Bespoke packaging ready for dispatch in a warehouse
Those working in logistics often focus first on transport costs, warehouse layout or delivery times. Packaging is regularly overlooked, even though it has a direct impact on both a company’s costs and its sustainability. A box that is too large for its contents requires extra filling material, takes up more space on the lorry and results in unnecessarily high postage costs. With large volumes, this has a greater impact than many business owners expect.
Standard boxes are rarely the cheapest option
Many e-commerce companies work with a limited number of standard sizes, simply because it makes administration easier. The result: products are often shipped in boxes that are too large, filled with padding to prevent damage during transit. That padding costs money, takes up space and creates extra waste for the customer. Companies that take a critical look at their dispatch volumes often discover that a small proportion of their product range accounts for the lion’s share of dispatch costs – precisely because the packaging does not match the shape and weight of the product.
Customised packaging pays off sooner than you might think
Packaging that fits the product perfectly not only prevents damage, but also delivers immediate savings on filling material, loading space and postage costs. For companies shipping large or irregular volumes, having bespoke packaging developed can make a noticeable difference to logistics costs within just a few months. Particularly for products with an unusual shape, fragile contents or high volumes, a bespoke solution is often cheaper than continuing to optimise within a standard format.
Sustainability as a by-product of efficiency
Interestingly, the business case for bespoke packaging often aligns with sustainability goals. Less filling material means less waste for the end customer, and a more compact box means more parcels can fit into the same lorry – which in turn results in fewer journeys and lower CO₂ emissions. For companies that are already under pressure to make their supply chain more sustainable, packaging optimisation is therefore one of the few measures that reduces both costs and environmental impact, without the customer noticing anything other than a more compact parcel on their doormat.