Performance-based kinds of specifications are a different kind of means of evaluating the shippers. While a lot of packaging engineers do start their career learning about the ins and outs of shippers, including the terminology, the methods of testing, the processes to manufacture, and so much more. In a lot of cases, they usually don’t look past the standard practice for selection of these materials that are based on requirements for performance. But when making packaging design decisions based on leveraging the performance specs, this lets engineers specify the strength of your shipper, based on the needs as well, rather than the metrics such as the edge crush test. Evaluating this on performance does resolve a lot of headaches, offers cost savings, offers simple specifications, and it does make everything a whole lot more efficient. 

The Sustainability Benefits 

The biggest benefit of this is the sustainability that comes with this. It allows for engineers to make a shipper that does the fulfillment, while also utilizing less material, which does enhance the efforts for sustainability. If packaging is already using recycled papers, reevaluating the corrugated packaging based on the performance needs does allow for it to move past the virgin materials, creating more positive results on the supply side of things. It also helps offer more options, and also reduces paper sourcing, various supply constraints, and also helps reduce the carbon footprint by shipping distances. It also frees up time, consumes far less energy, and decreases the waste. 

Make Communication simple 

For most people, having a performance-based type of demarcation for this offers more specifications that are properly communicated, and having this there is conducive to the packaging and engineering that’s there. This also makes communications far simpler between everyone, and it also reduces the sheer amount of data that they have to go through, since you don’t need to document the weight of the paper, the caliper, the burst strength, and also focus on the testing, the dimensions, and the fluting too. While it won’t negate some rules, you can use this as well to make packaging specifications and negotiations so much easier. 

Lowered costs 

It also saves you a lot of money down the line too when you look at the savings for these levels of specifications. There is a time when members of the organization and the suppliers do have to discuss pricing, which does require enough communication from the packaging organization to the supplier, and there needs to be a system of performance which does streamline the communication and the environmental details. When you take the specifics out of this, there is actually less room for error to have happen. When you’re purchasing a material, if you take out the ECT values, it offers more packaging that definitely fits the needs. 

What formula to Use Now? 

While the ECT value is what was used before for the McKee formula, there is now a new formula that you can use. That is the following: 

BCR=((((S*P)-1)*X)+(W/L))*SF

In this, BCR is the box crush requirement.  The S is the number of shippers, the P is the number of pallets that are stacked, the X is the ship weight, the W is the pallet weight, the L is the shippers layers, and SF is the safety factor. Putting all of this together, you do get a better system and like that does save you a ton of money and such down the line, and through his, you’re able to get great results if you do need this as well for you to use. 

You work hard in order to make sure customers are happy and satisfied. You change up the store, write out the emails, and do everything to leave customers satisfied. But shipping is a different beast, and for some people, it can be stressful to ship. It’s important though to make sure that the customer has an amazing experience in person with the product, so the right strategy is essential for the success of your business. Here, we’ll go over the basics of shipping, and what you can do to make it easier. 

The Basic Shipping Strategy 

If you’re someone who has absolutely no clue on where to begin, keep on reading then. There are some different decisions which you must make when you’re shipping, and below are the most important ones. First, is the shipping rates and methods. Do you want to offer flat-rate or free shipping and take a bit of the cost? Or will the customer pay for it? 

How do you plan to get this to customers? Knowing this one is important. Also you need to know the weight of the packages. This will help to calculate the costs, and help you have a good idea of the total costs of such, to get this to the customers. You also may want to look at the preferred shipping. While there is a lot about what type of packaging is right, the information can be added to packaging services, including shopify, to help with this. 

Finally, you want to figure out the best way to source the packaging. You may want to just buy directly from the carrier, or possibly look into the branded packaging aspects of this as well. 

The Shipping Rates 

You want to make sure that you understand that you want to make sure that you choose the correct shipping rate. Free shipping is a common one, but remember it’s no truly free, so someone is paying for it. That someone is you. The best ways to offer “free shipping” include the following: 

• Increase your prices so that it covers the shipping 
• You pay out of margins 
• You increase all product prices slightly, so both of you pay 
• You offer discount codes for free shipping 

You may want to do this with minimum order free shipping. That way, you’re getting more orders without having to pay too much from your profit margins. There are also carrier rates you can charge, and customers can choose the shipping they feel is right for you. There is also flat rate, which is one specific rate. This may be a good one as well if you feel like there is a chance that more will come if there is one particular rate. 

Fulfillment Services 

Another option is fulfillment, which will hold the inventory. Depending on the integration, you can use this. This does offer shipping rates that are cheaper, since they ship larger amounts, and usually it’s great for a variety of different services. There is also the shorter shipping times, which means more customers will get their items faster. They handle the picking, the packing, and the shipping so that you don’t have to do a thing. These aren’t for everyone, but they are an option as well if you’re someone who wants to make sure that they get the most out of their packaging and offers a lot. There are a lot of shipping options, so you want to make sure you choose what’s right for you, and then go from there with the way you’re able to ship stuff. 

If you’re an owner of a business who is conscious about the environment and worried about the impact of packaging, you might be looking into ways to have more environmentally friendly and sustainable packaging options. 

