Reducing Damage by Improving Your Packaging

 

Understand damage touch points. To get a real picture of the impact damages could be having on your business, you first need to consider all your damage touchpoints. These include:

-The value of the item(s) damaged.

-Associated costs (e-commerce or marketplace fines).

-Labor & processing costs / time expenditure.

-Transport costs & emissions.

Taking stock of these factors can give you an idea of what damages are truly costing your company.

Common packaging pitfalls that can lead to damages: After understanding the cost of your damages and returns, reviewing your packaging is your next stop. There are common packaging pitfalls that can lead to product getting damaged in transit. Keep an eye out for:

Not enough or inappropriate protective material being used – fluctuations in packing or inconsistent packing materials can mean items are more prone to damage. Less protection can often equal more damage but there’s a fine line – you don’t want to use excess packaging either, which can be wasteful.

Too much space in a box – if you’re packing product and leaving space unfilled space in a box, your products can move around during transit. In-box movement means that your goods can more easily be damaged as they could hit pressure points or be prone to being crushed.

Inconsistent packing processes – if your team of packers all pack products differently or use different materials there are going to be different levels of protection across all the packs you dispatch. Putting packing guidelines in place that maintain consistency will help you control damages more effectively.

Compromised packaging quality – where and how you store your packaging could impact the way it performs, and in turn impact damages. Don’t risk using any packaging that’s got wet or kept in very humid environments. Making sure your packaging is kept in a clean and dry environment will help make sure if performs.

That’s one of the values we bring = to help you find the right packaging for your needs.

If your company experiences a damage rate or return rate of 5% or more, there are likely packaging options available to help you decrease these rates and improve quality.

Packaging is one of the strongest defenses against costly damage. If you’re navigating material choices, palletizing challenges, or carrier handling concerns, our team is here to help you get clarity and connect: 813 242 6995 or reach sales@quickpakinc.com