Sending items out to costumes is an essential part of any ecommerce business. If your items are delivered broken, customers are likely to complain and request a refund or a replacement. Choosing the right packaging is important; it will impact the customer's view of your business and your bottom line. You need to find a balance between protecting your items and packaging costs, and you also need to consider your environmental standpoint. In this article, we look at cardboard boxes vs envelopes to help you decide which packaging material you should use.
Envelopes come in different sizes and varieties. You can get standard paper envelopes for letters, large cardboard envelopes and padded envelopes for extra protection. There are some benefits of using envelopes rather than boxes to send out your items. Typically envelopes are cheaper to purchase; this can help if you’re on a budget. In addition to being cheaper, envelopes are easy to store and put together. Many envelopes self-seal, so you don’t need parcel tape or anything else to secure them in place. You simply need to place the item inside, tear off the self-seal strip and stick it down the end of the envelope.
Envelopes can be made from a variety of materials; the most common material for packages is corrugated cardboard. This material has been reinforced to protect the items inside the cardboard envelope. These envelopes are 100% recyclable to help reduce the amount of waste companies add to landfill sites. You can also purchase envelopes with bubble wrap fitted to the inside, these are great for adding protection, but the bubble wrap is commonly made from plastic which is less environmentally friendly. Padded envelopes that use cardboard and paper for protection are a better alternative to those that use plastic.
One disadvantage of envelopes is they’re limited in size; you can’t use them for large items. In addition, they’re more likely to get flattened or compressed when stored with other boxes or envelopes. This makes them less suitable for fragile items that could break under pressure.
Cardboard boxes are suitable for sending almost any item through the post. You can buy cardboard boxes in a huge range of sizes and designs. Large letter boxes are an alternative to using envelopes. They provide additional support on the edges and still fit through the letterbox but often look more professional. When choosing your cardboard boxes, you need to ensure you get the correct size. A box that’s too big can lead to more damage to the item unless you fill it with void fill, which is an additional cost. Your products need to fit into the boxes with a little room around the edges for protection and void fill if necessary.
Cardboard boxes need to be sealed with tape to prevent them from coming open during transit. If you want to make recycling your boxes easier and avoid using plastic materials, you should choose environmentally friendly paper packing tape. In addition to being great for the environment, you can also print on this type of packing tape. This is something that Amazon does as part of its packaging. Adding branding on the tape or directly on the cardboard box can leave a lasting impression on your customers, which may encourage them to repeat purchases in the future.
There are some disadvantages of cardboard boxes, they’re typically more expensive than envelopes, and they also take up more space. Boxes also take longer to put together and pack in the item compared to stuffing envelopes.
The choice between envelopes and cardboard boxes will depend on your budget and the items you need to send through the post. You might even choose to use a mixture of both types of packaging. Envelopes are best kept for small, less fragile items that won’t be broken or crushed. Boxes are best for larger items or breakable products that require additional protection using void fill or wrapping. Whatever option you choose, always thoroughly test your method before using it on real customers. You should also keep an eye out for any complaints of broken products or customers being unsatisfied with the packaging provided.