Anti Static bags

Anti static poly bags are much like the normal bags but have the ability not to build up any static charge. These bags are similar in shape, size, as well as function, much like the standard, lay flat bags. Using an anti static compound, these bags are best for shipping the sensitive electrical components from static charge build up which would ruin the components. These bags are ideal for shipping items like graphics cards, motherboards, circuit boards, and hard drives. Anti static bags are generally a different color, so it makes it more easy to distinguish them from the standard bags. The thickness of these bags is also a bit different than the normal plastic bags. There are multiple kinds of anti static bags as well. 

Standard anti static bags protect electrical items from a static charge build up. This is good as if someone were to order a new part for their computer, they would want it to arrive in this kind of bag, too bad you can’t get a single GPU today. These bags have a specific thickness, unlike the standard bags. They range from two millimeters to six millimeters. These bags also have an additional component to them that allows for them to be an anti wrinkle bag as well. This means it will not get any kind of wrinkles or creases on it as it would affect the bag’s ability to protect the contained item. These bags generally come in a single color. That color is pink and allows for easy identification. 

Another form of this anti static bag is resealable bags. These bags are a lot like the previously talked about bags but have the added benefit of being able to be resealed. This is good as it allows for these bags to be used multiple times, which helps the environment because less needs to be made. Much like the standard bags, these bags come in one color being pink. A slight change about these bags is that the top of these bags is red to signify that it is a bag that can be resealed. 

Static shield bags are another kind of anti static bag. These bags are available with either a zip top so it can be zipped shut or it can be an open top bag allowing for ease of access. These bags, unlike the previously mentioned, come in an opaque blue color. Generally, these bags come in one thickness being three millimeters. They have a protective outer layer that helps prevent a static charge build up. There are specific models of this bag that also have a protective layer on the inside that allows for extra protection of the contained item. 

It is interesting to know that there are many different kinds of poly bags. It is very important that there are anti static bags to help electrical components safely arrive at the customer’s desired location and without any static build up. If there was static build up and that gets transferred to an electrical component, there is a high chance that that component would be ruined. With how nonexistent graphics cards are now, if you get lucky enough to get one, you want to have the highest confidence that the card will be safe and in working order. 

Cheaper the better? Not always the case.

I am moving and need boxes. The cheaper they are the better as it does not hurt my wallet and will work just as well, right? Well, that is not always the case. When it comes to affordable moving boxes there are a few red flags. Firstly, the build quality of less expensive boxes usually is not the best. There is a high chance it could fall apart or not hold everything you thought it could. Secondly, you may not be able to buy the boxes in bulk. This can be a problem as you may end up spending more money than you initially thought. Finally, these boxes can be easily destroyed by the elements if left outside for too long. 

The risk of getting cheap moving boxes is how flimsy and weak they can be. Not only will you run the risk of the box bursting but also not being able to hold everything that you had initially thought it could. These boxes are usually smaller than traditional cardboard boxes. The build quality of these less expensive boxes is not the best either. Corners are cut so running costs can be reduced for that manufacturer. This is a danger as you could be moving something expensive or precious to you and a small bump or an accidental drop could ruin this item or items. 

As mentioned the build quality of these moving boxes is not the best. They can easily be destroyed by the elements. For example, if a box were to be left outside and it begins to rain the items inside would get soaked. Traditional cardboard boxes for moving have the ability to repel water before soaking it in. This feature is key as no one wants their home goods to be ruined by water. Of course, the odds of it raining on your moving day is low but never zero. With these less expensive boxes, a thought process needs to be laid out in case it does begin to rain on your moving day as any water will get straight through the box to the items inside. 

Not being able to buy these boxes in bulk is a problem as the cost may end up being more than it was initially expected. For this reason, I would tell you to avoid cheap moving boxes and look for cardboard boxes that can be purchased in bulk. Buying in bulk saves you money though it may not seem like it if there is a high price tag. Keep in mind that it is a better alternative than buying cheap flimsy boxes that can fall apart with a few drops of rain. 

The poor build quality, no bulk deals, and easily destroyed by the elements featured of these less expensive boxes do not seem like the best option to me. With many different choices of boxes on the market I would not recommend going the cheap route. It is important to protect the items you will be moving because odds are those items are precious to you and your family. For peace of mind getting some boxes that may be a bit more expensive is a good idea and you may be able to find a good bulk deal and end up spending less than initially predicted. 

