Not sure which material will work best for packaging your brand's products? Here are some of the most common, sustainable, and cost-effective kinds to consider!
The role of packaging is now more important than ever. Not only does it preserve and protect a product, but it also needs to connect with customers emotionally and leave a lasting brand impression in their minds.
That’s why it’s super important for eCommerce business owners to be able to select the right packaging materials for the products on offer in their stores.
In this article, we’ll discuss why your choice of packaging material matters so much and look at some of the most common kinds of packaging materials you should consider using.
Let’s get started.
As an eCommerce business owner, packaging comes with certain additional challenges that may seem irrelevant to someone that sells via brick-and-mortar stores. Not only do you have to pick the right containers that will get your products safely to your customers, but you must also consider the message they will convey as well as their environmental impact.
Sellers having only a virtual storefront don’t have the luxury of having a physical store that may influence buyer perception of your brand. So your packaging needs to be able to communicate effectively all that your brand stands for.
All this can make selecting the right packaging materials seem somewhat overwhelming. Worry not, it can be much easier if you ask yourself the following questions.
Ultimately, the chief purpose of packaging is to ensure the safety of the product contained within it. So you’ll need to identify the unique traits of your products and how such features may influence the type of packaging materials required. A fragile product will require a sturdy container while a heavy product will need a durable packaging material.
It’s also important to consider how a product will be transported through your supply chain. Consider the conditions necessary to preserve your product before it gets to the customer and choose a material that can provide them. For example, perishable food products may have special packaging needs.
Stand Up Pouches are perfect for shipping perishable food items! noissue Recyclable Custom Resealable Stand Up Pouch and Custom Kraft Paper Shopping Bag by @thepastryproject_
After figuring out the traits of your packaging material, you also need to consider how the size and shape of your product will affect your final choice. Your packaging must be big enough to protect your products and flexible enough to adopt a shape that aligns with that of your products. Some packaging materials can be easily mass-produced in multiple shapes and sizes while others are not so flexible.
Your choice of packaging should reflect your brand and appeal to the tastes of your customers. Many customers judge a product by the quality of its packaging. The quality of the product may be overlooked if a buyer finds the packaging unappealing.
Simple packaging made with good — but not top-quality — materials may be ideal if your product doesn’t need to generate excitement in the customer. For example, a business that sells machine tools.
However, if you need your packaging to elicit an emotional response from the customer and encourage brand loyalty, you must not only pay attention to the quality of your packaging but also to the unboxing experience.
Apple is an excellent example of a brand that pays as much attention to the quality of its packaging materials as to creating memorable unboxing experiences for its customers.
If your brand has sustainability as one of its goals, you should definitely make sure it reflects in your packaging. Customers increasingly screen the brands they patronize based on how sincere they are towards reducing their environmental footprint.
If your brand identity champions sustainability, then the types of packaging you adopt must be eco-friendly.
Your packaging budget will have the most decisive impact on your final choice. It's good to want to adopt attractive, eco-friendly packaging, but it won’t be feasible if your funds are not adequate.
Make sure you consider the costs of the most appropriate packaging materials for your product, as well as their designs. Ultimately, the packaging material that best meets the standards of your brand and is well within your price range will be the right option for your business.
Now that we’ve talked about why your choice of packaging material is so important, let’s take a look at some of the most common ones you should consider for your eCommerce business. This list below largely focuses on eco-friendly packaging options along with information on how to select the most suitable materials for your products.
Paper is arguably the most popular packaging material in the manufacturing and distribution sector. Paper is so attractive because it is eco-friendly, functional, flexible, and can be easily designed to portray brand information and colors. Paper packaging may include SBS (solid bleached sulfate) paperboard, kraft paper, or rigid boxes.
SBS paperboard is made from paper pulp and is stronger than ordinary paper but thinner than cardboard. It can be used to package frozen foods, medicine, juice, cosmetics, and more.
Kraft paper is made using the sulfate pulping process and is meant for users looking for paper packaging that’s made using more sustainable processes. It’s notable for its durability, but is much less resistant to moisture compared to SBS paperboard.
This makes it unsuitable for packaging frozen foods and many other types of food products. It is, however, perfect for boxing every other type of product and is also excellent for wrapping items.
noissue Compostable Custom Kraft Mailers are fully customizable and versatile in their application.Rigid boxes are made from highly condensed paperboard which gives them a premium look and feel. They are generally used to package luxury items.
Paper can be used to create anything from bags to boxes and envelopes. noissue offers a range of eco-friendly, paper-based packaging products including:
Cardboard boxes are the same as corrugated boxes. They are made of multi-layered paper that gives them excellent structural stability.
