Shipping Tips

 Why Is Dunnage Necessary For Your Shipments?

Shipping-related damages can be quite devastating for your business. These damages can result in returns, refunds, lost profit, and lost customers.

So, what should you do to prevent damages during shipping? Well, the right way is to up the dunnage game. For this purpose, you will have to make sure to use cushioning materials that may protect your goods during transit. There are a lot of materials that you can choose from in this regard. The main aim is to protect your goods from bumps and shocks.

In this article, we will discuss what dunnage is and how it can help prevent damage to your packages and shipments.

What is dunnage?

Dunnage refers to the use of padding items that keep the items safe from the effect of bumps and impacts. Items that you can use in this regard may include bubble wrap, solid plastic, packaging peanuts, and air pillows.

To protect different products, you are going to need to use different types of protective materials. For instance, you will need to use bubble wrap or foam to protect a glass vase. On the other hand, you will not need to use anything when shipping a mattress or a pillow.

For the dunnage to work best, you will have to make sure that you are using the right-sized outer packaging for the product that you are shipping. There should be room for the packaging materials in that outer packaging container or mailer.

Reasons you should use dunnage

The shipping process can be unpredictable. From unforgiving weather to poor package handling, there are a lot of factors that can result in product damage.

The best chance to protect your goods during shipping is to cushion those using different materials, which are essentially shock absorbent. Here are the reasons you will need to use dunnage.

• Physical damage can be the most significant reason for returns and refunds. Damage occurs when the product is exposed to shocks and impacts. With the help of dunnage, you can protect your items from any external force tending to damage sensitive items. You will also need to use dunnage inside the package to keep the contents separated from each other.
• Damage to a product can occur due to environmental factors too. You will need to make sure that your shipment is protected from water and moisture. The best way to protect your items from environmental damage is to keep them above the deck. You can also use dunnage inside the package to protect the inner contents.
• Some items can be significantly difficult to handle. Shippers use wooden dunnage to make those items easy to handle. Such dunnage aims at distributing the shipment’s weight.
• You can put dunnage in your shipment to absorb shocks. Using dunnage inside the package prevents vibration of the inner contents from causing damage to each other. Such shipments remain safe even if they fall accidentally.

You can discuss with your packaging or shipping supplier regarding dunnage options. Based on the items that you ship, your packaging supplier will give you a nice piece of advice regarding the cushioning materials you can use.