Boxes can be a problem in 2021 shipping

It seems like the holidays in 2021.  This is because I have an eCommerce company and everyone is now buying online.  It feels like Black Friday is almost every day.  That is pretty awesome and I am super grateful for it.  For companies with warehouses that means inventory is going to be increasing and things may be getting really crowded.  When this happens and Ailes gets blocked many companies start to become inefficient and slow down productivity.  That doesn't sound like a big deal, but over the Holidays that can mean unhappy customers, loss of sales, and more labor costs than needed. If you are struggling with all the extra inventory then this is the article for you.  I know it is important to keep a clean and happy warehouse.

Knowing what you have and what you could have is important. Don't lie to yourself about what is actually working and what is not. Your good idea last year may be crap now.  Many companies build things to be quick access and to keep shelves low and fast.  That is a great way to create warehouses, but if they are starting to reach capacity then you need to think about the space that is not being utilized.  I have worked for billion-dollar companies that put aisles close together and use massive ladders for each aisle to get items.  They put all large items on the bottom shelves for safety and all the small ones up top.  At first, I thought the process of gathering products for shipping would be hampered, but I was wrong.  Being well organized and utilizing space well made this company the best and that is something you need to think about adding into yours.

The way to do things should really be simple.  This whole industry is basically simple with complicated ways of doing it.  The idea was really that you should use all the vertical space you can and as long as you use the alphabet and numbering system you can make each aisle super easy to find items and with a nice well-built sliding ladder you can get them quickly.  I will admit the employees all had great calf muscles from going up and down so often. But the staff was all relatively young as well.  Use some nice cheap moving boxes to store things and save some money.

Cutting up cheap moving boxes to fit the needs is so much better than buying them! They didn't buy expensive bins or anything.  The richest company in the industry was lean and mean when it came to running their backend and that is simply how they saved money.  The fact is that it worked and worked super well.  So if you ar needing more space in the warehouse build shelving high and do it months before the holidays to make sure you are not going to cause any clutter or chaos.  Maybe you already have tall shelves but you need better ladders or storage systems.  Maybe even think about adding in a better numbering system or using those free items to store your products in. There is no point in having things look good and going bankrupt when you can crush competition for basically free.  Just something to think about. 

The Future Is Green (Why Businesses Should Embrace Compostable Packaging)

Do you know that most businesses are going for compostable packaging? If you have a business, you too should embrace it. But wait, why should you use them when you can easily find another alternative packaging?

Well, this is because compostable packaging is environmentally friendly and it can form soil within six months when it has been well disposed of. It also needs less carbon to yield hence adds more nutrients to the environment.

For packaging to be considered compostable it has to meet some requirements such as;

• Biodegradability: Here more than 90% of the packaging must decompose within 180 days within the disposal. It should be able to break down into water, mineral, and carbon dioxide.
• Ability to disintegrate. For this to happen, over 90% of the packaging material must decay into tiny pieces that do not exceed two millimeters within three months.
• The packaging material must have a low concentration of heavy materials. Ideally, the high concentration of heavy material is harmful to the environment. 
• The packaging material must be environmentally friendly in that it should not tamper with the decaying process.

Currently, in the market, they are also biodegradable packaging. You might be asking yourself how to distinguish it from a compostable one. Here are some of the differences between the compostable and biodegradable packaging;

• First, compostable packaging does not form toxins during the decaying process. On the other hand, biodegradable packaging leads to the formation of toxins.
• Advantageously, the compostable packaging has a specific set time on when the packaging will decompose into the earth while the other form of packaging lacks a time frame on when it is likely to decay.
• Biodegradable packaging is also harmful to the surroundings while compostable products contain organic matter that is helpful to the earth.
• Having said that, here are some of the benefits of compostable packaging;

Social benefit. 

It boosts the sustainability of the environment by discouraging any harmful impact packaging could have on the environment. This is a benefit to the immediate community as there will be no toxins that can interfere with health and wellbeing. 

Financial benefit.

Compostable packaging is environmentally friendly as it encourages more customers to repeatedly buy the same commodity which builds loyalty which in turn boosts the growth of a business.

Environment benefit.  