Cardboard has three layers; the inner layer, the corrugated layer, and the outer layer. The corrugated layer (also known as the fluted medium) provides the rigidity, insulation, and strength that makes cardboard such a perfect packaging material.
noissue Custom Compostable Mailer Boxes by @alegriadesign.coPlus, cardboard is flexible and can be molded into any shape and size. It can also be strengthened to carry heavier items by adding more flutes to its composition.
As such, cardboard is the defacto packaging material for shipping products and noissue offers an entire range of cardboard boxes including:
Glass has been used as a packaging medium for centuries because of its superior ability to preserve the flavor and freshness of the items contained within it. Glass is also beautiful and gives your packaging a premium look. Plus, it’s easy to recycle and is completely eco-friendly.
Glass is great for packaging food and beverages. The shape of your containers will depend on the type of food product you are shipping. Glass bottles are generally used for beverages, while glass jars are used for food packaging. Keep in mind however, that glass can be quite heavy and fragile to ship.
Plastic packaging is everywhere and for good reason. It’s durable, flexible, lightweight, airtight, and can be mass-produced cheaply. In fact, more than 350 million tonnes of the material are produced each year. Its transparent nature also means the customer can see the product without opening the packaging.
However, most plastics are not eco-friendly, especially, plastics made from fossil fuels. They contribute to the degradation of our environment, which is the reason why many businesses are now moving towards circular packaging, which include recycled materials from plastics that were previously in circulation or byproduct. We'll touch on recycled plastics shortly!
Soft plastics can be used to create different types of plastic packaging including plastic bags, bubble wrap, bottles, and more. There are also rigid plastics that can be used to package liquids like milk and juice, or to protect fragile products like laptops, phones, and other electronic devices. The main issue with rigid plastics is that they are harder to recycle than soft plastics.
Bioplastics are an eco-friendly alternative to polyethylene-based packaging and traditional plastics. They are made from plant-based materials like corn, sugarcane, beets, etc. This makes them biodegradable and they will break down naturally at landfills unlike plastics made from oil and natural gas.
Another added advantage is that bioplastics retain all the desirable qualities of regular plastic. They are also flexible, lightweight, and airtight. However, not all bioplastics break down rapidly. Many of them require extremely high temperatures to be broken down.
Instead of opting for a bioplastic packaging material, you are better off using compostable mailers. The noissue Compostable Mailer is a far superior alternative to plastic packaging bags. It breaks down easily in compost — within 90 to 180 days. It comes in a variety of sizes and includes a second adhesive strip that makes sure it can be reused.
noissue 100% Compostable Biodegradable Mailers are a fantastic alternative to single-use plastic mailers, since they easily break down in home composts!
Recycled plastic is much better for the environment than virgin plastic. Recycling plastic prevents it from joining the pile of plastic waste that pollutes our oceans. Ideally, recycled plastic should be made from 100% recycled materials.
noissue offers several packaging products made from recycled plastic including:
Both of the above are made using recycled plastics in circulation and come with a second adhesive strip so they can be reused. Available in a variety of sizes, they are both durable and weather-proof. The Custom Poly Mailers can be customized on both sides with your brand logo or designs as well.
noissue Recyclable Custom Poly Mailers feature a secondary adhesive strip for customers to reuse!
Cotton is a natural fiber that is predominantly used to make clothing but can also be used for packaging. Its soft texture and customizability make it more suitable for luxury goods. As such, cotton is typically used to package shoes, jewelry, watches, and other premium items.
noissue Tote Bags and Drawstring Bags are both made from 100% organic cotton and designed to be reused over and over again. The Tote Bags are perfect for packaging as well as for use as branded merch, while the Drawstring Bags are perfect for packaging delicate jewelry and cosmetics.
noissue Custom Drawstring Bags are printed in water-based inks and are a great reusable packaging option.
Aluminum is light, durable, and highly resistant to corrosion. The material is abundant which makes it one of the cheapest packaging materials on the market. It is also very versatile and 100% recyclable.
Aluminum or (aluminum foil) can be used to package a wide range of products including food, beverages, cosmetics, candy, toothpaste, soaps, and more.
These types of packing materials are most commonly made from polylactic acid derived from plant sources like corn, sugarcane, straw, and others. They are biodegradable and compostable.
Popular plant-based packaging includes:
Bagasse is made using the pulpy residue from sugarcane stalks. Different types of bagasse plastic packaging include takeout containers, plates, bowls, trays, etc.
The noissue Clamshell Takeout Container is an example of a bagasse-based packaging product. It is oil-resistant and great for both hot and cold foods. It is also microwavable and freezer-safe.
noissue Clamshell Takeout Containers are commercially compostable and petroleum-free, preventing non-renewable waste from being generated.
