All kinds of products, from cosmetics and clothing to food stuffs and constructions tools, are shipped around the world. When it comes to international shipping, packaging is critical, regardless of the product being shipped. Therefore, we’ve put together this guide to packaging advice for international delivery to help ensure your products arrive perfectly every time.
Packaging for International Delivery
There are far more considerations when delivering products internationally than national deliveries via road freight. Packaging is one of the most critical components and plays a vital role in the safety and preservation of quality of the products delivered.
International delivery involves sea or air freight, meaning products and packaging have to withstand rough and tumble associated with boats and planes. Additional considerations include weight (influencing shipping cost and load), security and shape. Essentially, any business shipping internationally should ensure products are securely contained in adequate packaging that is robust enough to withstand movement and pressure, but lightweight and space efficient enough to be cost effective.
Packaging Tips for International Delivery
Use a Robust Box
Cardboard boxes are the most popular outer packaging for international shipments due to their relative robustness yet light weight. To properly protect any products within a box, it is vital the box is in good condition and sturdy enough for the job. Therefore, it is advised to not reuse boxes that have already been used for international delivery unless their condition is perfect, as any rips, dents or weak points may be compromised and unable to withstand freighting.
Investing in decent cardboard boxes for international delivery is a worthwhile spend, especially for heavier shipments which require double walled boxes.
Have Sturdy Product Packaging
If the exterior packaging is compromised during international delivery, or even receives a few knocks, it is important the product is safe regardless. Shape and material are crucial; aluminium tubes are notable for durability and strength whereas plastic bottles are only robust depending on the plastic type they are made from. Businesses who know their products will be shipped overseas should consider how their product packaging facilitates or inhibits this and choose product packaging accordingly.
See more: What is The Best Material for Cosmetic Product Packaging?
Pad Out Packaging
It is common for international delivery packaging to be padded out with packing peanuts, foam pads or air cushions. By filling empty space, there is less chance products will move around and potentially get damaged. Even if a product isn’t particularly deemed breakable, it could still get dented or scratched if it can move around. Fragile items should be individually wrapped in bubble wrap and given an extra layer of protection.
If an international delivery rattles when shaken, more padding is required.
Use Recyclable Materials
Where possible, businesses should use recyclable packaging materials to help reduce the environmental impact of shipping packages internationally. Recyclable components include the cardboard box, plastic packaging, filler recycled paper and even the product packaging itself. Businesses should also make it clear on the packaging that it can and should be recycled, so the end user is instructed to recycle the packaging once they have received their delivery.
This does not necessarily mean international delivery packaging should be recycled as packaging for other international deliveries, as they may have lost quality (as explained above).
Don’t Compromise Great Packaging
Though international delivery presents more considerations, the customer experience of opening a package doesn’t have to be compromised. Inside the outer shipping packaging (the cardboard box), businesses can still create an unboxing experience to remember with colours, decorative ribbons, unique padding, or even product samples in sachets! Some companies even print branding or patterns on the shipping box itself to heighten customer expectations.
In need of luxury packaging ideas sure to WOW customers? Check out our useful blog.
Consider Shipment Weight
Generally, with international delivery, the heavier the shipment, the more it will cost to ship. For a business, this means shipping costs can quickly add up when sending products internationally. By carefully selecting the right packaging, businesses can keep costs down. Cardboard is popular due to its light weight but relative sturdiness and can be padded with air pockets which add no weight. Plastic packaging is often used for non-breakable shipments such as clothes, advantageous as the space and weight requirement is reduced significantly, however the thin plastic offers less protection.
Ensure Product Security
It is important products are delivered in perfect condition and untampered with. The seal on packaging plays an important role in showing if a package has been opened prior to arrival. Popular options for increased seal security include fortified tape that requires scissors, branded tape that cannot be easily replaced if opened, or a peelable strip as part of the cardboard box.
Get Customer Feedback
Businesses that ship products internationally should ask customers for feedback which can inform future decisions on packaging and pricing, for example. Upon receiving delivery confirmation, businesses could send a follow up email with a small questionnaire to gather responses about the delivery of the product. Questions could include: did the goods get there ok, what was the condition of the packaging/products, had it been opened, and so on.
Learn More with Fillcon
Here at Fillcon, we are the first name in cosmetic sampling, specialising in creating sample sachets for the beauty and cosmetic industry. With advanced facilities capable of filling a range of product packaging types with various liquids, Fillcon are equipped to help businesses from a variety of industries achieve filling success. From sample sachets filled with liquid or tissues, to filling tubes, bottles and more, we work with businesses to find the perfect solution and even offer packaging advice.
Get in touch to get started!
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