Apr 21 2022

Different Forms of Export Packaging and Their Uses

Since the start of the worldwide pandemic, the globalisation of eCommerce companies and the number of online sales have significantly increased. These two changes in retail behaviour have caused the UK to become the third most popular online shopping market in the world. Due to the borderless nature of the web, cross border eCommerce has further dramatically grown for numerous businesses. All this means is that there is now a further demand for export packaging, as a result of this there is huge pressure on protective packaging companies to provide sufficient containers, ones that will provide complete support and safety of items shipped within them. This blog will explain the different forms of export packaging and their uses to ensure that your warehouse is equipped with the best cartons for your products.

The Different Export Packaging Solutions

Plywood boxes – This form of packaging offers great protection and is one of the most popular choices for export containers from warehouses. The plywood material allows the box to breathe, thus limiting exposure to moisture during transportation, keeping items intact during their journey. Plywood boxes further meet international phytosanitary regulations – meaning they have a phytosanitary (health) certificate (PC) verifying an item’s allowance into/out of the United Kingdom – for export wood cartons and are certified for hazardous goods. All of which ensures that a wide variety of different items can be transported in this material and the managers of storehouses will not have to worry about damages during transit as plywood boxes meet all the criteria needed to guarantee that even products that seem more risky to send are safe and protected whilst out for delivery.

Corrugated cardboard boxes – One material that is well-renowned within the packaging industry is corrugated cardboard. This is because it can be customised for different items depending on their size and weight alongside other features due to the characteristics such as the thickness or measurements of cardboard having the ability to be adjusted. Using corrugated cardboard as an export packaging material is very easy to customise and is extremely lightweight when compared to alternative packaging solutions. Due to their versatility, cardboard boxes are the most suitable option for warehouses when sending items to their customers or other businesses.

Expendable pallets – Pallets allow smaller boxes and cartons to be arranged or organised as the packers wish when being prepared for transit. Pallets are transported easily using forklift trucks which help decrease the turn-around-time and improve the speed of the packing process, increasing warehouse optimisation and lowering storehouse stress. Most exporters transporting goods with standard sizes prefer to use pallets because they are reliable and are good value for money. If you are exporting items that are of popular measurements, pallets are a good choice as they are a safe form of packaging. They provide a structural foundation for cartons and help keep heavier items protected, for added security warehouses often incorporate strapping or shrink wrap into the packing process.

Wooden packaging – Wooden packaging is often used in warehouses for exporting goods because it is an incredibly flexible form of containing items, this type of packaging resembles a crate-like formation. It involves different slabs of wood with plastic corners that can be assembled to a shape and size that suits the cartons being sent, which makes it both strong and easy for operators to work with. The product is shipped flat, and no nails are needed for the process of creating the wooden crates.

Drums – Drums can be made from a wide variety of different materials such as stainless steel, fibre, continuous cast carbon, and polyethene which enables them to transform their suitability for products depending on the material they are composed of. This type of export packaging is most commonly used for transporting liquids, powders, grains and anything that needs to be kept dry. They are a popular container choice for large corporations due to their reliability and versatility when keeping items safe during transit, especially when it is a long-lasting journey.

What Warehouses Need to Consider When Choosing Export Packaging

Before buying your export packaging material, there are a few points you should consider before deciding on which form is the most suitable for your warehouse and stock:

The size and shape of the contents – When you are exporting goods, you have to consider the size and shape of what is being shipped as those with more specific characteristics need more attention and care. The items within the box should never be touching the sides during transit if you want them to arrive at their destination in pristine condition. The goods being shipped should be in the centre of your package with at least a 6cm gap between the stock and the inner wall of the carton.

The form of your items – What is inside the containers you use also matters for how you decipher which export package type is most suitable for your company. Liquids, powders, weapons, and chemicals will require special packing materials such as drums to ensure that they remain in good condition and keep the transport and staff handling them safely.

Value of the products – When exporting expensive items such as electronics, you will also need to ensure that the packaging you use has extra cushioning to protect your high-value goods. Internal materials are just as important as the container itself, common protective products that are used within the industry to safeguard items include airbags, corrugated cardboard or foam cushioning, and bubble wrap. Alongside using suitable export containers and protective packaging, you also need to apply message tape or shock/tilt indicators that indicate the fragility of the item to handlers during transit.

The cost for shipping the export material and contents –Standard packaging options – for example, cardboard boxes grouped on pallets and then loaded onto trucks or other forms of transportation – have become ‘the standard’ because they’re reliable and low-costing. Unless your goods require special care due to their fragility, there is not a lot for warehouses to gain by using above-standard packaging. A lot of the more common forms of packaging have a competitive market so by shopping around you can get a great deal for your business instead of settling for the first price from more expensive packaging suppliers.

Waste legislation – Countless markets abroad have waste regulations that favour packaging which can be easily recycled or has a minimal impact on the environment when disposed of, such as Germany with its Green Dot System. In many export markets, there are stricter rules on packaging waste and collection, so it is an important factor to consider when choosing packaging to enable your company to be favoured across the different markets, alongside impressing your customers through your increased care for the environment.

Mode of transport – How your stock is travelling will further influence your export packaging decision. This is because different modes of transport such as bulk ocean shipments of liquids, grain and ores don’t need any packaging alongside, any goods being transported by air generally need less protective packaging than those sent by ship or motor vehicles. Therefore, how you protect your items, and the essentiality of security varies from how you choose your items to travel to your consumer base.

There are varying factors to consider when choosing the best export packaging type for your warehouse such as the material of the container to the cost or fragility of the contents. Here at Davpack, we provide a wide range of reliable packaging options – all at great prices! The more you buy, the more you save, we provide great quality cardboard boxes to countless large companies. If you need a supplier you can trust for protecting your items and ensure that you don’t overspend on the packaging, shop with Davpack for your export cartons today.