Seaweed is an excellent packaging material because it is readily available all over the world and very cheap. It can be consumed as food or fermented to create bio-plastic packaging. It is another versatile and sustainable alternative to traditional plastic.
Mushroom is still a novel plant-based packaging material, but with enormous potential. Not only can it be used to replace petroleum-based plastic, but it can also substitute paper packaging like cartons and cardboard boxes. It is made from mycelium and it is easy to produce.
These are a sustainable alternative to polystyrene-based packing peanuts used for cushioning. They are made from starchy plants like wheat and corn and are completely biodegradable. They come in multiple colors and are a good option if you have the budget.
Now that you are familiar with all the different types of packaging materials available, you should be in a better position to select the right one for your eCommerce business.
Make sure you consider your unique business needs before identifying the most suitable packaging solutions for your business.
And don’t forget to check out our complete range of sustainable and customizable packaging solutions for eCommerce businesses!
Do you know the seven types of plastic? Plastic has different types with different materials and grades. Some of the well-known examples including LDPE, PE, Polyester, HDPE, PVC, LDE, PP, PS, PC, and more.
Plastic isn’t as simple as you may think. Each plastic-type is different from the others. Some are reusable, the others produce hazardous materials after several uses.
Some are easily recyclable, others need more sophisticated and intricate handlings in their recycling process.
Take your nearest plastic product, the lunch box you brought from home, or your water bottle, your instant noodle cup. Study closely, you might find a number at its back or bottom.
You probably already know what it is. The number indicates the type of plastic used to make the product you are holding right now.
But do you know exactly what number you should avoid and what number has the biggest chance of damaging the environment?
Here are the 7 types of plastic that you need to know
Polyethylene (PE) Terephthalate or PET is also known as a wrinkle-free fiber. It’s different from the plastic bag we commonly see at the supermarket.
This type of plastic polymer is mostly used for food & drink packaging purposes, due to its strong ability to prevent oxygen from getting in & spoiling the product inside. It also helps to keep the carbon dioxide in carbonated drinks from getting out.
Although PET is most likely to be picked up by recycling programs, this type of plastic contains antimony trioxide—a matter that is considered as a carcinogen—capable of causing cancer in a living tissue.
PET Bottles – Source: Mould and Die World Magazine
The longer a liquid is left in a PET container the greater the potential for the release of the antimony. Warm temperatures inside cars, garages, and enclosed storage could also increase the release of hazardous matter.
Plastic Resin SymbolQuite unique compared to the other types, HDPE has long virtually unbranched polymer chains which makes them really dense & thus, stronger & thicker from PET.
HDPE is a plastic-type commonly used in a grocery bag, opaque milk, juice container, shampoo bottle, and medicine bottle.
Not only recyclable, but HDPE is also relatively more stable than PET. It is considered a safer option for food and drink use, although some studies have shown that it can leach estrogen-mimicking additive chemicals that could disrupt the human’s hormonal system when exposed to ultraviolet light.
Polyvinyl Chloride is typically used in toys, blister wrap, cling wrap, detergent bottles, loose-leaf binders, blood bags, and medical tubing.
This plastic type used to be the second most widely used plastic resin in the world (after polyethylene), before the manufacture and disposal process of PVC has been declared as the cause of serious health risks and environmental pollution issues.
In the term of toxicity, PVC is considered the most hazardous plastic. The use of it may leach a variety of toxic chemicals such as bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, lead, dioxins, mercury, and cadmium.
Several of the chemicals mentioned may cause cancer; it could also cause allergic symptoms in children and disrupt the human’s hormonal system.
PVS is also rarely accepted by recycling programs. This is why PVC is better best to be avoided at all costs.
As said before, Polyethylenes are the most used family of plastics in the world. This type of plastic has the simplest plastic polymer chemical structure, making it very easy and very cheap to process.
LDPE polymers have significant chain branching including long side chains making them less dense and less crystalline (structurally ordered) and thus a generally thinner more flexible form of polyethylene.
LDPE is mostly used for bags (grocery, dry cleaning, bread, frozen food bags, newspapers, garbage), plastic wraps; coatings for paper milk cartons and hot & cold beverage cups; some squeezable bottles (honey, mustard), food storage containers, container lids. They are also used for wire and cable covering.
Although some studies have shown that LDPE could also cause unhealthy hormonal effects in humans, LDPE is considered a safer plastic option for food and drink use. Unfortunately, this type of plastic is quite difficult to be recycled.
Stiffer and more resistant to heat, PP is widely used for hot food containers. Its strength quality is somewhere between LDPE and HDPE. Besides in thermal vests, and car parts, PP is also included in the disposable diaper and sanitary pad liners.
