With the advent of the internet, there has been a rise in the eCommerce industry. Whether you own an online business or are working in the shipping industry, you would know that packing and shipping your products is important in keeping your customers satisfied and keep coming back.
Nowadays, bubble mailers are standard as conventional paper mailers. This is high because they play an important role as a packaging material for more delicate items. But knowing that they are partially made from plastic, will their benefits outweigh their non-recyclable element?
What Are Padded Envelopes?
Packaging bubble mailers are envelopes made from paper, plastic, or a combination of the two materials with padding on the inside to protect the items it holds. They are available in a variety of sizes and colours to suit your packaging needs. Because of the padding on the inside, they appear bulkier than regular poly mailers. They are also more expensive, but the added cost compensates for the added security it provides for your items.
Advantages of Bubble Mailers
- Water-resistant – While some padded envelopes have a paper lining on the outside, the bubble filling on the inside is always made from recycled plastic material, making this packaging water-resistant.
- Tough and Tear-Resistant – These kinds of envelopes have two layers making them tougher and virtually tear-resistant. The only downside is that because bubble mailers are bulkier, they are also less flexible and may not be ideal for fragile products but have an irregular shape.
- Cleaner in Appearance – Because of their inherent rigidity, padded envelopes have a more streamlined look and appear cleaner than your usual paper or poly mailers which can get wrinkled when in transport.
- Lightweight to Save on Shipping – Even if padded envelopes have two layers, they are still lighter than regular corrugated boxes because one of the layers is made from recycled plastic materials. On the other hand, corrugated boxes are heavier because of the increased surface area created by the groove of the paper material.
- Tamper Evident – All padded envelopes are self-sealing, and it will be easy to detect if and when it has been opened or tampered with compared to regular boxes.
- Strong Seams to Allow for Overstuffing – another important of padded envelopes is that because it is a combination of two materials and has two layers, its seams are heat-treated to close. This, in turn, lends extra protection to this kind of packaging when you add a high volume of items inside.
- Custom Branding Options – Like any other type of packaging, padded envelopes can also be customised, which would help your shipment stand out. This, in turn, would translate to lower chances of misdelivered items. In addition, because most padded envelopes have a paper lining on the outside, printing your brand on it would be cheaper than opting for poly mailers made from plastic materials.
Even though padded envelopes have numerous benefits, it is still not considered an eco-friendly choice because of the materials used to manufacture them. In addition, while there is a paper layer on the outside, separating this from the inner plastic layer is difficult, making them not recyclable.
Shipping damages are an unfortunate reality encountered by a lot of eCommerce business owners. Using padded envelopes provides an extra layer of protection for products and to the reputation of your business. They may still be not the eco-friendliest of all the options in the market right now, but with all the research being poured into sustainable and environmentally conscious living, the time will come that these kinds of packaging will also become recyclable and eco-friendly.
Author Bio: Hannah Gilbert is a freelance writer who offers ghostwriting, copywriting, and blogging services. She works closely with B2C and B2B businesses providing digital marketing content that gains social media attention and increases their search engine visibility.