In compostable packaging environment, the environment is generally safe because of the following reasons;

• It reduces pollution of the environment as there are no toxins produced.
• Compostable packaging utilizes a few carbons as compared to any other form of packaging.
• It also reduces the original materials required to make packaging.

What's more?

Compostable packaging contains non-toxic material and is also allergen-free. A consumer who is well informed about environment conservation will always choose another packaging that contains chemicals such as phthalates. For a business that chooses green packaging their curve is way ahead of others. Millennials and Generation Z are opting for green packaging that is less harmful to the earth. Hence if your business adopts this packaging your sales will escalate; you will make more profits. In the coming years, biodegradable packaging will be less likely adopted because of the harm it causes to the environment. In conclusion, businesses need to embrace the use of compostable packaging as it is worth its value.

Gases Used In Modified Atmosphere Packaging

You may find it interesting that gases are used in food packaging, and not all packages contain the same gases. You may have seen food packages with empty spaces. Most people think of these spaces to contain air. But the fact of the matter is that these spaces contain gases. Food packaging companies remove air from these packages and fill up some specific gases to protect the main products.

The process of replacing air with gases in food packages is known as modified atmosphere packaging, also known as MAP. In this article, we will discuss gases used in MAP.

The process of MAP usually aims for replacing oxygen with a specific gas or mixture of other gases to help protect food and slow down its spoilage. Factors that contribute to spoilage include the following.

• Microorganisms
• Enzymes
• Oxidation
• Light exposure
• Parasites, rodents, and insects
• Physical damage to the product
• Temperature
• Time

Producers have been using gases to help prevent spoilage caused by these factors. Regardless of which gas you use for MAP, the purpose is to enhance food preservation. These food-grade gases, combined with packaging materials, can help prevent food spoilage caused by one or more of the factors mentioned above. It is pretty interesting to note that most gases used in MAP exist in the atmosphere. The air we breathe in consists of 21% of oxygen, 78% of nitrogen, 0.9% of argon, and 0.1% of multiple gases, including nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, ozone, methane, and other trace gases.

Now, let’s discuss some gases used in food packaging and modified atmosphere packaging.

Nitrogen (N2)

This gas exists in the air we breathe in. Packaging companies extract this gas from the air and use it for modified atmosphere packaging. This inert gas is tasteless and odorless, and it is used for displacing air from food packaging. In other words, this gas is more like a filter gas. This gas is commonly used for packaging potato chips, cereals, and other dry products such as cocoa powder, powdered milk, coffee, and nuts. It is also used as a filter gas for beverages, including soft drinks and mineral water.

Carbon dioxide (CO2)

Using carbon dioxide in food packaging contributes to slowing down oxidation. Nonetheless, foods with moisture can absorb carbon dioxide inside the package, and it can result in the package collapsing. That is why food packaging companies mix carbon dioxide with nitrogen to prevent CO2 from getting absorbed into food products. CO2 also slows down the production of bacteria, yeast, and microorganisms. This gas is most commonly used for the carbonation of sodas. This gas is also used in the packaging of hard cheese and yogurt.

Carbon monoxide (CO)

This gas is colorless, odorless, tasteless, flammable, and toxic. That is why the use of this gas in food packaging is not allowed in every region of the world. Companies that use this gas use it in very small proportions to prevent its adverse effects. It is most commonly used to prevent the spoilage of meat.

If you are a food company and want to use gases to prevent spoilage of your products, you can use these gases with the help of special equipment. You may need to discuss everything with your packaging vendor in this regard.

Using Poly Mailers For Branding

Shopping trends have changed drastically in the recent decade. More people have turned to online shopping in these years. That is why it is crucial to make your brand ready to serve online orders. One of those ways is to select the right packaging supplies. Using packaging supplies that secure your product during transit is only a part of the online selling procedure. You have to make sure that those supplies also tell your brand story.

One of the materials used for packaging the products to serve online orders is a poly mailer. Unfortunately, not many companies are familiar with the poly mailer’s branding advantage. They do not know that it is possible to customize a poly mailer the way they want. They are also unfamiliar with this mailer’s potential to advertise their brand. In this article, we are here to tell you that a poly mailer is much more than just a product packaging material. It can prove to be an online marketing tool for your brand. You can choose from different sizes of poly mailers, add your logo, and use your preferred branding design.

