Packaging is first and foremost functional: it ensures that products travel safely from point A to point B. It goes without saying that protective packaging is even more important when shipping fragile items. Here’s how to pack glass for shipping, step by step.
The Ultimate Guide to Shipping Glass Items
1. Getting the items ready
Glassware should be individually wrapped before being placed in a shipping box. For adequate protection, wrap them in paper first, then at least three layers of bubble wrap.
A box with inserts that can be customized to fit your products is an alternative to wrapping. Paper inserts are appropriate for small glassware.
Nail Deck Custom Nail Polish Box Inserts
Because the corrugation provides some cushioning, corrugated cardboard inserts are more protective than paper inserts and can thus be used for slightly larger or heavier items. Because they are the most shock-absorbent, foam inserts are the best choice for shipping glass. However, unlike cardboard or paper inserts, designs cannot be printed on foam inserts, and they are not as environmentally friendly.
2. The shipping box and void fillers
The wrapped or boxed glassware should then be placed in a corrugated box with at least 5cm (2 inches) of space between them and all sides of the box (including the top and bottom).
In a cardboard box, packing peanuts and tape
This space can be created by using void fillers, such as packing peanuts or air pillows, which will reduce shock and friction. Begin by placing 5cm (or more) of the filler at the bottom of the box, followed by your items on top. Overfilling the box with 10-15% extra void filler ensures that the contents do not move when the box is shaken. Finish by securely taping down the box flaps with packing tape and labeling it with a fragile sticker.
Because cardboard is a fairly rigid and shock-absorbing material, corrugated boxes provide an additional layer of protection for shipping glassware. Corrugation is classified according to its thickness (types A-F) and the number of layers (referred to as “walls”). More information about corrugation in packaging can be found here.
If your glassware is small and light (less than 2.3kg (5lbs), multiple pieces can be shipped in the same box. Wrap them individually (as described above) and use corrugated dividers to separate them within the box. Arrange them so that the weight is distributed evenly within the box; ideally, the weight difference between items should be no more than 1kg (2lbs).
Individual boxes should be used to ship items weighing more than 2.3kg (5lbs). Even heavier items (those weighing more than 4.5kg (10lbs)) should be packed using the box-in-box method, which involves wrapping the item (as explained above) and placing it in a small box, which is then packed into a larger box with void filler.
3. Shipping glassware
Proper packing should be sufficient to protect glassware without the need for special postal services. However, a fragile or special handling service (if available), as well as insurance, may be worth considering, especially if the glassware is valuable or precious. Consider including universally recognized packing symbols on your shipping cartons to ensure proper handling during delivery.
At W Packaging our service representatives work closely with our customers in the US and all over the world to ensure that all of our customers’ needs are met.
