Packaging for Extreme Environments: what to Consider

When you’re shipping items to more extreme environments, such as very hot, very cold, or where you know the handling will be rough, you do need to prepare accordingly. 

The biggest thing to remember is protection and durability, in order to ensure that you get the most you can out of your experience. Here, we’ll go over the different considerations you need to make when you’re packaging for these unique environments, and how to factor all of this in.

Why be Durable? 

If you're durable, you reduce the risk of packaging damage. 

This is the number one reason for returns in many cases. Customers don’t want to be disappointed when they buy from you, so you need to make sure that your packaging is strong, and protective against the elements.   

To make this durable, you don’t need to do much, but factor in what we’re about to offer when packaging for this environment. 

Elements of Extreme Environmental Packaging 

There’s a few things that you need when you want to package for a more extreme environment.

First, is the materials.   Those that are resistant to heat and water are a good place to start. You don’t want the package to get soggy and ruin the contents, right? 

The second thing is you want to make sure that heat won’t warp the items at hand, making this stronger and better than before. 

You also want to make sure that the packaging is shockproof. What we mean is, when you’re shipping electronics, you make sure that it can handle jostles and such. foam is the best way to ensure that you can prevent this. 

Packaging for Long-Distance Shipping 

If you’re packaging for long-distance shipping, you want to make sure that it’s strong. Corrugated boxes are a good place to begin, because they are very robust, and provide you with a shocking, strong experience that works well. 

The same goes for outdoor storage. If you know it’s going to be left outside, like freight goods or items for ships, you want to make sure the outer boxes are strong.

Make sure as well that it can handle harsher climates. Extreme cold is something that some people don’t realize, and the humidity can impact the overall integrity of the items. 

By doing this, you prevent returns, and make it so that the item gets to the customers in the best state that it can.

The benefits and Drawbacks of this 

When you practice good shipping for these climes, you are able to protect products from the most demanding temperatures and conditions. Naturally, it will make it much easier for you to ship items, as you won’t have to worry about it getting damaged.

It minimizes returns, and customers will be much happier if they get an item from you that is prepared accordingly. So yes, doing this will change your life, and the overall benefits that come from this.

But, it does come with some drawbacks. You do need to make this strong, that’s for sure. but you also need to be ready to balance out the sustainability of the items.   Those items that aren’t sustainable work for cushioning, so you need to factor that in.

The costs are another. It costs more to add protection, for obvious reasons. So making sure that you’re able to also add in costs is vital to your overall success.

When you’re shipping items. Consider as well the extreme locales. Prepare accordingly, and from there, make sure that you give your customers the ultimate experience that you can, in order to achieve great success.

Interactive Packaging Kids Will Enjoy

 Child-friendly packaging for kids can be a challenge to put together.  However, it is a growing market, because kids like packaging that’s made for them. blending the fun and functionality of one’s design is important, and it’s something that we will go over here.   

Elements of Interactive Packaging 

Interactive packaging is something that’s well interactive for kids.   The packaging is the first contact with brands, and interactive packaging is used for sales and marketing, with different games and elements that are memorable. 

People will remember products when you leave a mark on them, so making something fun, innovative, and practice is something that they will like. Giving kids something that they can interact with is a great thing to do. 

For instance having games and AR technology for one is a good place to begin. people like that, and kids will enjoy the different elements that come along with this and form dynamic relationships that engage users. 

The goal of this is to make the packaging encounter something that they will remember.

AR and QR codes are another example of this, as they will give them something to enjoy, and invites them to focus on the brand’s narrative. 

The Types of Interactive Packaging 

There are certain types of interactive packaging used for kids, and here’s some of the most popular that many of them enjoy.

• Augmented Reality: known as AR, this is interactive packaging that offers semi-virtual types of experiences with 2D and 3D modes. This makes it possible for a child to enjoy the product, and with companion apps, it can be a fun thing they like.

• Games: can be attributed to the previous point, but also physical games on boxes are fun for kids to enjoy and filling them out is a blast. 

