Whenever you have to send items to someone, one of the most common concerns is: "Will my package arrive intact at its destination?"

In fact, who hasn't received a package and, in opening it, discovered with horror that the contents inside were irreparably damaged?

In order to avoid any damage during transport, it is essential to rely on the ----Austrans---best couriers on the market, perhaps known for the care with which they handle shipments, prepare the objects to be shipped in the best possible way using the packaging suitable for the type of object to be intended send and perhaps request a shipment protection service.

The integrity of the package and of the contents inside it depends in equal measure both on the carrier's own operations and processes, and on the commitment and care you will employ in packing

How many types of shipping packaging are there?

Before delving into the world of packaging for shipments and giving you some advice on how to do it in the best way, we want to focus on the types of materials available for packing your parcels .

Today the sector offers various solutions to satisfy any type of need and above all to protect any type of object.

Paper, plastic, polyurethane foam, bioplastics, recycled, fully recyclable or biodegradable materials: you will be spoiled for choice.

The only thing to pay attention to is choosing the right materials for the type of object you are going to entrust to the courier.

For example, shipping a book will require less precise and careful packaging than sending bottles of self- produced wine to a colleague who has moved to another region.

It will be up to you to choose the most suitable shipping packaging for the occasion: you will only have to take into consideration the type of transport and the budget at your disposal for the purchase of the necessary materials and follow our few but important tips.

What to use for packing?

As just mentioned, there is no specific material or product to use for the packaging of your shipments, but you will have to choose from time to time the most suitable one to guarantee the safety of your package during travel.

Despite the wide range of products at your disposal to best pack the box to be shipped, you will necessarily need to equip yourself with:

• A box of the right size
• Protective material that protects every single object from possible shocks due to stress during transport
• Filling material that avoids the movement of the various objects inside the package as much as possible

These are the three essential materials for a perfect packaging, then depending on the fragility of the objects to be sent and the type of shipment you will need, you can opt for more or less performing materials and with increasing degrees of protection and resistance.

How to pack a shockproof parcel

It is advisable to always pay maximum attention to the packaging of a shipment, but it is clear that the packaging of an object with regular shapes and made of a resistant material may require less precautions than sending angular objects which can tear the box open. travel, of packs that contain liquids, as in the case of oil, wine and cosmetic products or extremely fragile objects such as glass.

In general, to make your shipment safe, you will need to:

1. Prepare the box , closing the bottom opening with strong adhesive tape
2. Line it with material that can cushion any shocks
3. Proceed to wrap individually with the most suitable material for the occasion, each single object to be included in the package
4. Arrange each packed item neatly in the parcel so that they fit snugly
5. Fill any gaps created between objects with filler material
6. Close the box with strong tape
7. If necessary, reinforce the corners of the box with an additional round of packing tape.

Your package thus packed is ready to be entrusted to the courier.

How to pack a fragile parcel

If I had to send a fragile package, would anything change in the procedure we just described?

No, the way of packaging remains the same, but it is the used shipping packaging that is changing.

For example, to send a package containing fragile objects it is advisable to choose highly protective material such as bubble wrap or air pockets , which absorb shocks and bumps very well and preserve the integrity of the content.

 How to pack a heavy parcel

In this case, you will have to pay attention to the robustness and quality of the box.

You will need to equip yourself with a box in excellent condition, preferably triple corrugated as it is thick and resistant enough to support loads of up to 500 kilograms.

 How to pack a small parcel

If you had to prepare a small package that does not require any special precautions, you can opt for the reuse of boxes you already have and to protect the objects from each other using newspaper, cardboard profiles, etc.

Packaging for shipments: boxes and envelopes

After having seen the "how", let's move on to dealing with the materials available to secure your shipments , and we do it starting from the container or the box .

Depending on the fragility we will opt for one of the types available.

Generally you can choose between:

• Mono wave also known as simple wave
• Double wave
• Triple wave

These offer increasing resistance as the waves multiply. Similarly, a single-wave box will cost less than a triple-wave box.

The choice of the type of box will therefore have to make a compromise between economy and efficiency.

Where can I find the cardboard boxes

If you don't have the opportunity to go to a packaging store or your shipment doesn't require the resistance of a new box, you can opt for the reuse of boxes that have already been used for other purposes , provided they are not excessively worn.

Choosing to reuse the boxes is an advantageous choice both in economic terms and in terms of environmental impact.

But where can you find boxes for your shipments? 

One piece of advice is to contact the neighborhood shops who will be happy to provide you with the boxes containing the goods they sell, otherwise sent for recycling.

If the items to be shipped are particularly small or resistant, you can also use easily available unused boxes such as shoe or small appliance boxes.

