Your guide to the right filling material
Packing paper, organic chips, foam foil, wood shavings, paper padding, bubble wrap. Is your head spinning? Don’t worry, we have tips on the right filling and padding material for your packaging.
Play it safe: optimal filling material for your package
Make sure you carefully cushion the contents because you never know what might happen to your package along the way. Every product has the right packaging material partner: Electronic devices feel comfortable with antistatic bubble wrap. Heavy packaged goods go well with firm paper cushions.
Whether you send a package privately or several times a day for your online business – the inner packaging (filling material and padding material) is your best friend when it comes to secure shipping. We have answers to the most important questions so that you can keep track of things:
- What is the difference between filling material and padding material?
- Which padding and filling material do you need for which content?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of the materials used for filling and padding?
- Should you pad boxes with old newspapers?
- Are there environmentally friendly padding and filling materials?
Quick tips: Dos & Don’ts for filling material
Padding material and filling material: the differences
Padding and filling material made easy
Your package won’t exactly be handled with kid gloves in transport. This isn’t a problem if you protect the contents in the packaging properly. Find all the important information here about filling and padding material.
Wood wool
Wood wool is the most original type of padding and is now only used for gift packaging.
Advantages
Looks classy
Upgrades the packaged goods, for example expensive wine bottles
Is FSC certified
Disadvantages
May contain dust
Is not easy to dispose of
Bubble wrap
If you want to wrap large products, bubble wrap is the ideal packaging material.
Advantages
- Very good cushioning effect (tear-resistant)
- You can easily wrap packaged goods
- Wrapped things can be fixed in place with adhesive tape
- Suitable for large goods
- Reusable
Disadvantages
- Made of plastic, not easy to throw away
- Large volume when disposing
- Contains tiny dust particles that can scratch surfaces
Nopa foam film
Nopa foam film is a good choice for products with sharp edges.
Advantages
Adapts flexibly to the contour of your product
Suitable for sharp-edged goods
Natural, pleasant feel
Very good for sensitive surfaces
Disadvantages
Made of plastic, not easy to throw away
Large volume when disposing
Paper padding
Paper padding is a packaging material made from recycled fibers with many uses. It adapts flexibly to the contours of your product.
Advantages
Also suitable for sharp-edged packaged goods
Natural, pleasant feel
Environmentally friendly, made from renewable raw materials and 100 percent recyclable
Manual and electronic manufacture
Easy and quick handling
No inhalation health hazards, no need for eye or hand protection
Disadvantages
Slight formation of dust
Moisture sensitive
Wrapping paper (kraft paper)
Packing paper is a first-time paper (unlike recycled paper padding) and protects your products from scratches during transit.
Advantages
You can easily wrap your packaged goods
Protects very well against friction
Ecological, 100 percent natural product
Disadvantages
Moisture sensitive
Low cushioning effect
SizzlePak
SizzlePak convinces with its decorative effect, but only slightly cushions.
Advantages
Looks very elegant
Emphasizes the value of your product
Disadvantages
Almost no cushioning
Not cheap
MiniPak’R air cushion
MiniPak’R is a handy device for making bubble wrap that can be used in a variety of ways.
Advantages
Clean, dust-free and reusable
Insensitive to moisture
Inexpensive and space-saving
Low weight
Film consists of 99 percent air, low disposal volume
Cushion filling (cavity filling) easily adjustable and reproducible over and over again
Very fast production (up to 23 meters per minute)
Very easy handling
Disadvantages
Not suitable for pointed, sharp-edged and very heavy products
Air cushions can lose air over time
Made of plastic, not easy to throw away
Bio-Chips
Bio-Chips are an innovative, compostable filling material. An eco-friendly alternative to styrofoam.
Advantages
Also reliably fills small cavities
Clean, anti-static, dust-free and reusable
Dimensionally stable and shock-absorbing
Low weight
Disadvantages
Requires large storage volume
Beware of the quicksand effect with packaging chips with a consistent shape
Pretty high price
Chips can fly around when unpacking the goods
Styrofoam chips
Styrofoam chips are a lightweight filling material for inner packaging. Recommended in an 8 shape to prevent the quicksand effect.
Advantages
Particularly suitable for space filling
Clean, anti-static, dust-free and reusable
Dimensionally stable and shock-absorbing
Low weight
Disadvantages
Requires large storage volume
High price compared to the volume
Chips can fly around when unpacked
Tissue paper
Tissue paper emphasizes the value of your products, but as packaging material it only provides minimal cushioning.
Advantages
Looks classy
Can be disposed of with the waste paper
Cheap price
Disadvantages
Low cushioning effect
