dangerous, perishable and fragile goods will all need to be labelled as such, and to avoid delays or refusals, it’s wise to check out the rules and regs of the countries you’re importing from or exporting to.
Proper Packaging Saves Time And Money In The Long Run
The right packaging and preparation help to secure your cargo while in transit so that they remain in saleable condition.
Not sure what type of packing to use for an upcoming shipment? Struggling to find information on the rules and regulations of a country you’re exporting to? Call Millennium. Our friendly team are a font of knowledge.