How Implementing Sustainable Structural Elements in Custom Packaging Lowers Total Shipping Fees

Your packaging could be the first interaction a customer or partner has with your brand. The shape and size of a PR box can have a direct impact on your bottom line, so you want to make sure it’s visually appealing. This article demonstrates how you can lower your shipping costs and your brand’s environmental commitment by using smart, sustainable structural features.

1. Minimising Dimensional Weight (DIM Weight)

Today’s parcel carriers charge you for the space your package takes up, also known as dimensional weight. So, the bottom line is you are paying to ship space when you opt for big boxes with space and annoying plastic packing material. That’s why you should use custom designs that are custom-made to closely follow the shape of your products to drastically reduce your packaging dimensions.

2. Eliminating the Need for Non-Sustainable Fillers

The usual thing to use to prevent movement in transit is heavy plastic bubble wrap or polystyrene peanuts. These fillers add weight and volume to a package, increasing shipping costs and waste. Structural elements for stability are custom-folded cardboard inserts or moulded fibre cushions that hold the product in place with only the box material itself.

3. Enhancing Stackability for Logistical Efficiency

Oddly or narrowly shaped boxes are taking up more space in the freight containers and thus driving up the cost of logistics. The secret to sustainable custom packaging design is structural rigidity and shapes that can be packed on each pallet at maximum density. Make your packaging stackable, and you will reduce the number of pallets you need to ship your inventory, saving you money.

4. Utilising Lightweight, High-Strength Recycled Board

High-strength recycled corrugated board can often provide better structural support at a fraction of the weight of traditional materials. You’re using advanced lightweight board grades designed for strength so you can reduce the weight of each box. These fractional weight savings can add up to significant savings on your annual shipping budget over thousands of shipments.

5. Reducing Return Rates Through Better Protection

Shipping damage is a real but unseen cost, on top of your overall shipping costs, through the need to ship replacement products and handle returns. Sustainable structural packaging is designed to offer better protection from shock and vibration than regular oversized boxes stuffed with plastic. Additionally, your product is shipped in a custom internal cradle for proper arrival.

6. Simplifying the Assembly and Fulfilment Process

The time spent packing a box impacts your daily output. Labour is a large component of your overall shipping fee. Sustainable packaging with intuitive structural designs assembles much faster than packaging that requires tape. Your brand benefits from your fulfilment team’s faster box packing, fewer labour hours needed, and a quicker response to promotional campaigns or customer orders.

7. Future-Proofing with Letterbox-Friendly Designs

Smaller promotional campaigns or influencer PR kits usually opt for letterbox-friendly packaging to cut down on shipping costs. Keep in mind that if you build your box to international post-box dimensions, you can often get cheaper rates than standard parcel services. Sustainable design for structures is packaging that’s thin and secure and slides easily into a letterbox.

Start Optimising Your Packaging Today

Moving to sustainable packaging is a smart move for your brand, your customers and your bottom line. Identify your most frequently shipped products, then work with a packaging company to create a box that minimises excess air, weight, and plastic fillers. Furthermore, effectively switching to custom packaging is a great way to optimise your logistics and show your brand’s commitment to efficiency.