Tag Archives: kraft paper

Eco Freindly Shrink Wrap, Void-fill, & Stretch Film Options

Posted on by Standard Respond

Environmentally friendly packaging options should be considered if they are cost effective and perform as well as other options. There are a variety of environmentally friendly options that perform as well as other packaging option available. Let’s look at a few of these options, and how they can possibly save on packaging costs while reducing harm to the environment.

Void-Fill Options

Companies use multiple void-fill materials when shipping products. Common void-fill materials are bubble wrap and packaging peanuts. Bubble wrap is commonly made out of polyethylene plastic that has a very slow breakdown process. Polyethylene is used for a variety of packaging materials and plays major roles in everyday life, but reduction in the use of this plastic helps to lessen harm to the environment. Packaging peanuts are commonly made from polystyrene foam that is also very slow in the break down process. The good news is there are other void-fill options available!

Recycled Kraft paper is a great void-fill substitute for bubble wrap. Kraft paper can also be close to the same cost or less than bubble wrap. Some companies prefer added cushioning to protect their products from shifting during transport. We recommend using an indented Kraft paper for added cushioning if needed. If packaging peanuts are preferred, there are a large variety of starch peanuts that have been introduced to the market. These starch peanuts are made from corn starch and offer a rapid break down process that makes them extremely environmentally friendly. Starch packaging peanuts are often close to or slightly higher than the price of virgin packaging peanuts. Another option to starch peanuts is recycled packaging peanuts instead of virgin peanuts.

Bundling & Load Protection Options

Different companies choose to do different things when bundling multiple products together or unitizing large product loads. We recommend using a micron of a hybrid stretch wrap. Traditional stretch wrap is thicker and uses more plastic resin than the new hybrid and micron stretch wraps. They are strong stretch films that use less plastic, therefore reducing environmental harm. They are available in a variety of strengths and widths. Widths range from 2 inches up to 80 inches wide. The 2-5 inch bundling wrap works great for bundling 2-5 products together for shipping. Wider films are ideal for unitizing larger book loads for shipment or storage.

These are only a few environmentally friendly options to packaging supplies and material available that are cost effective and work well. Everything from tape to boxes should be considered to help preserve our environment.

Different Paper Types

Posted on by Standard Respond

We are going to write a few posts highlighting the variety of paper types, grades, and some common terms when dealing with paper. Paper is a matted or felted sheet, usually composed of plant fiber. Over the years, paper has been made from a variety of materials including: hemp, cotton, sugar cane, and straw. Today paper is mostly made from cellulose fiber derived from wood.

Cellulose fiber can be derived from a variety of plants. The cellulose fibers construct each type of paper. The longer the fiber, results in stronger paper. The negative aspect of long fibers, is they tend to have a rougher texture and surface. Different pulping methods can also impact the strength and the structure of the paper being produced. Mechanical pulping extracts the cellulose from the wood by cutting it. This is the most economical method of pulping. The downside is that the mechanical pulping reduces the cellulose fiber length. Chemical pulping allows the cellulose fibers to remain intact and undamaged, resulting in stronger paper.

The following list of paper types gives a general description of  different paper products available.

Newsprint- Newsprint is composed of 95% economical wood pulps. Newsprint commonly has a low brightness, and a high oil absorbency rate. Newsprint is commonly used for printing newspapers. In packaging, newsprint is often used for void-fill and cushioning. At U.S. Packaging & Wrapping, we sell recycled newsprint for void fill, while keeping the environment in mind.

Book Papers- Shares many characteristics with newsprint. Book paper is cut to a variety of sizes to fit multiple book sizes. A clay coating is often added to help enhance visual appearance.

Greaseproof Papers & Parchment Paper- Greaseproof papers are derived from chemical pulps and packed tightly to keep from absorbing fluids. Often times the paper is coated with a special poly coating to further enhance the ability to resist grease. Poly coated Kraft paper is different from parchment paper, but can also be used to resist grease.

Kraft Paper- One of the strongest papers available, is used when maximum strength is needed. Kraft paper can be used for paper bags in the grocery store, void-fill, cushioning, interleaving, and a variety of other uses. The long fibers in Kraft paper make it strong, but poor for printing.

Bleached Kraft Paper- Bleached Kraft paper is ideal for when appearance is an issue. When the Kraft paper will be printed on, the paper is coated and smoothed.

Tissue Paper-  Tissue paper is a term commonly used to refer to a lighter paper. Tissue paper is often used in packaging for void-fill in baskets and smaller objects.

Label Paper- Similar to book paper, often coated to allow better printing qualities. Label paper can be coated on one or two sides.

Pouch papers- Pouch papers are virgin Kraft papers treated with plasticizers to make them more pliable. A common use for pouch paper is soap wrappers.

Container boards- A container board is a Kraft board made for the liners of corrugated fiberboard. A container board is a strong board that is composed of long cellulose fibers. We sell a variety of corrugated boxes and boards on our website.

These are only a few common paper types and their characteristics. Our goal is to give consumers a brief overview of paper types to assist them when buying paper. We are not a paper company, but we do sell a variety of paper products that are used for packaging. Feel free to click on any of the links above to view the specific products in our store.

 

Packaging During Transport

Posted on by Standard Respond

The transportation of goods from point of production to point of consumption involves a variety of transport modes, handling techniques, and exterior environments. With proper packaging the transportation of products can be more efficient and help reduce product loss.

The transportation of products can often cause stress and result in product loss. Designing packaging to protect, cushion, and isolate products from external forces can help to prevent thousands of dollars in product damage. Without knowing the external environment and transportation methods of the product, packaging design will not be as effective.

A variety of packaging products can be used to help protect your products during transportation. Some products to help stabilize loads during transportation include: shrink wrap, stretch film, strapping, and more. Products such as bubble wrap, Kraft paper, and newsprint  help to protect and cushion products during transportation.

Shrink wrap can help to stabilize products during transportation, but is more often used to protect products from exterior elements. Pallet covers can help to protect whole product loads from exterior elements such as UV rays, dust, and moisture. Corrugated boxes can also help to protect products from exterior elements.

There are a variety of packaging supplies available to help protect your products. The main questions to consider are: how will your products be transported, how will they be handled during transportation, and what exterior elements will they be exposed to during transportation and storage. From there you can make an educated and informed decision on which packaging supplies to use.