All about Poly Mailers
Poly mailers have grown in popularity in the eCommerce shipping business, and with good reason. Poly mailers are a cost-effective, lightweight, and durable alternative to cardboard boxes because they take up less space in carrier vehicles, lowering shipping costs.
According to Data Bridge, the market for polyethylene mailers will grow at a rate of 5% per year from 2021 to 2028 and will reach $1.7billion. Two of the most significant concerns for eCommerce businesses are ensuring that goods arrive safely to customers and lowering the expenses. Poly mailers help enterprises to achieve both.
What are poly mailers?
Poly mailers are lightweight, plastic packaging envelopes made of moisture-resistant polyethylene that composes many of the widely used plastic products in the world.
These plastic bags come in many sizes and dimensions. They provide excellent resistance to dust, tampering, and moisture, ensuring that clients receive the items in perfect condition.
There are numerous methods for shipping products to customers, and cardboard boxes will continue to be the best packing for some products. However, there are some situations when poly mailers are a far better and less expensive option.
Why are poly mailers so popular in the market?
1. Affordable
Poly mailers are almost usually more affordable than corrugated or cardboard containers, especially if purchased in bulk.
2. Weatherproof
Poly mailers are water-resistant, which is useful when mailing to multiple places across the country.
3. Smaller and lighter
Poly mailers are very thin; hence, they take less space than other shipping containers.
4. Extra padding option
Shipping damages are a common occurrence that, in many situations, can be avoided. As a result, some poly bags have a bubble-lined lining to increase security, meaning items are less likely to be damaged during the shipping process, ensuring that they reach their destination safely.
5. Reusable and recyclable
Poly mailers are durable thus reusable, making them cost-effective and environmentally friendly.
6. Lower shipping costs
Poly mailers are a lighter-weight option, resulting in lower shipping costs. As they also take up less space than boxes, they can reduce dimensional weight, saving even more shipping costs.
Types of poly mailers
1. Layflat poly mailers
These poly mailers with no bubble padding are the most common and cost-effective option. They are ideal for non-fragile objects such as clothing or well-protected fragile items.
2. Bubble mailers
Poly bubble mailers get their name from the fact that they are padded on the inside with bubble wrap to protect the items being transported. They are a little more expensive but are great for high-quality items that require additional padding to prevent damage or scratches.
3. Clearview poly mailers
This type of poly mailer features a clear front, allowing for optimum product display when the products reach customers’ doorstep. Businesses can customise the back of the mailer with branding, labels, or shipping information.
4. Tyvek poly mailers
Tyvek poly mailers are made from densely woven polyethylene fibers. They are manufactured to be more durable than other types of poly mailers.
5. Expansion poly mailers
These are heavy-duty, tamper-proof poly mailers that are great for larger objects. They are made of tough polyethylene, are tear-resistant, and have a padded bottom.
6. Eco-friendly poly mailers
These are custom poly mailers designed for eco-conscious businesses, including biodegradable, compostable, and recycled options. They are ideal for eco-friendly businesses focused on reducing waste and increasing the use of renewable energy because they are safe for both customers and the environment.
What items can eCommerce businesses ship with poly mailers?
Any items in durable packaging: If a product is already in sturdy packaging, packing it in a cardboard box will be unnecessary. On the other hand, poly mailers are ideal for delivering such items and any other soft and flat items that cannot easily be crushed, such as phone cases, a deck of playing cards, and smaller board games.
Apparel: Poly mailers are ideal for shirts, footwear, and jeans that cannot be crushed in transit. Cloth and fabric-based products such as beddings and yarn can also be shipped. When shipping clothing with delicate beading and jewellery, it is best to utilise bubble mailers to prevent damage.
Books and printed media: Bubble mailers are ideal for transporting books and printed media because they provide additional padding to avoid rips and dents.
Health and beauty products: Poly mailers are a great way to distribute health, beauty, and wellness products. Vitamins, supplements, cosmetics, and nutrition goods are all popular items in this area. These products can be safely transported using poly mailers as long as they are already encased in sturdy materials.
Are poly mailers sustainable?
The most commonly used poly mailers are not sustainable since they are derived from crude oil, a non-renewable resource.
However, if recycled, they are more sustainable since businesses may utilise them to make more items without producing more plastic from virgin crude oil. Additionally, poly mailers are made from a durable material that will ensure products last for an extended period. This will result in less waste entering the environment as they may be reused for long periods, requiring fewer materials for continuous manufacture.
Nonetheless, these plastic shipping envelopes can be hazardous to the environment, especially in high quantities. So, the following are some ways to recycle and reuse poly mailers.
How to recycle poly mailers
Most poly-mailers, made of a material called polyethylene, can be recycled. However, recycling polyethylene products like shopping bags and eco-friendly poly mailers is more complex than recycling cardboard boxes. It is also vital for wholesale poly mailers to be disposed of properly to avoid landfills.
Poly mailers can be dropped off at local grocery and retail stores with plastic grocery bags and poly mailer collection bins. The drop-off point is near the SingPost POPStation or Central Plaza near Our Tampines Hub. Before dropping off used mail packaging, removing any private information on mailing labels is crucial.
This can be done by using alcohol or nail polish remover to remove permanent marker ink or to write over private information with a dry erase marker before wiping it off. All old logos and shipping labels should be covered or blacked out as well.
How to reuse poly mailers
Poly mailers are reusable. However, the adhesive strip on the poly mailer cannot be reused. The envelope must also be opened with care so that its resealing ability is not compromised.
Instead of breaking open the seal, delicately cut open the top of the envelope. Fold the top over and secure the poly mailer with packaging tape when reusing.
The disadvantage is that poly mailers cannot be reused indefinitely because there are limited times they can be cut open and resealed with tape.
Conclusion
These plastic mailing bags are tough, resilient, and long-lasting. They are also a great way to aid the environment while ensuring product quality, protecting items, and keeping them safe during the shipping process.