As the world of ecommerce begins to grow even more, there are a lot of people who want to make sure that the packaging doesn’t eat up their costs. Margins continue to get tighter, and like with retail, ecommerce does want to also reduce these costs.

A lot of times, the packaging that used to work is now way too expensive, and it dampers the business. A lot of ecommerce people want to get a better return on this, and the correct packaging is needed. But this does require some level of balance, which is why many are looking for the correct solutions for their packaging needs, and these options too.

Cardboard boxes aren’t fitting for every single instance, and now, another type of way to also get this to people, are mailers, and mailer boxes.

What They Are 

What are mailers?

Mailers are very light types of bags that are sturdy and can ship items that are light. They usually seal themselves, and it doesn’t require a sticker or tape to seal this.

They’re great for items that are light, but also those that are fragile too, as they can offer a lot of ease for transport, and it costs far less than something cheap inside a big box or anything.

There are four main types of poly mailers that you can get, and they are as follows:

• Generic poly mailers. They usually don’t offer padding and are extremely flexible and lightweight. They’re great for clothing, or stuff that doesn’t require a ton of protection.
• Bubble mailers. They’re basically a form of poly mailer that contains bubble wrap to offer better cushion.
• Eco friendly: these are the ones that are made with recycled types.
• Heavy duty: while not suited for everything, these are heavier duty, so good for heavier items.

They are great because targets can be used to store things and are found in most places to improve the packaging.

A lot of companies are jumping on the sustainability train too, so it’s easier than ever before to find these types of mailers. There are also now packaging partners that offer various options, creating more custom-branded forms of poly mailers. They also come in different sizes and shapes to accommodate the needs that are there.

For the items that don’t fill up a whole bag, you can also add some packaging peanuts and even bubble wrap to help with protecting all of this, that is if you need it for whatever reason.

Alternatives

There are also other types of different mailers if the generic mailer isn’t enough for you.The first, is the compostable mailer, which is made from totally biodegradable types of materials, and are made from paper pulp, cornstarch, and even starches from other plants.

They’re ideal for breaking down quite quickly, and they offer less emissions than regular plastic packaging.

They also take far less energy to make and produce than the plastic types, so they’re good to use.

Another one is a kraft paper bag, and this is one that’s made from kraft paper, which is an incredibly lightweight material. They also reduce the costs of shipping, and they do cost far less than metal and plastic. 

These are all good for small items that don’t require too much protection. The product that gets thrown in there should be ready to handle being unloaded and loaded, and they also should not contain anything fragile that can get broken.

Shirts, legwear, cases for phones, and even blankets do well in this.

For the bubbled types of wrapping, usually vitamins, books, and other types of sturdier items are good with this.

Ideally, use your judgment and if it’s heavy and fragile, consider an alternative type of means to package this.