Keeping Food Fresh During Transit

For anyone who wants to cook up a good meal and send it to one of their loved ones across the country, the task of mailing it might be a little harder than you might think. If you are someone who likes sending or receiving food from other parts of the country, you probably already know the requirements that one needs to adhere to aptly send them in. UPS, for example, is one company that places strict restrictions on those who want to send or receive food items. It is mandated that the person use some cooling agent to prevent the food from getting spoiled while they are in transit. Even is the item that you are sending is going to be in transit for only a day, you still need to protect it with some form of coolant, and to prevent any unfortunate events from taking place.

Dry Ice Vs. Gel Packs

Dry ice is something that shipping companies and food manufacturers tend to use when they are trying to send something that is a considerable distance away. Dry ice is considered to a slightly hazardous substance, which is why its use is prohibited for foods that are being transported by air. On the other hand, things that are being delivered by road or rail can use dry ice, if of course the necessary precautions are all taken.

Gel packs are another item that can be used to prevent perishable good from going bad and to ensure the item reaches the other person safely. Gel packs are the preferred option for those whose products are going to be in transit for a long time since they can last for a couple of days before becoming useless. However, these might not be as effective as the dry ice option would be,

Choosing Your Coolant

The effectiveness of your cooling depends on the number of days that the food is staying in transit. It is important to note what temperature the food needs to be stored at. If it needs to be something that is below freezing point, dry ice is your option that will prevent your food from going bad. If the food is going to be in transit for longer, the dry ice is more likely to melt, thereby making gel packs the preferred option. If your food can survive in around 32 - 35°F, then gel packs can work well and do the job.

Packing Your Food

The way you pack your food goes a long way into maintaining its freshness and preventing it from going bad. One of the best ways to pack your perishable food to send it over to someone is using a styrofoam box. Layer the bottom of the shipping boxes with dry ice or the gel packets, depending on what you choose. Once you have filled the bottom of the box, place your food on top of the coolant. Make sure your food is in sealed packets or boxes, to prevent it from opening up and spilling out when it is being delivered. Once all your items are in the box, you can lay out another layer of coolant on top of the food. Close the lid of the box and seal it with duct tape. This will prevent any air from entering into the shipping boxes, thereby keeping your dry ice or gel packets colder for longer.

Tips for a Successful Packaging Business

Being in the packaging industry requires determination and hard work. Individuals who are also involved in the industry should take their time learning new ways on how they can innovate their businesses. Shipping boxes, packaging boxes, gift boxes, and decorated boxes are among the products of these businesses, and they are following tips so that they can present their product effectively to their customers and clients.

1. The first thing that you have to remember if you will be in the packaging industry would be presenting the boxes neatly. You need to remove any shipping labels that are still within the box and do everything to make it look new. Old shipping labels can be torn down or scratched off the surface of the box.

2. Try to save a lot of money by using free boxes given by the postal department, or any other spare boxes that you can find. There are many establishments across the country which provides free boxes to anyone who might need it, and you can use them for your packaging business. You would see how much money it will save in the long run.

3. To conserve the tapes used in your boxes, make sure that you will be applying it in the “H” style, which means, covering all of the openings found on the top part of the box. By applying a strong tape on its top, the box could not force open, and it could be securely taped and sealed, preventing its contents from spilling out.

4. Use the strongest tapes possible, and do not rely on weak tapes because it might crack open during delivery and the goods inside can be destroyed. Use the appropriate tape, which is two inches wide and has a very strong grip. Packaging tapes are available in all department stores across the United States.

5. Protecting the item sealed inside the box is important, so make sure that the package is rested in a cushion or newspaper before being placed inside the box. To add more protection, place the box inside another box, filling it with additional newspaper for protection. Remember that the packages must be delivered to the owner safely, and spending money for protection is worth it.

6. If you are using a newspaper to serve as the packaging’s cushion, remember to move it away from the ink. The ink from the newspaper might reach the package, damaging its color.

7. If you are shipping cookies and other related food items, make sure to seal them inside a protected box to prevent them from being crumbled.

8. It is also important to put in your contact details when sending a package to a customer. Providing a business card will suffice, and it would also help the receiver identify the information about your packaging company.

9. Also, it is important to check the delivery and shipping schedules constantly. Try to follow up with your client, and ask them if the package came. You also need to take note of all the local holidays that might affect the delivery schedule.

10. Once the package has been delivered, try to reach out to your client and ask them about the delivery and the condition of the item. It would be good for your company’s reputation, and a lot of positive reviews would follow suit. If your client feels positive with the services they received, chances are, they will be contacting you once again for the same services.

Cardboard’s Widespread Use

Whether you realize it or not, cardboard is one of the most abundant materials in our nation. Sure, you may think wood, cotton, or plastic are up there in the top materials (and they certainly are), but think about how many packages are shipped every single day in America. What are those packages enclosed in? Cardboard shipping boxes.

What makes this material so abundant, then? Well, for starters, it’s incredibly cheap to produce. And just in case you didn’t know, cardboard comes from recycled paper everywhere. Essentially, all the paper you can think of in the world at some point or another is recycled. And cardboard happens to be the main place that paper goes.

Another reason it’s so widely used is its weight. Shipping rates often depend on the size and weight of a parcel. Well, if the size can be kept to pretty much the item’s dimensions (give or take a few inches extra from the cardboard box) and the weight is just a few ounces more from the cardboard, the rates won’t increase much at all. That’s the idea behind it, at least.

