Keeping Products Safe in Transit: Expert Strategies

The E-commerce industry has become immensely popular in recent years, primarily due to the global pandemic, which saw millions of people worldwide turn to online shopping to meet their basic needs. The ease and convenience online shopping offers consumers means that it will continue to grow, with companies worldwide delivering to every inch of the globe. For all business owners, guaranteeing that products reach customers in perfect condition is paramount. 

There are multiple different packaging strategies available to businesses of all sizes across all industries that will significantly improve the safety of products during handling and transportation processes, including investing in high-quality packaging materials, ensuring packages are properly labeled and including waterproof packaging like plastic wrap for pallets to protect sensitive items from humidity and moisture damage. 

High-Quality Materials

Using high-quality packaging materials is vital for protecting products during transit. Although these materials may be slightly more expensive than many standard options available on the market, they provide the necessary durability and reliability to guarantee that items arrive at their destination in perfect condition. 

Heavy-duty packing boxes and cartons, bubble wrap, eco-friendly packing peanuts and foam inserts, and air pillows are popular options for safely and securely packing and transporting products of all sizes. These cushioning materials are incredibly lightweight, offering a snug fit with little to no extra weight. 

Delivering undamaged goods reduces the likelihood of a return, ultimately saving you money and improving overall customer satisfaction and loyalty. This positive experience is more likely to lead to repeated business, positive reviews, and free marketing through word-of-mouth recommendations. 

In addition to using high-quality materials, it is important to use the correct box size for each product in transit. If the box is too big, the item is more likely to move around and break. Furthermore, you will be forced to use additional packaging material to fill gaps, which can lead to unnecessary and excessive packaging waste. 

Alternatively, if a box is too small, it may not be sealed correctly. This could potentially cause the package to open during handling and shipping, causing damage or loss of the product. 

Waterproof Options

Incorporating waterproof materials into your packaging solutions may be a costly investment initially, but it is the only way to adequately protect products from harmful moisture damage. This is particularly important for items that are sensitive to humidity and moisture, which could compromise their quality and integrity. 

Common examples of waterproof packaging materials include polyethylene liners, waterproof cartons, shrink wrap, and vacuum-sealed bags. While it may require you to invest more money into your packaging solutions, waterproof packaging can dramatically improve the quality of transportation conditions for a wide variety of products, lowering the possibility of financial loss due to damage or spoilage. 

Industry Standards

Reputable logistics companies ensure they stay updated with industry standards and regulations to guarantee that all packages meet all legal requirements. These compliance measures are necessary to avoid unwanted delays and costly fines and to maintain legal business operations. 

Each country is required to follow a set of various laws and standards set forward by the government to ensure that packaging is safe, sustainable, and suitable for use. These standards differ from industry to industry, and proper education surrounding what packaging is needed for what industry is imperative to build a lawful and successful logistics operation. 

Correct Holding Temperatures 

Frozen goods prepared for transportation and shipping must follow the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) standard to ensure products are not exposed to the temperature danger zone or TDZ. 

When food is exposed to these conditions, the risk of bacteria growing increases significantly, potentially making food unfit for consumption.  To avoid unwanted food spoilage, it is crucial to implement strict safety measures and risk-reduction plans to keep food at the correct temperature during transportation. 

Secure Sealing Methods

Using strong, tamper-proof sealing methods is vital for ensuring that your packages remain securely shut throughout the transport process. This is critical for reducing the risk of theft and avoiding unwanted damage from packages accidentally opening. 

There are many different sealing options, including reinforced tape, strapping, tamper-evident seals, and heat shrink bands. Your choice will depend on the products you work with, your transportation methods, and your budget. 

Proper Labeling & Handling Instructions

Including clear, visible, and detailed labeling and handling instructions is critical in the shipping and logistics process. Ensuring important instructions like ‘fragile,’ ‘this side up,’ and ‘handle with care’ are unobstructed and visible to those moving and handling the shipments communicates specific instructions and requirements, helping to reduce the chance of mishandling and increasing the safety of goods in transit. 

Other information labels include temperature-sensitive labels that indicate products must be kept within a specific temperature range, typically items like perishable foods and pharmaceutical products, and labels stating the shipment packages cannot be stacked as the products may be susceptible to damage from heavy weight or pressure. 

Insurance

When transporting goods, especially internationally, there can be a lot of concern surrounding the condition they will arrive in and the possibility that they might not arrive at all. The external circumstances surrounding your goods are out of your control, and there is no guarantee that the proper precautions will be taken to ensure their safety. 

If you are shipping high-value items or goods in large quantities, it may be worthwhile to insure the shipment. This will protect you financially should disaster strike at any point during travel.