Packing Your Items Safely

In the long run, it pays to purchase the right packing materials. Sturdy boxes, packing tape, bubble wrap, and packing peanuts can be purchased right online. Using new, high-quality packing materials specifically designed for moving, can really help your items get to their destination safely. Using improper cushioning materials such as newspaper, clothing, blankets, and pillows can seriously damage your packed belongings.  Take a look below to see what’s recommended to protect your items during shipping. 

• Bubble cushioning (air-encapsulated plastic sheets).
• Paper cushioning (multi-layered paper padding):  Ideal for wrapping medium-to-large-sized, non-fragile items and those that may require moisture absorption
• Inflatable packaging (air bags):  Used primarily as void-fill material for lightweight items. Can be preformed to provide cushioning performance for specific products. Extreme hot or cold temperatures may affect the ability of air bags to provide adequate product protection. Not recommended for items with sharp corners or edges.
• Expanded polystyrene "peanuts":  Used primarily as void-fill material for light- weight items. Overfill the box with peanuts, then gently close the flaps and seal. Due to the shifting and settling properties of peanuts, it is recommended that a minimum of three inches of cushioning be used around the contents. Not recommended for use with flat, narrow, or dense products that may migrate to the edge or bottom of the carton during transit.
• Engineered foam enclosures:  Should be preformed for specific products for proper cushioning performance. Materials may include expanded polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, or copolymers.
• Foam-in-place (a foam, sprayed into the box or mixed in packets, that expands and forms a protective mold around contents):  Provides good cushioning when foam is evenly distributed around the contents. Select appropriate density of foam to meet packaging needs, which can range from void-fill application to high-performance cushioning.
• Corrugated board: Can be laminated together to form blocks or pads, which are useful for blocking and bracing items inside the box. Can also be die-cut, slit, or scored to form trays, partitions, or liners to increase package strength, improve performance, or separate items from each other within the package. Not recommended for fragile items.
• Crumpled kraft paper: No newspaper. Used primarily as a void-fill material for light-to-medium-weight, non-fragile items and items that are suitable for such packing materials. To enhance performance, it is recommended that the paper be tightly crumpled. Use at least four inches of paper around and between the contents. Ensure that there is at least four inches of packing on all six sides of the box.

Wrap each item separately. Fragile items need both proper separation from each other and clearance from the corners and sides of the box. This will prevent product against product damage and protect the contents from shock and vibration, which can pass from the outside of the box to the contents.  Proper cushioning material, combined with a strong outer box, will protect your shipment. 

When shipping fragile items it is common to "over pack," or use excess material to protect the item. Significant cost savings may be achieved by using more effective and efficient packaging materials.  When you use the right amount of packaging cushioning required to protect the item, you also avoid paying for excessive material.

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