The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in many businesses suffering a lot. There was a total business shut-down for the first few months. Only online businesses continued to provide services. Then, a majority of businesses started transferring major aspects of their operations online. Now, most businesses face a shortage of bubble mailers.
Bubble mailers are secure envelopes that do not require packers to use other cushioning supplies while packing a product. All you have to do is to put the product into the mailer and seal it. With these mailers becoming scarce, businesses had to switch to corrugated boxes, adding much to the dimensional weight. It is yet another pricing factor that shippers have to take into account.
The good thing is that other alternatives are available. In this article, we will discuss a few ways to deal with the shortage of bubble mailers.
Curbside recyclable mailers
A curbside recyclable mailer is as easy-to-use as a regular mailer. However, its added benefit is its recyclability. With most consumers becoming aware of the impact of their online shopping habits on the environment, there is a higher demand for sustainable packaging practices, both from the consumers and online retailers. Curbside recyclable mailers come with adequate padding, which is generally enough to secure a packed product for the entire shipping process. Such mailers can elevate your brand in the market quite significantly.
Making bubble mailers
Most people think of ordering individual bubble mailers as an easy procedure. But, you will be blown away by the process of automating bubble mailer packaging. Typical bubble packaging equipment can produce up to 20 bags a minute. The procedure uses a protective bubble film. This procedure is 400% more efficient than the process involving hand-filling and sealing bubble mailers.
Such equipment requires only one person to operate and oversee the procedure. It starts by scanning the product and putting it between two bubble film layers. The machine sizes and seals these films to form a package.
The bubble film used in the process consists of recyclable plastic. That makes it easy for waste management companies to ensure proper recycling of the film.
Using cold seal automation
Cold seal automation is yet another packaging method that can serve as an alternative to bubble mailers. This process is pretty much similar to the one mentioned in the ‘Making Bubble Mailer’ section. However, it allows you to use a recyclable rigid board along with a bubble film.
This procedure also uses one operator. It allows you to create 15 ready-to-ship mailers a minute. The procedure locks the product in place and seals it using materials provided to the machine. The resultant packaging structure ensures no movement or shifting of the product inside.
What packaging option you want to go for depends on your requirements. It also depends on the choice of materials. If you want to use bubble wrap in conjunction with other materials, you can consider the last option. If your packaging process can do without the use of bubble film, you can consider the first option.