PP Plastic – Source: Chemical NewsSame as LDPE, PP is considered a safer plastic option for food and drink use. It’s a good material for baby milk bottle, as long as made of food-grade plastic and identified as “BPA-free.”
Although it bears all those amazing qualities, PP isn’t entirely recyclable and could also cause asthma and hormone disruption in human.
Polystyrene (PS) is the styrofoam we all commonly used for food containers, egg cartons, disposable cups and bowls, packaging, and also bike helmet.
When exposed to hot and oily food, PS could leach styrene is considered as brain and nervous system toxicant. It could also affect genes, the lungs, the liver, and the immune system. On top of all of those risks, PS has a low recycling rate.
Number seven is for all plastics other than those identified by numbers 1-6 and also plastics that may be layered or mixed with fifferent types of plastics, such as bioplastics.
Polycarbonate (PC) is the most common plastic in this category, isn’t used as much in recent years due to it being associated with bisphenol A (BPA). PC is also known by various name: Lexan, Makrolon, and Makroclear.
Ironically, PC is typically used for baby bottles, sippy cups, water bottles, water gallons, metal food can liners, ketchup containers, and dental sealants. Due to its toxicity, several countries have banned the use of PC for baby bottles and infant formula packaging.
The BPA contained inside PC has been linked to numerous health problems including chromosome damage in female ovaries, decreased sperm production in males, early onset of puberty, and various behavioral changes.
It has also been linked to altered immune function, sex reversal in frogs, impaired brain and neurological functions, cardiovascular system damage, adult-onset (Type II) diabetes, obesity, resistance to chemotherapy, increased risk of breast cancer, prostate cancer, infertility, and metabolic disorders.
Added with its very low recycle rate quality, PC is to be avoided at all costs.
Memorizing all of those 7 different materials (types) of plastic could be overwhelming, so here are several key points you need to remember:
Although both are called plastic, not all types of plastic can be recycled. Many reasons could influence this. However, one of the fundamental reasons is the need for more facilities, technology, and funds to finance the recycling of certain types of plastic.
In addition, the market is less interested, and less profitable material values also affect. Therefore, some recycling plants will only take the type of plastic they need and ignore the rest.
The early history of plastic usage dates back to the 19th century when Alexander Parkes created a material known as “Parkesine” in 1862. Parkesine, which later became the first prototype of plastic, was made from cellulose treated with nitric acid and camphor.
Despite its innovation, the use of plastic was still limited to laboratory experiments. In 1907, Leo Hendrik Baekeland invented Bakelite, the first mass-produced synthetic plastic. Bakelite transformed the industrial landscape, finding versatile applications from household appliances to the automotive industry.
With advancing technology and growing industrial needs, plastic became a predominant material in mass production during the 20th century. However, in contemporary times, we are increasingly aware of the environmental impact of excessive plastic use.
The history of plastic usage reflects technological progress and industrialization, but it also imparts valuable lessons on the importance of sustainable thinking in material consumption.
The massive use of plastic has been carried out since the 1950s. It has been applied to many things. One of the most common is to make containers or packages.
Quoted from the Ministry of Industry of the Republic of Indonesia, there were around 892 companies in the plastic packaging industry operating in 2018.
Demand for plastic products also increased by an average of 5-6% in those years. Unfortunately, an increase in production not accompanied by an increase in waste management capacity can lead to an even bigger problem of plastic waste generation.
Several other efforts need to be considered to help support waste management which has yet to overcome the existing waste problem.
Manufacturers, business owners, and companies can work to reduce the amount of waste produced from the packaging used in their products.
Some ways include using less plastic packaging materials or using more environmentally friendly packaging materials that can decompose naturally.
Both companies and consumers must contribute to as much packaging recycling as possible, such as preventing packaging from being disposed of and mixed with other waste and sending the waste to recycling facilities.
Companies can cooperate with specific recycling programs, such as Waste4Change, which provides In-Store Recycling services that can help you increase the recycling of materials from branded waste in all your business lines. Get complete information at w4c.id/ISR.
The industry also needs to continue to innovate to develop more sustainable packaging. This solution includes using biodegradable packaging materials or packaging materials that can be recycled more efficiently.
Initiatives such as clear packaging marking and environmental awareness campaigns can help raise consumer awareness about how to dispose of the packaging.
Now you can choose the proper plastic type for food and drinks. Also you can avoid non foodgrade plastic due to its low recycle rate quality.
Don’t forget to separate your wastes responsibly. Don’t mix the organics with non-organics; do segregate the glass from the paper and plastic. It’ll help with the recycling process! Explore Waste4Change site to learn more about waste management.
Read in Bahasa Indonesia: Jenis-Jenis Plastik dan Contohnya
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