When shipping products, ensuring their safe transit is crucial to avoiding damage and protecting your bottom line. Selecting the right void-fill and cushioning materials is essential, and there are two popular options to consider: packing peanuts and air pillows. Here are three key elements every business should consider when deciding between the two:
Cost Considerations: Look closely at how much you spend on packing materials. Packing peanuts, also known as foam peanuts, have been around since 1965 and come in sizes between 2-3 inches. They can be made from polystyrene or starch-based materials. While the eco-friendly version is commendable, it tends to be heavier and more expensive than traditional poly peanuts. Another downside is the risk of spilling peanuts during packing, creating a mess and safety concerns on the workstation and warehouse floor. Cleaning up such spills consumes valuable packing time and delays the shipment of packages.
Storage Space Efficiency: Evaluate the storage space occupied by your packing materials in the warehouse. Packing peanuts often sit in large bags, taking up valuable merchandise storage space. It’s important to keep overall costs down and maximize the use of your warehouse, which is for more than just storing packing supplies.
Effectiveness in Protecting Merchandise: Consider how well your chosen materials protect your merchandise during transit. Packing peanuts are generally practical and lightweight, providing good protection in most cases. However, if your products have delicate or easily scratched surfaces, more than packing peanuts might be required to prevent shifting during transit. In such cases, air pillows offer better protection, minimizing the risk of damage.
Measuring the expenses associated with packaging materials can be challenging. For packing peanuts, costs are usually calculated per cubic foot. You’ll need to measure the width, length, and height of the objects shipped in inches. Take the average width and length if the items aren’t perfect rectangles.
Air pillows offer an advantage in this regard. Each shipping associate can quickly determine the number of pillows required for each type of shipment, allowing you to calculate the average cost per package more accurately. Moreover, air pillows typically require less material compared to traditional packing peanuts, which can lead to cost savings.
Packaging peanuts and air pillows have their merits, but the right choice depends on your shipping needs. Air pillows are the way to go if your merchandise demands extra protection against shifting during transit.
Remember, the goal is to keep your products safe during shipping while optimizing costs and space utilization in your warehouse. So, choose wisely, and your business will benefit in the long run. AirSaver can offer additional cost savings and increased efficiencies.
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