Ensuring products arrive to the customer intact is one of the most important parts of any e-commerce business. While you want to keep your products protected, you also don't want to overspend on unnecessary packaging supplies, like bubble wrap.
We might know bubble wrap as the fun-to-pop, stress-relieving packaging but let's rewind and understand the original intent and purpose of bubble wrap. In this guide, we will break down everything you need to know about bubble wrap so you can decide if this shipping supply should be a staple for your business.
The History of Bubble Wrap
Bubble wrap was initially called Air Cap when it was invented in 1957 by two engineers: Alfred Fielding and Marc Chavannes. The invention was first created for use as wallpaper, but the engineers quickly pivoted when that idea failed. The generic term bubble wrap became more commonly used as other manufacturers began to produce their own version of this protective packaging.
Bubble wrap has an interesting history that brought it to what we know it as today - a plastic wrapping with small air pockets to cushion items during shipment.
Bubble Wrap Benefits
Before you place an order of bubble wrap to be used for your e-commerce business, it's important to understand the pros and cons. While we'll take a look at the cons later on, there are several benefits to using bubble wrap in your packaging process:
- Protective
- Reusable
- Lightweight
- Versatile
- Cost-effective
Bubble wrap is effective in protecting all types of items when used in packaging for shipment. This wrap can be reused for multiple uses, so long as most air bubbles stay intact, making it a sustainable packaging option.
Bubble wrap is an economical shipping packaging that is lightweight. The air bubbles keep things light and airy while providing a barrier between your item and its exterior packaging. You won't have to worry about racking up shipping costs for you or your consumers, as bubble wrap does not add much weight to a shipment when used properly.
The versatility of this product is endless. You can use bubble wrap for jewelry, decor, food products, and so much more. Bubble wrap can also be an excellent protecting agent for use in storage, moving, light insulation, or drawer liners.
How to Package Items Using Bubble Wrap
Bubble wrap is an effective way to package up fragile items, but sometimes it's used for less-delicate items as well. Whatever you decide to use bubble wrap for, it's important to make sure you are packaging items in bubble wrap correctly.
When wrapping products, make sure the bubbles face the inside to protect and cushion the inner contents. Tightly wrapping your item in the bubble wrap and inside its exterior packaging, such as a poly mailer bag, will ensure less room for the product to move and bump around.
The Downsides to Bubble Wrap
There are several benefits to bubble wrap, but there are also a few cons to consider on the flip side. Before purchasing bubble wrap, consider the downsides:
- Environmental concerns - plastic bubble wrap is not biodegradable
- Sterile - Lacks personalization and customization when aligning shipping products with brand colors and themes
- Time-consuming - Cutting and taping bubble wrap around each item is less efficient than other options.
Traditionally, bubble wrap is made from plastic, which is not biodegradable. Unfortunately, we have learned that many types of plastic are hard to recycle or that people don't know how or where to recycle them.
Being able to personalize your shipping products can be a significant perk for brands. Bubble wrap doesn't offer any personalization options, which should be considered if that is your goal.
Even though bubble wrap can be convenient, it can also be time-consuming to cut and tape the material around all of your items. If you’re aiming for the most efficient packing process possible, bubble wrap may not be your best bet.
Bubble Wrap Alternatives
Bubble wrap packaging used to be the most common type of packaging protection, especially for fragile items. As the popularity of online shopping has increased, so have shipping methods and packaging products. Today, there are several bubble wrap alternatives on the market:
- Packing peanuts
- Air pillows
- Corrugated cardboard wrapping
- Honeycomb wrap
- Air cushion wrap
If you opt-out of using bubble wrap, you can choose a poly mailer that will still offer protection. Let's look at other shipping supplies to consider for your e-commerce business.
What Other Shipping Supplies Do You Need?
Having a solid base of shipping supplies that suit your needs is key for any e-commerce business. Consider adding the following shipping supplies to your stock:
- Poly bag mailers - Durable yet flexible exterior packaging available in a variety of colors and patterns
- Clear shipping bags - Interior protection against moisture, dirt, and other debris
- Shipping labels - A must-have for any business, you can feed shipping right into your printer for easy labeling.
These items are available at wholesale pricing, so you can order in bulk without putting a dent in your business budget. Made for easy packaging, our poly bags are equipped with self-sealing adhesive technology, making shipping a breeze.
If you're looking to satisfy your e-commerce business needs for protective packaging but don't necessarily want to go the bubble wrap route, consider padded poly mailers. Available in a variety of thicknesses, you can find the level of padding that will suit your needs. You can easily package items for sale, organize packaged materials, and protect items during storage or transport. For whatever your needs are, we can help you pick the right mailer.
Amazon Suffocation Warning Requirements
Clear shipping bags with warning labels may not always be a desire but a necessity. Online retailers are increasing their requirements to include specific warning labels. If you sell products with Amazon, you'll want to study the packaging and prep requirements, paying attention to the poly-bagged unit section.
Our clear shipping bags with warning labels comply with the following Amazon suffocation warning requirements:
- Warning printed on the bag or attached warning label
- Clearly printed to keep bags away from babies and children
- The bag must be transparent
- Legible font
- Must seal the poly bag
Our clear shipping bags are an excellent option for selling with Amazon to meet Amazon’s suffocation warning requirements with large, clear-printed warnings in black font. These warnings are also included in three different languages: English, French, and Spanish.
These warning bags are available in various sizes to help ensure that you're adhering to the highest level of safety possible no matter what you're shipping or where you're shipping to. To comply with Amazon suffocation warning standards, consider adding our pre-printed clear poly bags that include warning labels or attach our warning labels to the bags in your stock already. Regardless of which online retailer you use, there is so much to understand the importance of suffocation warnings.
Protecting your customers from suffocation is just as important as protecting your items during shipping. For whatever safety standards you need to meet, like Amazon’s suffocation warning requirements, Shop4Mailers can help guide you to the right products.
