Choosing the Right Void Fill

When you think of packaging you most likely think of the bubble wrap that comes in many of the packages you receive at home, and how fun it is to pop the bubbles after you open your package. However, there are many other types of packaging materials such as craft paper, air pillows, and foam that protect products and have much different uses than bubble wrap. Making sure you choose the right void fill is important for cost-effectiveness and the safe shipment of your product. Although all void fill has similarities, there are key differences that are important to note. In this blog, we will dive into the uses and differences between four popular void fills: bubble wrap, craft paper, air pillows, and foam.  

Bubble Wrap:

Bubble wrap absorbs shock and provides a lot of cushion for fragile items. It is also very durable, which is ideal when shipping items long distances. Bubble wrap absorbs shock due to the air in between each bubble, meaning there is less risk of damaged items when using it. However, bubble wrap is not the best solution for filling large voids. It can also take up a lot of space within a warehouse and is not as environmentally friendly as other void fills such as craft paper.

Craft Paper:

This is an excellent choice for an environmentally friendly solution. Craft paper provides a thin layer of protection to your shipments and is a great customizable option. However, depending on the products you are shipping there could be disadvantages. A lot of material is needed to provide protection, and paper adds weight to a box, meaning in boxes will be heavier. This can lead to more costly shipping, and heavier boxes for your staff to lift and transport.

Air Pillows:

Air Pillows are great at filling large voids and fill a lot of space with less plastic than bubble wrap does. The focus of air pillows is to brace items from crashing into one another during transportation and provide more padding than other void fills. However, they are not great at protecting fragile items, and they take up a significant amount of room inside boxes.

Foam:

Similar to bubble wrap, foam provides wonderful cushion for fragile items. However, foam is much thinner than bubble wrap, meaning it is easier to layer the foam and fit more items into a single box. The thinness of foam also allows you to fully wrap single items, without taking up a lot of space. Foam is also perfect for providing insulation to temperature sensitive items such as cleaning chemicals. It has a wide range of formats such as rolls, foam boards and planks, and pouches that make the product very versatile. Due to the versatility of the product, you will want to ensure you are using the best type of foam for your shipping needs.  

No matter the type of packaging needs you have, Allied Eagle, Nichols and Tepe are here to help you find the right solution. Reach out to your local Sales Representative or visit enichols.com for more information.