Recycled, flexible, and compostable packaging are all types, and you can look at which ones are best for you, and which ones are good. 

What about compostable packaging? It may seem like a miracle for those who are tired of using the detrimental kinds of packaging supplies. 

Perhaps you hope to have these supplies to make sure that the business is more green. 

But you’re not sure how it works. 

Packaging is something that can seem complex, but we’re here to answer the question of whether or not, you could qualify compostable packaging as truly biodegradable. 

Can you throw it on the ground, and will it degrade? 

No, and that’s something that people get wrong. They think that it’ll magically just go away at the drop of a hat. 

It’s much more complex than just that, and it may seem shocking, but it actually is different that. 

And of course if you’re just doing that, that’s littering, and not good for the environment. Biodegradable packaging works in a different kind of way, and we’ll go over how compostable packaging plays into this. 

Is it Biodegradable 

Yes it totally is, but there are a few caveats to all of this. 

From the environmental standpoints, it can be composted, since it can actually break down. 

But you need to do it in a specific way.  You can just throw it out in the woods and expect it to just break down, because that’s not how it works. 

For it to be properly composted, you have two options. 

Your first, the home compost. This is where you take all of your excess scraps, grinds, and other organic elements, putting them out back, and over time, the microorganisms within this do break it down, and it can actually provide some great soil to grow plants. 

It is something that can work, but not everything can work in a home compost, since it will not always work. Most of it needs to be done via industrial composting, which is done at a facility. 

With industrial composting, this is basically composting done at a facility, and usually, it’s where some stuff is ONLY composted. 

There are industrial composting plants that are specialized in waste management, which offer a lot of compost. They sell it then to stores, businesses, or municipalities, oftentimes at a discounted rate so that they can use it for landscaping means. 

They are large, and it’s similar to the garbage collection and waste management companies that usually do similar management of waste. 

You usually need to have a composting bin or a means to give them the items before you’re totally allowed to compost that stuff. 

They usually are those big old containers that look like recycling bins at home. If you do single stream recycling, this is definitely similar to this. 

You also will only be able to do this f you have a contract with them, so your community needs to have this. If they don’t, then you won’t be able to compost anything. 

So to answer the question fi it’s really biodegradable, the short answer is yes, but it actually involves far more effort than what may be considered to be warranted by many who use it, and some people may not think the efforts are worth it at the end of the day, especially when it comes to packaging supplies. 

Eco-friendly packaging has different qualities, whether it be recycled packaging made from cardboard, plastics, or paper, there’s a lot. What does biodegradable packaging bring to the table though? 

Read on to find out. 

What is It? 

The simple answer is that it’s packaging that does break down and degrade as time goes forward, and while there isn’t a metric for measuring this, usually it’s anywhere from 3-6 months before fully broken down. 

Once it’s been fully decomposed, it doesn’t also leave behind bad chemicals, or other bad substances. It also is a good option for food-based companies since it doesn’t make someone feel guilty for not doing so.

Composing packaging is pretty much the same thing, but it’s faster, and you also can do biodegradable as well. 

How does it compare though? 

Recycled packaging is good, but the thing is, only 10% of it does get recycled, which means that there is a lot of recycled items just sitting there in the landfills and crating big issues too. 

So what can biodegradable packaging bring to the table? 

Well for one it’s more versatile, functional, and eco-friendly, but let’s go into the benefits. 

The Benefits of Biodegradable Packaging 

First and foremost, it’s not as harmful to produce, and you can recycle more natural items such as cardboard to make this better, which means there’s less energy needed to make this, creating a greener business because of this. 

It also preserves the natural resources, since as the energy is saved, the creation does preserve the resources which are dwindling. This isn’t made from oils and such, but instead from managed forests and other renewable means, which means it’s a whole lot safer. 

It’s also safer for humans to use, since there aren’t as many harmful chemicals as possible that can compromise the health of humans. The chemicals in this won’t get onto the food of customers, and this is much safer than just the takeout boxes that have plastics and other chemicals in them. 

It actually also will feed the microorganisms too.  Biodegradable packaging does break down over time, and it will benefit your environment. 

When this does break down, it feeds fungi, bacteria, and other kinds of microorganisms. It does create a better loop as well, letting nature get the materials that have benefitted it up to this point. 

Finally, it beefs up customer experience. You actually can offer eco-friendly options that will be tossed out without causing trouble for the environment. 

This does help customers, because if you’re a food production company, this definitely will prevent undue harm that’s there. 

It certainly is something that can help with your brand too, since it means that you’re offering eco-friendly options for packaging, but also making it easier for them to get rid of rather than just trying to find a recycling plant. 

But what’s the Verdict? Should you use it? 

The simple answer is yes. 

Plastic-free and biodegradable packaging are the future, since it definitely offers a better look to the brand, and much better results down the line too. 

With that said, take a look and see if this type of packaging is ideal for you, and whether or not you want to do this as part of the green experience. 

If you do think that this is good for you, then by all means, definitely do so. 

But also look at whether or not your customers want this. If they want a green experience with their product packaging, don’t just give them recyclables. Take it to the next step, and you can do so through this and get the best results.