• QR codes known as quick responsive codes, can get scanned to a webpage with new content.   It can get exclusive offers, promotions, or even more games and information about the product. 

• Multi-sensory packaging: this is packaging that uses different experiences such as hearing, touch, smell, and the like, in order to enjoy a product’s packaging. 

• Storytelling: this engages a user through the stories and involves making the customers the characters that will establish the relationship between the person reading this and the story.

Why Use This Type of Packaging 

For kids, you have a small window to get their attention before they forget about the product’s packaging. However, by giving them something interesting to play with, it helps you stand out, in order to tell the brand’s story and incorporate the interactive elements. 

It provides good information about the product too, so that both the child and the parent can learn about this. if there are any qualms, the parent can use their discretion with it.

It also tells a story and connects the person better with the item that you are providing, giving them invaluable information that will distinguish the product, making it a force that’s constant in the person’s life. 

The challenges 

There are a couple of challenges that come with this.

The first is thinking outside the box and being creative. you have to put work into this, especially if you want to be truly unique.   Standing out and fostering creativity might be the biggest challenge.

The second thing is costs, because of the fact that there’s a lot that can go into it. The same goes for technology as well.

Bear all this in mind, and you’ll see for yourself the difference your packaging makes, especially for the success you wish to have.

Is your shipping damage harming you?

 Shipping damage is not good for companies, as this does leave customers and companies vulnerable to negative and bad reviews. Over a period of time, the damage does hurt the brand, driving customers away. That's why it’s vital to utilize some protective packaging, in order to make sure that the items arrive at destinations intact. 

Once you’ve lost good standing with customers, it’s hard to get it back. 

Ask yourself the following questions, and if the answer is no, read on to figure out how to protect the brand: 

• Do I monitor reviews online that mention damage from shipping 

• Are there reviews that have recurring issues mentioned 

• Am I using the correct protective packaging 

• Am I using enough for this protective packaging? 

Monitoring Reviews 

Reviews are pretty much the way to show others whether or not they like your brand. 

While most businesses will get good, positive reviews, if you use the incorrect packaging, such as protective sheets and foam inserts, you will create a problem for yourself.  A log of customers get mad if they get an item at their doorstep that's broken, for a good reason.

Not only that, but you’re also going to have to deal with the returns that come from this. it hurts the brands, and it’s something that can be a major problem. 

People get motivated with revisions when they’re upset with products. If you’ve got reputations for not protecting these items when shipping, then this will come up in future reviews.  Too many negative comments and quips will turn away customers and hurt your profits. 

Address issues recurring 

Nothing is worse than having customers scared away via negative reviews. Business owners need to take responsibility for this. While it’s hard to accept this, it’s vital to check for the legitimate issues of customers and their customer service. 

If there is anything referencing the damage during shipment, you’ll need to fix this one fast. Addressing and fixing this issue will help the brand, and in turn, you’ll feel more organized and appropriate with your actions as a result of this. 

Prevention 

You want to also prevent this. That way, you’ve got far less problems down the line.

The right packaging to protect this does matter. Pink foam that’s anti-static is vital for electronics.  It’s designed to dissipate safely and slowly the electrical discharge. 

You also will need more than one type of packaging material. For instance, while smaller bubble wrap protects a TV from getting scratched up, you need foam or a larger type of bubble wrap for impact damage.  It also is good for prevention of jostles or drops as well. 

Value the customers 

Finally, you’ve got to start valuing the customers better.  Your customers do take kindly to having their items show up in one piece, and also on time. 

If you’re consistently delivering products that are damaged, they won't want to work with you. This is because they will see that you don’t care. 

If that’s the case, then they’re going to leave you for a competitor or, so you’ll thereby lose the business. You want to use the right type and the packaging amount, prevention of damage and also to maintain a more positive relationship with customers that are there. 

Overall, there are a lot of things that can go wrong with the products that you sell. One of them is shipping damage, which you don’t want. With that said, you need to focus on the proper treatment of these products, and to prevent this in the process before it gets worse for you.