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Smart Packaging Tips
Smart Courier is committed to delivering its customers goods in a careful and timely manner.
As parcels are handled many times during this process, all items carried need to be packed to a high standard to ensure that they arrive in pristine condition.
Packing recommendations
To reduce the risk of shock damage and movement inside the package, we recommend you use one or a combination of the following types of packing material:
Loosefill packing, e.g. polystyrene chips
Expanded polystyrene foam
Polystyrene sheets or blocks
Bubble wrap
Foam rubber
Screwed up newspaper or any other similar item
Detailed below are some useful tips to help achieve our aim:
Always use a strong rigid carton
Use a carton made of high quality corrugated cardboard preferably double walled to ensure strength, durability and protection.
Avoid using a carton more than once as it's strength and therefore the protection it offers is reduced the more times it is handled.
Choose the correct size of carton to match the contents. Under-filled boxes are likely to collapse, and over-filled burst open.
If the carton is under-filled use padding materials such as polystyrene chips and shredded paper to fill it out.
Wrap all items separately within the carton with protective cushioning such as bubble wrap.
If possible ensure no items are touching the walls of the carton.
Seal the carton with strong tape designed for shipping - everyday sellotape is not sufficient.
Ensure all the carton is sealed securely with the flaps taped down along the middle and on both ends over the corners.
When putting the carton together use strong staples or tape to ensure the base is secure and will not come open in transit.
Many goods are shipped in the manufacturer's original packaging which is not always suitable for an overnight parcel system.
Items such as boxes of CD's, DVD's and video tapes need to be packed with cushioning material around each item.
Goods being sent in an Expresspak also need to be protected just as much as those in a carton. Expresspaks are designed as means of carriage, not protection.
'Fragile' and 'Handle with Care' labels are no substitute for good packaging - they are for information only.
If you can hear or feel the contents of the carton moving inside then they are not packed properly.
Liquids
Liquids must be shipped in leak-free containers packed with lightweight protection.
They must also be in a leak retaining protective plastic bag.
Damaged liquids can cause contamination to other customers' goods.
Please visit Smart Packaging for supplies to protect your shipments.