Additionally, cardboard is quite sturdy for being so lightweight and cheap. No, it’s not going to withstand a blunt force blow from a hammer anytime soon, but packages that are bumped around in transit are extremely unlikely to damage the goods within, especially with proper packing paper or bubble wrap.

When you think about it, cardboard is the perfect candidate for shipping boxes around the world. Plastic cannot be broken down and reused as easily (nor is it environmentally friendly by any means like cardboard is). Plastic also would weigh more and costs more to make than cardboard (considering cardboard is merely recycled paper).

Overall, it comes as no surprise that cardboard is the main material used for shipping goods locally, nationally, and internationally. We’re very likely to be seeing those classic brown boxes on people’s doorsteps for the foreseeable future. That is until we advance our technology or come up with a newer, cheaper, lighter, sturdier material, at least.

Think of cardboard as a super material. Even though you see it everyday, to the point that it’s become invisible to you and just another box laying up against the wall, it’s one of the most well-known and widely used materials the world sees daily. Considering it’s simply recycled paper, that’s pretty amazing.

Top Product Packaging Mistakes to Avoid

Using the right packaging for your products is very important. If your packaging isn't perfect, it could create a variety of problems that will end up costing your business a lot of money. To let your brand truly shine, you should avoid the following product packaging mistakes:

Not Testing Your Packaging

Many consumers have had the unpleasant surprise of purchasing a product, then realizing that it was damaged. In some cases, the problem would come from the product itself. In others, it was due to the shipping boxes used not providing enough protection to the items within them.

If you've been to several retail stores, there's a high chance that you've sometimes seen packages that were sitting on the shelves that looked crushed or damaged. This may have made you change your mind about buying a certain product.

Indeed, product damage caused by improper packaging is making businesses lose a lot of money every year. In order to avoid it, you should test your product packaging before using it. Run tests to determine its shipping durability and the level of protection that it provides to the products inside.

Using Outdated Packaging

Having attractive packaging contributes a lot to making your products move off the shelves. If your product packaging is outdated, this could have a very negative impact on your company's revenue. Should your competition update its packaging to boost its usability, you should also follow suit.

Do some research to find out what your target market expects from your product and its packaging. Find out what they like in terms of textures, shapes and colors. This will help you create a winning packaging design that will keep your product moving swiftly.

Failing to Take Advantage of Automation

Using manual labor costs businesses a lot of money. Although many want to do their part to help grow the economy and employ people, there are many jobs related to packaging production and manufacturing that can be automated. Anything done with machinery will cost your business a lot less money in the long run.

Take a look at your operations to see if there are any opportunities to introduce automation. Even small businesses without a big budget can take advantage of it, as there are many kinds of technology that are quite affordable. For example, a semi-automatic pallet wrapper can help a business cut down on the costs of its packaging process.

Using the Wrong Specifications of Packaging Products

This is especially important when it comes to packaging film. Its size and specifications will have a direct impact on the overall costs of packaging your products. The price of shrink film varies according to its gauge and width. If you use film that is too thick, you'll not only pay more in materials, but will complicate your packaging process, as it will take a longer time to get the job done. Advances in technology have resulted in the availability of shrink film that is thinner, yet just as durable as the thicker gauges.

Not Doing Preventative Maintenance

Any business that uses packaging machinery should have a regular preventative maintenance strategy for it. By running maintenance operations on a regular basis, you can spot any issues or abnormalities with the machinery and correct them immediately, before they turn into costly breakdowns.

Choosing the Right Size Package for Your Holiday Gifts

Gift giving is an interesting process. You stress over your budget for all of your family and friends. You stress over what items to get for each person. You stress about making the trip to the store or ordering online. And then, once you’ve got all of that determined, you stress about finding packaging for the gifts and actually doing the wrapping.

But one thing you may not consider as often is making sure you have the right package size for your gifts. This can be a major thing to think about, especially when the item you’re gifting is fragile or expensive.

We’ve got you covered, however. Check out these tips on correct sizing and get to gifting!

To use a bag or a box?

Old cardboard boxes, like leftover shippingboxes, are absolutely great for wrapping gifts in. You don’t have to go purchase them like you would a gift bag. They’re reliable since cardboard is a sturdy material that is easily broken down. And they can be put into storage for next year without taking up much space since you can break them down and build them up again next year.

However, sometimes a bag is warranted when an item is just too awkward or you want to give multiple small items to someone in one overall gift. Alternatively, you may want to use a gift bag because it’s simply easier to prepare than wrapping gifts in a box. No matter the case, make sure to make the bag look nice with matching tissue paper and a custom tag.

Leave a little space.

By making sure there’s a few inches on each side of the item within the box, you leave some wiggle room within. This makes it easier for you to actually place the gift in the box, but it also ensures that the gift itself won’t be crushed from the box or lose its shape. So, don’t choose a box that’s too big; save that for the next option on this list!

If you worry that the gift itself could be damaged from being moved around, dropped, or just jostled in transit, throw packing paper, packing peanuts, or bubble wrap around it for extra safety!

Going larger.

If you have some leftover boxes that are too big, don’t fret. This method is pretty much used to throw off your recipient from guessing what your tiny gift is. By stuffing extra packing material in your old shipping boxes, you can also eliminate the rattle that your gift may cause in a large box. No more guessing from the kids!