The best packaging material for your products depends on the entire process involved in getting them to the consumer. First, there will be packaging to contain your products and next, you will need packaging to ship and transport your products to authorized resellers.

When you sell direct-to-consumer online, you will also need packaging solutions for shipping your products. Depending on the products you manufacture and sell, you can choose from a variety of packaging options. In this article, we will discuss with you some of the most common packaging materials for the successful shipping of products.

Cardboard/Fibreboard Boxes

Cardboards and fibreboards are considered secondary packaging materials. These are commonly used while shipping products to retailers and customers. It is also used as a primary packaging material for products like vacuum cleaners, cooking utensils, pots, pans, appliances, HD TVs, etc.

Aluminium

Aluminium is one of the most versatile packaging materials due to its ability to form any shape and its protective properties. Furthermore, aluminium foil, aluminium cans, and other aluminium packaging materials can be recycled and repurposed indefinitely. This is a popularly used primary packaging material.

Rigid Plastic Packaging

Rigid plastic packaging is made from polyethene terephthalate(PET) plastic or high-density polyethene (HPDE) plastic. It is mainly used for the packaging of new bottles and containers. Rigid plastic packaging is durable and lightweight. One of the disadvantages of such a packaging material is that it takes up more space within a shipping container due to its rigidity.

Flexible Plastic Packaging

Flexible plastic packaging is another type of plastic packaging and it is made from low-density polyethene (LLDPE) or low-density polyethene (LDPE). It is used as a shrink wrap, stretch wrap and other thin plastic packaging used around pallets. It can be used as primary packaging as well as secondary packaging. It requires less energy and resources for packaging. For industrial packaging, you need experienced packers.

Corrugated Paper

Corrugated paper is a composite structure made of plain paper and fluted paper. The fluted paper provides extra strength and cushioning. This type of packaging is also more durable than cardboard packaging. It can be used to transport a wide variety of goods safely. And these are mainly manufactured to make boxes.

Glass

Although plastic packaging has become more popular, there are still a wide variety of products packaged in glass. Glass containers store food products like spaghetti sauces and personal care items like perfumes and colognes. Companies are gradually becoming more eco-friendly, so the glass is slowly making a comeback as it is fully recyclable and can be reused endlessly.  

Paperboard

Paperboard is a thick paper-based material, but there is no rigid differentiation between paper and paperboard, paperboard is generally thicker than paper. It is used to pack food and to protect products. Frozen food, dry foods and milk products are packaged in paperboard cartons. It is commonly used as primary packaging. It can also be produced in different thicknesses, so it is a good choice for a wide variety of food products.