How to Pack Fragile Items for Shipping

Fragile, easily breakable products need extra protection. With so much packaging for delicate products to choose from, securing your shipments can be challenging. If you want to reduce returns and give your customers a seamless experience with your brand, keep reading.

Packaging for Fragile Products

Faulty or damaged products make up 30% of customer returns each year and are one of the main reasons customers return their orders. This makes it all the more important for online retailers and eCommerce businesses to pick the right packaging (and use it wisely). So, how do you send fragile products by post?

What Is the Best Packing Material for Fragile Items?

There are a few easy ways to ensure your expensive, delicate or irreplaceable products reach their destination in one piece. It just depends on what kind of items you’re shipping and where they’re going. Below, we’ll break down the different types of packaging materials and which ones might be best for posting fragile items in the UK and abroad. 

1. Use the Right Packaging

Using inadequate packaging for fragile products will disappoint your customers — and cost you in returns. So, here are five key things to look for when selecting packaging for fragile items:

• Materials — The type of packaging you choose will depend on the products you’re shipping. Plastic packaging may be flexible and fairly durable — making it a tempting choice for awkward or delicate items — but it tends to crack or split under pressure. When this happens, the entirety of the packaging is compromised, leaving your precious cargo exposed to the elements. Instead, use strong double-wall shipping boxes made from more sustainable cardboard to appeal to your eco-conscious customers.

• Environmental Impact — It’s crucial to consider what your packaging is made from for numerous reasons, including the environment. So, win the hearts and minds of eco-conscious consumers who prefer natural packaging materials by ditching cheap, tacky plastic packaging and opting for sustainable packaging like our plastic-free shipping boxes.

• Cost — Cheap and not-so-cheerful packaging is often made from low-quality materials that aren’t suitable for shipping fragile items. At first, using cheap packaging materials seems like a cost-effective option. But, if the products are damaged in transit, this costs businesses more in customer returns than the initial saving — harming your brand’s reputation and causing customers frustration in the process.

• Size — Choosing the right size packaging for fragile products is essential. Buying wholesale packaging and taking a one-size-fits-all approach isn’t going to get you far. Book wrap mailers and twist wrap book boxes are an effective solution thanks to their handy multi-depth feature, allowing you to package items of various sizes and shapes safely and effectively. In addition, these flexible packaging options can streamline your packaging operation. Instead of purchasing different-sized boxes in small quantities, purchase larger numbers of the same box for lower overall unit cost.  

• Aesthetics — Well-designed and eye-catching packaging can increase sales. If your business offers a monthly subscription or themed gift boxes, make sure your presentation is on point. Colours, graphics and brand consistency are crucial to encouraging repeat purchases, with 72% of consumers making purchasing decisions based on packaging design. First impressions matter. 

If you need advice on the best packaging to use, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our packaging experts, who will be more than happy to help.

2. Protect Products with Void Fill Packaging

For years, bubble wrap has been the protective void fill of choice for fragile products. Made from low-density polyethene, thin plastic like bubble wrap, cling film and storage bags make up 46% of almost 14 million metric tons of new plastic waste in our oceans each year. 

Luckily, some excellent biodegradable packaging alternatives are available to help you start thinking differently about packaging your fragile products — sustainably. 

At Packaging Supplies, we stock several excellent examples of plastic-free void fill, all made from 100% recycled and recyclable materials:

EcoNutz — Introducing our most versatile packaging solution. EcoNutz are reusable and the ultimate polystyrene pellets alternative. Made from recycled paper, EcoNutz are 100% recyclable, biodegradable and compostable. Lightweight and durable, your fragile products will be protected from shocks and vibrations in transit.

PuffPack — This is the ideal eco-friendly alternative to bubble wrap. PuffPack is engineered to obtain a 50% better yield than flat paper, helping to preserve the planet’s resources and reduce packaging costs. It’s flexible, so it can be wrapped around many kinds of fragile objects and can be recycled or composted after use.

NestPack — Inspired by nature, NestPack creates a protective nest around your fragile products and cradles your precious cargo. This prevents any movement in transit and minimises the chance of your items becoming damaged on their way to their destination. NestPack expanding strips provide more packing volume than flat void fill paper, with one roll producing the equivalent of two bags of polystyrene pellets. 

Each of these void fill options has unique advantages, so it’s worth experimenting with the different options available to find the perfect solution for packaging fragile products.

3. Create Custom Packaging Designs

Bespoke packaging designs are the best way to protect your packages and impress your customers along the way. The possibilities are endless with our custom packaging solutions, suitable for all kinds of breakable goods, from bottled luxury drinks to fine jewellery. 

Custom inserts will hold your goods in place, restricting movement and adding a quality finish to your shipments. Maximising the potential of your internal packaging helps increase the perceived value of your products and helps consumers remember your brand. High-quality external packaging like double-wall cardboard also goes a long way in ensuring your delicate items arrive damage-free.

Ordering Packaging for Fragile Items

Your packaging selection will be ultimately determined by the kind of products you’re shipping. If you’re concerned about how your fragile products will fit — or what your packaging looks like, order a free packaging sample from us.

No matter which kind of packaging you choose, we’re here to help with a range of eco-friendly packaging solutions for fragile products that won’t break the bank. Our commitment to plastic-free packaging enables you to protect your items and the environment, so there’s no need to compromise on quality or style.

If you’re looking for more sustainable packaging solutions, head over to our online shop or get in touch for a free custom design quote from our in-house creative team.