Tapes, stretch film and void fill for e-commerce sellers

For an online seller, every damaged delivery costs twice — the replacement and the customer's trust. The box gets most of the attention, but the tapes, wraps and fillers inside decide whether the product survives the courier journey. They are also a steady monthly expense, so buying them well adds up.

Packing tape

• BOPP tape is the common brown or clear tape for sealing cartons. Ask about width, length per roll and adhesive strength.
• Printed tape with your brand name adds a professional look and signals tampering.
• Cheap tape that peels off in summer heat or winter cold is a false saving — test a roll in your conditions.

Stretch film

Stretch film wraps pallets and bundles of cartons for transport.

• Ask about thickness (micron) and roll width.
• Hand rolls suit small operations; machine rolls suit high volumes with a wrapping machine.

Cushioning and void fill

Empty space inside a box lets products move and break.

• Bubble wrap protects fragile items. Ask about bubble size and roll dimensions.
• Air pillows fill space cheaply and are light, which can lower volumetric weight.
• Paper void fill and honeycomb paper are plastic-free options many customers now prefer.
• Foam sheets and corners protect edges of electronics and furniture.

Courier bags and mailers

For clothing, books and non-fragile goods:

• Tamper-proof courier bags in different sizes, with or without your printing.
• Padded mailers add light protection for small items.
• Check that the bag size matches your common products to avoid wasted material.

Buying in bulk sensibly

1. Track what you use in a normal month for each item.
2. Ask suppliers for prices at monthly quantities, not one-off purchases.
3. Standardise on a few sizes to simplify stock.
4. Keep a buffer before sale seasons, when demand — and supplier lead times — rise.

Test before you switch

Pack a few orders with a new supplier's material and ship them to yourself or a friend in another city. It is the quickest way to check real-world performance.

Mistakes to avoid

• Using too big a box with lots of filler. Oversized packages raise volumetric weight and shipping charges. Match box sizes to your top-selling products.
• Cheap tape on heavy cartons. A carton that opens in transit costs more than a year's difference in tape price.
• Not recording damage reasons. When a return comes back damaged, note how it was packed. Patterns show you exactly which material to upgrade.

What to include in your enquiry

• Items needed with sizes (tape width, film thickness, bag sizes)
• Monthly quantity for each
• Printing requirements, if any, and your logo files
• Delivery location and how often you want deliveries
• Whether you need GST invoices

Compare packaging suppliers in packaging materials and supplies, or post your requirement with your monthly quantities.