Air Pillow Packaging – Key Features & Benefits
Published On:October 4, 2021 Revised On:March 16, 2023

Air Pillow Packaging - Key Features & Benefits

Air Pillows are inflatable bags that are filled with air and sealed. Similar to packing peanuts, Air Pillows are used to cushion and fill gaps inside packages to protect products from harm and keep them from shifting, crushing, or breaking during delivery, shipping, or handling.

Air Pillows are not only easy to use, but they also take up less warehouse storage space and are more eco-friendly than other types of void filler. Air Pillows are gradually taking over the market and are being used by major corporations as well as smaller businesses.

Key Features and Benefits of Air Pillows

Uninflated Air Pillows are filled and sealed using specialized air cushion packaging systems capable of inflating at a rate of 20 meters per minute. Air Pillows are appropriate for a wide range of shipping needs as well as a wide range of items and goods. Furthermore, they are more convenient and cost-effective than pre-inflated bubble wrap and other packaging materials.

Aside from these benefits, Air Pillows are lightweight and add almost no weight to freight, allowing businesses to save money on shipping costs. They take up less floor space in shipping facilities because they are purchased in their uninflatable state and only filled when needed. Thus, companies can save money on shipping because Air Pillows are less expensive for suppliers to ship out than bulkier materials like packing peanuts.

What Products Can Be Cushioned with Air Pillows?

Air Pillows can be used in various shipping applications due to their versatility. They are ideal for small and lightweight products made of a variety of materials. Due to their non-abrasive nature, air pillows are also suitable for fragile materials such as glass and ceramic and best suited for cushioning and filling voids in packages.

Air Pillows are generally thin and only filled with air, making them vulnerable to be “popped”. As a result, they are unsuitable for items with sharp edges or significant weight. Although Air Pillows help protect fragile items from shock, they may not be a suitable packaging material for delicate and fragile products, such as small figurines. In these situations, bubble wrap, which wraps around the item itself, may be the best option

How are Air Pillows Eco-Friendly?

Most Air Pillows are made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic, thus making them recyclable and a more sustainable packaging solution than other packaging alternatives such as wrapping paper, packing peanuts, and styrofoam. Furthermore, because Air Pillows are small bags filled with air, not much plastic is used to manufacture them.

Other packaging materials, such as wrapping paper, does not disappear after shipment and produce packaging waste. Packing peanuts and polystyrene, which are used to secure and protect items, are also not recyclable or biodegradable. Furthermore, because of their light weight, packing peanuts or polystyrene frequently fly out of trash bins, polluting the environment. Packaging materials, such as styrofoam, are also difficult to dispose of because of the crumbles that remain.

In comparison to these packaging materials, Air Pillows are made of 99 percent air and only 1 percent film, resulting in less waste. Furthermore, they are recyclable, easy to dispose of and take up little storage space. As a result, Air Pillows are more environmentally friendly and a better packaging alternative.

How to Recycle?

Air Pillows are reusable and useful when packing fragile goods or storing fragile items in storage rooms. However, after being reused on multiple occasions, Air Pillows will become tattered and deflated, rendering them useless. As a result, you’d have to dispose of them.

Most Air Pillows are made of recyclable and flexible plastic materials or film, similar to the type of plastic used in shopping bags – HDPE or LDPE plastic. Although many people throw them away, it is important to note some additional steps to take when recycling Air Pillows.

Air Pillows can be recycled in Singapore by depositing them in the blue recycling bins located at every block in public housing estates. Remember to remove any paper labels and puncture holes in the air pillows to release the air before placing them in the blue recycling bins. Another thing to remember is that Air Pillows made of biodegradable or compostable plastic are not recyclable and must be properly disposed.

Conclusion

Customers are increasingly turning away from traditional packaging materials in favor of sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives, so it is important to ensure that the packaging materials your company offers are sustainable and eco-friendly. The company’s commitment to using more environmentally responsible packaging will boost brand image and portray the company as socially responsible in the eyes of customers. Using more environmentally responsible and sustainable packaging also saves money in the long run.

Participating in the recycling of Air Pillows can help to create a more plastic-free environment. Click here to learn more about Air Pillows Packaging!