Which Packaging Do You Need?

If you’re a bit stuck as to the best packaging for your requirements, then we can help! We know how hard it can be to choose between the different types available, so just use our handy Packaging Finder to help you find your way to the perfect packaging for your needs!

If you’re still pondering, then we need to know a bit more about you.

Do you need to send single/small loads, or multiple products/larger loads in each shipment?

If single/small, then you need packaging that will fulfil the need without taking up too much space. Unless you’re shipping something quite bulky or with sharp edges, then it sounds like our Postal Pockets will do the trick!

These are a great low-cost system for smaller orders and come in 3 sizes (S/M/L). The dimensions are as below:

• Small: Internal Dimensions: 200 x 250mm
• Medium: Internal Dimensions: 350 x 250mm
• Large: Internal Dimensions: 600 x 250mm

Postal pockets are suitable for sending both fresh and frozen produce with a suitable ice pack inside. Typically used for the safe shipment of drugs, vaccines or drinks, these are made with food grade insulation and are 100% recyclable. Fully sealed with no visible edge, they also have a unique self-sealing strip for additional anti-tamper properties. They can be stored flat and require no assembly before use.

If you need to send multiple products or larger items, then you’ll need something a full shipping system such as EnviroCool, RecycleAir or a Polystyrene Shipper (with or without an outer box). For chilled or frozen deliveries, suitable ice packs/trays will also need to be used to maintain the temperature inside, regardless of which system you use.

Using a complete shipping system takes away any need to buy in separate products from different suppliers, and provides a safe, cushioned, strong & temperature controlled solution to sending multiple products via the courier network.

Deciding which system to use

Deciding which system and inner liner to use again depends on your needs.

RecycleAir

RecycleAir is one of our eco-friendly temperature-controlled shipping system options. It is a full system, complete with inner liner and outer box that maintains the chilled cold chain for a minimum of 24 hours using suitable ice packs. It is fully recyclable; the inner liner is made from LDPE using RESY4 material so will need to be sent to a specialist recycling plants, and the cardboard box can be recycled at all council recycling plants. RecycleAir has “Double Bubble” cushioning layers for extra protection and is waterproof with a leak resistant bottom.

RecycleAir comes in 4 different sizes and can be purchased either as a complete system or as a liner only.

EnviroCool

Our eco-friendliest shipping system, EnviroCool is our “environmentally cool packaging” system. It ticks all the boxes including being recyclable by all local council collections, made of up to 30% recycled material, biodegradable, compostable and vegan kind. It is also moisture resistant due to its Kraft paper outer layers and created from natural plant-based FSC paper.

EnviroCool comes in 3 different sizes and can be purchased either as a complete system or as a liner only.

ReflectiveAir

Reflective Air Bags/Liners are a great space saving solution as they can be stored flat and require no assembly; we offer 2 types, 2D & 3D depending on what it is you need to pack. These come in a range of sizes with 2D being “one size fits all” and 3D in either single layer or double layer. They are 100% recyclable & reusable and will certainly reduce your storage and transit costs; as a direct comparison, they are 92% more space efficient than the equivalent number of Polystyrene boxes when stacked onto a typical sized lorry.

Polystyrene / Foam liners

If you prefer this option, we have worked hard to make these as efficient as possible and our EPS range, whilst representing the traditional polystyrene shipper known and loved by many distributors, reaches the next level in that we stock the largest range of sizes available in the industry to suit most sizes of box. We have two types available: Standard and PolyPlus – the difference being that PolyPlus boxes come with the added extra of an outer corrugated cardboard sleeve. Neither have drain holes as standard but we can add these in if needed. Just let us know at time of order.
All variants are certified food safe, water tight and as they are 2% Styrene and 98% air, they are as eco friendly as they can be.

Do you need to present your end users with a short-term packaging option that they can transport their chilled/frozen goods home in (for example, chilled meat)?

If the answer to this is yes, then our Insulated Cool Bags are what you need. These make a great ‘bag for life’ alternative and can be branded with your logo to make them the packaging that keeps on performing for you, as well as your customer, long after they’ve left the shop. These are certified food grade safe and have an antibacterial coating that prevents up to 99.8% bacterial growth. Their waterproof and wipe clean for reuse properties make these a real winner, especially as they are available in a wide range of sizes with or without a gusset for expanded capacity.

Do you want to ship chilled/frozen products with ice packs that you can guarantee are food grade safe?

Ice Packs have always been our core business and we are the largest producer of them in the UK. We manufacture them in-house so we know exactly what’s in them, and with 4 types available in a huge range of sizes, we can cater for your every ice pack need!

• Our Water Ice Packs are the strongest, purest and cleanest on the market, that’s a fact. We put each and every one through a vigorous filtration process including UV light treatment, and then send quality controlled samples of every single production run to an independent laboratory for testing. Water ice packs are malleable when freezing and as such can be wrapped around products to provide a close contact temperature if desired. These come clear as standard and we find this gives extra peace of mind as to the pureness of the water inside. They will not stick together when frozen and we can colour them to your spec if preferred.
• Our Gel Ice Packs use a phase gel formula mixed with the highly purified water as used in our Water Ice Packs to give an ice pack that remains in more of a uniform shape when frozen. These are great if you need them to lie flat, but they are harder to manipulate during the freezing process. These are blue to signify the difference easily between these and the water ice packs.
• Our Hydro-Freeze+™ Ice Packs and EasiFreeze™ ice packs have been specially formulated for use with frozen food. They are a safe alternative to traditional dry-ice, made from a non-toxic approved food safe formula, and are just as effective.
  • HydroFreeze+™ ice packs need to be frozen at or below -20 °C to activate the specially engineered phase change liquid inside, that has been once again mixed with our highly purified water.
  • EasiFreeze™ ice packs need to be frozen at or below -30°C to activate the specially engineered phase change liquid inside, that has been once again mixed with our highly purified water.

All variants of our ice packs are:

• FSA & FDA compliant
• Available in freezer & courier boxes, depending on the quantities you need
• Available in a range of sizes from 1 pocket upwards
• Branded with our logo to give additional reassurance to your end users as to the quality of the product
• Fully customisable with your logo if desired
• Burst strength tested to over 200kg
• Subject to a 3-stage filtration process and UV light sterilisation
• Subject to independent testing from every single production run
• Filled to capacity using our own “Seal through Liquid” technology

If you have any questions or would like to discuss our products further, please give us a call on 01494 530182