The Importance of Protective Packaging in Transport

Protective packaging is essential for the movement and transport of goods across the UK and the rest of the world. Without the means to safely protect items on both a commercial and industrial scale, suppliers could never meet the ever-growing demands of consumers and customers. Protective packaging comes in a wide variety of forms, from basic cardboard boxes through to enormous steel shipping containers. But its purpose is very much the same, regardless of the scale of the packaging: to protect goods from damage. In this article, we explore the importance of protective packaging in transport to show you why many businesses just can’t do without it! WHAT CHALLENGES DO PACKAGING PRODUCERS FACE? Protective packaging encompasses an array of protective materials and designs manufactured for the products and goods that are essential to our daily lives. Without protective packaging, there’s no way that your new television can arrive at your home in one piece, and no chance that bananas will still be fresh after being shipped across the ocean. But packaging producers face a variety of challenges, with an ever-evolving need for different types of packaging that must be increasingly robust and versatile. Packaging has a number of needs it has to fulfil in order to be useful, and it’s these challenges a producer needs to overcome. Protective packaging needs to be: Hardwearing and robust (it needs to protect items) Versatile and adaptable Reusable or recyclable Environmentally friendly Specific industries have an even narrower set of requirements that must be met by protective packaging. For example, food manufacturers need their food products to arrive uncontaminated, fresh and ready to eat. Industrial companies require hazardous goods to be protected during transit, to avoid dangerous spills or leakages in the event of an accident. The list of challenges and demands goes on and on, ensuring that producers have to stand up to the mark to create a wide range of protective packaging products that can be tailored to meet these individual needs. THE COST OF DAMAGES AND REPLACEMENT ITEMS Ultimately, the goal of protective packaging is to get an item from point A to point B, safely and intact. This is the primary reason why suppliers need to utilise the best protective packaging they can. If goods arrive at their destination damaged, then it’s up to the supplier to provide a replacement product. This not only costs the supplier money and time, but can impact severely on their brand image (which can affect future sales). For protective packaging manufacturers, damaged goods also impact on their company’s brand and image. If their packaging isn’t up to scratch and products arrive damaged, then suppliers will need to find more robust packaging elsewhere. There are also environmental costs to consider. If a product arrives damaged, it needs to be returned to the supplier. Then it needs to be shipped out again, in new packaging. This involves a more substantial energy usage and a larger carbon footprint. AID STORAGE AND INCREASE THE NUMBER OF ITEMS THAT CAN BE SHIPPED Protective packaging has other uses too. For starters, it significantly aids with storage, especially if there are large quantities of goods involved. Packaging options, such as intermediate bulk containers, cardboard boxes and plastic barrels, are designed with storage in mind. This means they can be stacked on top of one another, moved around easily using forklifts, and be stored and transported in bulk. Protective packaging increases the number of items a business can ship. This doesn’t just mean an increase in the number of barrels or drums you can transport, but an increase in the variety of items you can ship too. With protective packaging, everything from chilli powder to mobile phones can safely make their way around the world! CONTACT ITP PACKAGING FOR ALL YOUR PACKAGING NEEDS Protective packaging is an essential component of any supply chain. Without it, goods are liable to arrive at their destination damaged or broken. Here at ITP Packaging, we stock a fantastic range of versatile packaging materials that are well suited for a comprehensive variety of industrial needs. From plastic blue drums to cardboard boxes, we’re confident we have the industrial packaging solutions you need. Our friendly and professional team are on hand to answer your questions, so contact ITP Packaging today to find out more and place your order.

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