Four Common Shipping and Packaging Supplies
Like any other industry, shipping and packaging supplies come in a huge variety of shapes and sizes. Some are extremely specialized, meaning they are only good for shipping or dealing with one thing, while others are more general use. Despite the complexity, however, the majority of shipping and packaging supplies will fall into one of four categories: carton sealing tape, self-sealing bubble mailers, strapping, and mailing labels.
- Carton sealing tape is packing tape that is used to seal, close, or provide additional support to a package. While a small aspect compared to the package itself, carton sealing tape is very important as it needs to hold the flaps of a box or package tightly as well as securely seal the materials inside. Sealing tapes come in a variety of forms, from the clear carton tape favored by the USPS to the standard tan tape of more mass market shippers. When selecting your carton sealing tape, you’ll want to consider the ideal thickness, strength, color, width, and length for your shipping needs.
- Bubble mailer are padded envelopes that are built from a strong, thin material and are lined inside with plastic bubbles. These types of mailers provide built-in protection for shipping items and have a thin strip at the lip that, when removed, will reveal a sticky surface used for sealing the mailer. When you need more protection than a standard envelope provides, but you don't need a heavy-duty shipping box, what you need is a bubble mailer. Available in a range of sizes, bubble mailers cost less to mail than shipping boxes yet still provide a higher level of protection. Both the U.S. Postal Service and private shipping companies, such as the United Parcel Service (UPS), accept bubble mailers.
- Strapping, banding, and bundling are terms used to describe the straps that shippers use to hold together or secure large bundles. Strapping is a flat and flexible material usually made from polypropylene that is used for light and medium duty shipping jobs. Other forms of strapping include steel strapping, which is used for heavy duty jobs, and rope or woven strapping, which is softer than steel and thus less likely to damage the items that it is holding together. Overall, strapping is used to ship multiple items as one unit or group, and it is known for its ability to be applied very quickly.
- Mailing labels are commonly used for addressing small to medium sized items. Addresses can be hand written on labels or printed by computer. Labels can also be used in conjunction with shipping requirements by printing stamps right on the labels. One common item used with labels are label dispensers, although some labels are sold in a simple peel-off form. The types of labels available include standard shipping labels, barcode labels, custom printed labels, retail marking labels, pinfeed computer printed labels, and even vinyl labels (which are designed to last longer than paper labels).
Whatever you ship and package, it is likely you will encounter one if not all of the four categories of shipping and packaging supplies listed above. Whatever you need, chances are that there is a type of carton sealing tape, self-sealing bubble mailer, strapping, or mailing label that can help you out. For every package is different, and its important to find the right mix of shipping and packaging supplies to match it.
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John Jones is an expert on shipping supplies and related products. He is a packaging specialist with VP Supplies, a company providing a complete line of shipping supplies using an innovative approach to serving its customers. Visit our website for a complete line of shipping supplies.