The material these mailers are made from is coextruded plastic, which is usually a recyclable material. These mailers consist of two sheets, which tend to give the material a sharp and balanced appearance and optimum strength. The outer film consists of LDPE, which allows for vibrant and detailed printing of designs, text, shapes, and patterns. It has adequate shine and flexibility. The interior layer consists of HDPE, which adds to the strength and durability of the poly mailer. Since these mailers do not resist any vibrant printing method, you can bring any bold colors and designs that may help your brand stand out.

Now, you may wonder why not use a corrugated box as it continues to be a standard packaging material across businesses and industries. The fact of the matter is that poly mailers have started replacing cardboard boxes where dunnage and void-filling are the points of concern. Suppose you have a small product for which even a small box is large enough to increase its shipping footprint. Or let’s suppose that your product is not that fragile to require a cardboard box, such as clothing and fabrics. In such scenarios, you can safely choose a poly mailer to package your products. Not only will it help you get all of the advantages mentioned above, but you will also be able to reduce your package size.

Here are some benefits of using poly mailers.

• Waterproof and durable
• Resistant to tears and punctures
• Cheaper than most other packaging materials used in the industry
• Lower labor costs
• Lower shipping costs
• Feature double peel and seal, making customer returns quite easier
• Can be used for product marketing and branding

Before deciding to use poly mailers for your packaging applications, make sure to discuss everything with your packaging vendor. You can discuss whether or not using poly mailers is the right choice for your product and business. You can also ask for the most reliable mailers.

Why Subscription Boxes are the Latest Product

 Wouldn’t it be cool to get a present that’s exciting because you don't know the contents? This is actually a business move that’s been a very good mix of surprise and gratification.

Subscription boxes are the answer here. This is one that’s changed the purchasing and the logic surrounding it. customers aren’t interested in owning, but they get access to assets or even different services. 

Originally, this was something only applicable to services, but now, people can get subscription boxes for practically anything, whether it’s clothing, cosmetics, or so much more.

Subscription boxes are packages that are delivered when you sign up for this, and they contain products or items that are otherwise hard for you to find.

There are two variants of subscription boxes, one of which offers the same kinds of products to every single customer, while the other offers a unique selection based on what the customer chooses to purchase.

While you’re working with boxes, you do need to make sure that you also have the packaging down. The contents will be protected, and also you want the packaging to have that wow effect that makes the unboxing experience unique, almost addictive in nature.

Some consumers are now becoming more attentive, so it’s important to be cautious, as the packaging needs to be made so that it’s sustainable environmentally, minimizing the wrapping of materials that’s cumbersome and not needed. 

Here are a few examples of the subscription boxes that are really gaining popularity. 

The Beauty Box 

There are tons of beauty products out there, but only a few have harnessed the buy box. 

One of them is the Italian company Abiby, which was started in 2018 by two very young entrepreneurs. This is a subscription service that provides customers with different cosmetics and novelties that are there.

With the packaging being like a briefcase, available in kraft corrugated fiberboard, and personalized with their logo in monochrome, it’s simple, minimalistic, and basic, but it does bring an anticipation that comes with the packaging that’s there. 

Reading Boxes 

While beauty isn’t for everyone, some people may also want to get a package specifically for reading.  This is something that more and more people are grabbing and Reading in Heels does offer this.

While it is a subscription box specifically for women to find the latest contemporary fiction writers, it also comes with different brand products both independent and luxury. 

The box is fancy, abut it not just contains a book, but also contains a few extra treats that you can enjoy as you curl up and read. 

The box contains a lid near the bottom and is one of the best things for you to use, as it offers a stylish, almost graphic sort of design that does resonate with the current audience.  It’s elegant, and with the logo in the background reproducing a refined sort of marble, this is one that’s good for enjoying books, and other material of all kinds. 

Food Boxes 

Finally, we’re going to talk about My Cooking Box, an Italian subscription box. The goal of this is to offer some unique Italian recipes without any waste, as they give you the ingredients.

This is a way to bring a little bit of Italian eatery and also bring this in an approach.

It’s literally shaped in a box that looks like home, in order to harness both practicality and simplicity, with the goal of this to convey the message that yes, you can cook just like a chef in your own kitchen. You just have to pick a recipe, and then get cooking!