The important thing in this case is to cover them with wrapping paper which makes the surface homogeneous and difficult to tamper with.

 Packaging for shipments: protections

Let's now move on to the materials used to directly protect objects: the protections.

Of these there are different types and different materials, each suitable to provide different degrees of protection.

The following is the list of the most common and used protective packaging for shipments:

• Roll bubble wrap
• Bubble bags
• Wrapping paper
• Corrugated cardboard for packaging
• Expanded polyethylene film
• Profiles and corners in expanded polyethylene
• Honeycomb backing paper

Among these, those that offer an excellent quality / price ratio are bubble wrap and wrapping paper.

How do you use bubble wrap?

If you have to send particularly delicate objects or materials that contain liquids inside them, we advise you to use bubble wrap to protect them.

Bubble wrap is in fact a versatile product with great cushioning power.

If the one you have is not the pre-cut type, we advise you to cut a sufficient quantity from the roll to "generously" wrap the object to be protected, i.e. with at least two layers.

All you have to do is close with adhesive tape, so as to prevent accidental opening of the protection.

You can also use the bubble wrap to line the sides of the box to offer more protection to the whole.

When and how to use wrapping paper

If the objects are not particularly fragile, to protect them you could wrap them in wrapping paper: it doesn't have the same cushioning power as bubble wrap, but it absorbs very well from possible shocks while travelling.

Wrapping paper is also extremely versatile as it can be used both as a protective and filler material.

All you have to do is tear off enough of it and wrap the object with it.

If you pay particular attention to the wrapping and filling of the spaces, the paper will perform its protective function very well.

Packaging for shipments: the filling

The last packing tool you won't be able to do without is the stuffing material .

Filling the voids inside the packages makes the risk of damage during transport extremely unlikely, as the possibility that the objects move inside the box is eliminated.

The most common filling materials are:

• Chips of polystyrene or other material
• Paper straw
• Foam pillows
• Bubble bags
• Wrapping paper

These have quite different costs, as well as their ability to fill spaces.

Eco-sustainable alternatives to the usual packaging: plastic free shipments

In recent times, both companies and consumers are increasingly attentive to environmental policies and are always looking for new solutions to eliminate their impact on the environment.

The world of shipping and that of packaging have a great impact on the global CO2 balance, so a marked environmental sensitivity also passes through the sustainability of packaging.

We've already talked about how reusing packaging practices can be beneficial to the environment, so much so that some companies have made reusable packaging their hallmark, such as Repack.com , which makes reusable shipping packaging more and more times.

In addition to products based on the practice of circular reuse, today the market makes available to those who want, more and more green alternatives, such as packaging made from recycled or completely plastic-free plastic.

It is now possible to create a perfect packaging using:

• FSC certified cardboard boxes. According to the certifying body, this mark identifies "products containing wood from forests managed correctly and responsibly according to rigorous environmental, social and economic standards"
• Cardboard boxes equipped with velcro closure or simply equipped with self-adhesive systems that allow you to save the amount of adhesive tape used
• Protections in honeycomb paper or air bags made of bioplastic, i.e. products using vegetable materials, including corn, algae and more, and therefore quickly biodegradable but above all compostable
• Filler materials like potato chips, made with corn instead of Styrofoam
• Paper rather than plastic sealing tape or labels.

Making packaging for environmentally friendly shipments is now possible thanks to the vast choice of green alternatives on the market.

Conclusion:

The creation of perfect packaging is a determining factor for the safety of your objects during the journey that will lead them into the hands of the recipient.

However, you need to pay particular attention when packing and follow these tips that will help you avoid making mistakes that could prove harmful to travel safety:

1 - Take the time to pack your parcel : every minute dedicated to the correct packing of your shipment will ensure greater protection of the contents of your parcel.

2 - Look for convenience when buying packaging materials : it's not wrong, but remember to evaluate the degree of quality and resistance offered by the chosen material and the type of goods you intend to ship

3 - Be careful in choosing the type of packaging to use ; for each specific type of shipment a specific type of material is indicated

4 - Reuse packaging and especially boxes : it is an ethically valid choice, however if what you intend to send is fragile or heavy, choosing to buy new and resistant boxes could be the best choice

5 - Use bubble wrap for fragile shipments and packing paper for everything else

6 - Remember that empty spaces are the enemy of travel safety - make sure you don't leave any

7 - Reduce your environmental impact, today it is also possible in the field of packaging: if possible, always choose the plastic-free alternative.

Seven small tips and the right attention can minimize the unpleasant inconveniences on the road that lead to a certain damage to the contents.