5 Ways Using Paper Can Make Your Packages Greener And Less Prone to Damage

Executive summary:

• Paper is a sustainable option for shippers who want to simultaneously protect packages and meet sustainability goals.
• Protective paper packaging is an excellent material for block and brace packaging and works well for industrial components like small automotive parts.
• Pregis machines like the Easypack® Packmaster™ Pro complement paper packaging and allow workers to quickly and efficiently protect products during shipment.
• Box-in-box products, like those commonly used by e-commerce shippers, can be filled with paper packaging to provide extra protection.
• Paper is ideal for products with sharp edges or irregular shapes, as it can be ripped and torn without losing its cushioning qualities.

There’s just something about paper that feels natural. Maybe it’s the age-old relationship consumers have with paper, from growing up with binders full of assignments to carrying home brown bags filled with groceries as an adult. No matter what every individual's experience is with paper, using the material for packaging is a continual option shippers favor when creating a sustainable unboxing experience.

For eco-friendly businesses, paper packaging has a biodegradable advantage and is renewable from sustainably managed forests. On top of that, most paper packaging is easily recyclable — a valuable trait for consumers who wish to reduce their waste and make their purchases greener.

That’s why Pregis’ Easypack paper is 100 percent recycled, 100 percent recyclable, and FSC® certified.Consumers who wish to participate in a more circular economy can be assured the paper they recycle will end up serving a purpose in the future, as well.

If these qualities weren’t enough, here are five more ways paper can make packaging more secure while improving the sustainability of your shipments:

1.  Paper Packaging Works for Block and Brace

Easypack paper can be quickly laid out in an open box for block and brace packaging. The packer starts by laying out two to three strips of Easypack paper packaging at the bottom of the box.

Then, the product is placed into the box and the packer folds the Easypack strips to create cushioning at the side and offer lateral support for the package. Finally, paper cushioning is added to the top to fill the box and protect the package during transport. Block and brace packaging helps to keep a product from moving around inside a box, preventing possible damage from bumps or falls along the way.

2.  Paper Packaging Is Perfect for Box-in-box Deliveries

A common configuration for e-commerce deliveries is the box-in-box packing method. Box-in-box means packers place an already boxed product — packed by the manufacturer — into a larger box to protect it during shipping.

With techniques like block and brace, packers can quickly fill the outer edges of these boxes with paper cushioning offered by the Easypack® PackMaster™ Pro or paper void fill offered by Pregis’s Easypack®  Quantum™ XTW.

3.  Paper Packaging Does Well With Irregular-Sized or Sharp-Edged Packages

Air pillows and other void-fill options can serve a variety of packaging purposes, but paper packaging offers high-quality cushioning for products of any size or shape. Paper can be molded to fit awkward angles or crevices within a package and doesn’t lose its integrity if it’s punctured or torn. The paper used in the Easypack® Packmate™ Pro can be folded, crumpled, and stuffed into any box. With a user-friendly load-and-go operation and horizontal, vertical, or custom delivery configuration, workers can pack in strong, lightweight cushioning for any delivery that needs it.

4.  Paper Coils Make Shipping Heavy Items More Sustainable

Some products, like cast iron industrial parts or automotive components, require additional cushioning on the way to their final destination. Protective paper packaging, like paper coils, are an alternative over less sustainable options since the material can be recycled and reused. Paper coils prevent unnecessary jostling or scratching during transport, so even the durable industrial or automotive components arrive unscathed.

5.  Paper Packaging Is Curbside Recyclable

A package’s sustainability doesn’t end when the box is packed and shipped. It ends when the packaging material is reusable in circulation. For some materials, this is a difficult proposition. For paper, consumers can take their packaging to the nearest recycling bin and know they have done their part.

If you’d like to know more about Pregis’ sustainable paper packaging solutions, contact us today for more information.