What makes people fall in love with a product at first sight? It is definitely an attractive packaging which catches the eyes of customers. A great product with a poor presentation means taking a bit of the experience away from your buyers. However, great packaging serves a multitude of purposes. The purpose of packaging is not only to enhance the visual appeal of the product. The basic function of packaging is to protect the product. Thus, packaging serves the dual purposes of protection and presentation.
To protect the product on shelves and during shipping, protective packaging helps shield the items from any physical harm and damage. During shipping, the parcel or package can be subject to dropping and rough handling, making them prone to damage. This is where the inserts come into play to protect the products from moving around inside the box. Moreover, box inserts also enhance the presentation during the unboxing process.
Packaging inserts
Almost all e-commerce businesses need custom-designed inserts to effectively protect and present their goods. A custom-designed box with inserts or scored pad dividers provides the functionality, custom experience, and visual appeal. A box packaging insert can be made of many different materials to withstand external and internal shocks. There are various types of protective packaging, including packing peanuts, padded divider sets, bubble bags, packing foam, and packing paper, which acts as a base for your product to rest properly. Below, we’ve listed the most common types of inserts used by e-commerce companies to protect their products during shipping.
Foam inserts
The most widely used type of inserts in the market is foam packaging. It is ideal for protecting delicate and expensive items that are prone to damage. Without increasing the weight of packaging, foam inserts provide better protection than other types of inserts. It can be cut and shaped to fit the exact shape and size of the product. Moreover, foam inserts are environmentally friendly and best suited for dishes, fine china, hard drives, cameras, and many other products.
Cardboard inserts
These are made of corrugated sheets that are accurately cut and placed inside the packaging to hold items. Cardboard inserts can hold a lot of weight and fill in gaps between where the product is placed. This type of packaging insert can be used for packaging many products, such as appliances, and can easily be recycled and reused.
Molded pulp and plastic inserts
Molded pulp packaging inserts are made of molded fibers, which make them sturdy as well as lightweight. These eco-friendly inserts are comparatively inexpensive and mostly used to hold electronics and appliances. Molded plastic packaging inserts, on the other hand, offer a lower level of protection. It is often used with packaged cakes and other such food items.
Packing Peanuts
Packing peanuts, also known as foam peanuts, are used as a filler to protect fragile items. They are shaped like a shelled peanut and are used to create a cushioning effect. Packing peanuts are widely used as fillers in cardboard boxes to ship electronics, glass, metals, and other delicate products.
Bubble Bags
Bubble bags or bubble wrap bags are bag-like creations with little air-filled sacs all over their surface that cushion items wrapped in them. They are available in roll form for wrapping items and as folder-shaped for mailing purposes. Bubble bags serve the dual purpose of offering protection and packaging items like jewelry, books, etc.
Padded Divider Sets
A padded divider is mostly used for holding smaller objects by dividing the box through little walls or three-dimensional compartments. They are designed with an all-over padded surface on their bodies to offer the best possible protection.