Shipping fragile items such as mirrors, furniture or glass is never easy. To make a profit, you need to ensure that your items reach the customer in one piece, with no damage. However, in the busy world of logistics, that is not always easy.
In the past, the most effective way to ensure fragile items were transported safely was thanks to void filler such as foam packing peanuts. However, these days, less is more when it comes to packaging. Consumers are seeking out brands who are greener with their packaging by either using eco-friendly materials and minimising waste. So, if you’re looking to remove void filler from your packaging, but still want to keep your products protected, what should you do instead? The answer lies in custom boxes.
Your void filler problem
As well as being wasteful and not environmentally friendly, void filler comes with numerous other issues. For a start, they are typically expensive to include in your packaging budget. Furthermore, void fillers are incredibly time-consuming, especially when you have multiple items to package and ship each day.
Another issue with void filler is storage. You need an ample space to store void filler. This space can often be better used to store more goods, or you can use the space for other ventures for your business.
You can read more about void filler problems in one of our previous blog posts here.
Eco-friendly shipping
Studies suggest that by 2050, logistics emissions will account for 17% of all carbon dioxide emissions in the world. As a result, there is now more urgency to find ways to cut emissions in the logistics process, especially as e-commerce continues to rise. Eco-friendly shipping not only needs to focus on reusable materials but reducing waste in the whole process; from space to fewer packaging materials.
Keeping packages safe without void filler
The problem with void filler is that it is generally easy to use and can keep products relatively safe. This means it is hard to move away from, especially when there is a risk of eliminating void filler from your packaging. However, to reduce emissions and show off your green credentials to your client base, then removing void filler is essential.
How to eliminate void filler with custom boxes
The reason void filler is used is because the box is too big for the item. However, you can eliminate this issue by using custom boxes. If you ship a lot of products, then you may think it is not feasible to order multiple boxes in custom sizes. However, by using a box on demand service, you can get the perfect size box for every item, as and when you need it. This means you reduce the amount of space you need for packaging storage too.
Benefits of custom boxes
- Decrease waste material
Firstly, it is wise to conduct some packaging test runs to determine how much packaging you actually need to keep your product safe. While you may have once used miles of bubble wrap to cover your wall art or mirror products, you may find that you only need one wrap to keep your product snug in the custom box and safe from any logistic mishaps.
From there, you can eliminate the use of wasteful bubble wrap and use corrugated cardboard, that is easy to recycle or perhaps corn starch or mushroom packaging to keep your parcel safe while in transit.
- More space in lorries
By using a custom box, you only need to take up the exact amount of space you need. There is no excess to account for on the lorry. This means vehicles can pack more products on to each load, reducing the carbon emissions.
- Product safety
Custom boxes actually keep your products safer than standard-sized boxes. This is because there is less space for your product to move around in, which means your product is secure during transport. As a result of your products being safer, there is less risk of customers receiving damaged goods. As a result, your business reduces the cost of reverse logistics, returns and product write-offs. Consequently, this all helps to improve your product revenue.
- Improved customer feedback
Customers love the packaging that makes their life easier and limits its impact on the environment. Custom boxes can improve the shopping experience by making reducing waste, making it easy to recycle and customers can know that the cardboard used in custom boxes is already recycled. This leaves the customer with a positive impression of your business and means they are more likely to return to your organisation and buy from you again.
