What packaging supplies do businesses need, and how do you choose them?

Updated

Most businesses need a core set of packaging supplies: boxes, tape, void fill and cushioning, bubble wrap, pallet wrap, bags, and labels. Choose them by matching each material to what you ship and how it travels — a fragile item needs cushioning and a rigid box, while a palletised load needs stretch wrap and edge protection. Where standard sizes don't fit, made-to-measure or custom-printed packaging closes the gap. Then check the supplier's delivery thresholds, cut-off times, and account terms before you commit.

The core packaging categories and what each one does

Kite Packaging's product range groups supplies into a small number of practical categories. Each solves a different part of the packing problem:

Category What it's for Typical use
Boxes (corrugated/cardboard) Outer protection and structure Shipping, storage, ecommerce orders
Tapes Sealing and securing Closing boxes, bundling
Bubble wrap Surface protection and light cushioning Fragile or scratch-prone items
Void fill & cushioning Filling empty space, absorbing shock Mixed-size orders, items in oversized boxes
Pallet wrap Stabilising loads for transport Palletised shipments
Bags (including polythene) Containing, protecting, or presenting items Small parts, apparel, retail orders
Labels & printers Identification and branding Address labels, barcodes, handling marks

A useful rule: pick the outer box for strength and fit, then use void fill to stop movement inside it, and cushioning (bubble wrap or similar) directly around anything fragile. Tape and labels finish the job. If a box is much larger than the product, you're paying to ship air — void fill fixes protection but not cost.

Matching materials to what you ship

Work backwards from the product and the journey:

  • Fragile or high-value items: rigid corrugated box, item wrapped in bubble wrap, remaining space filled so nothing shifts. Test by shaking a packed box gently — if contents move, add fill.
  • Small, light ecommerce orders: a box sized close to the product, minimal void fill, tape, and a printed label. Oversized boxes increase both material and carriage costs.
  • Heavy or dense items: double-wall corrugated where needed, strong tape, and reinforced sealing.
  • Palletised loads: stretch wrap applied under tension, with corner protection if the load is uneven.
  • Soft goods: polythene bags or mailers can replace a box entirely, reducing weight and cost.

For example, a business shipping ceramic mugs should size the box to leave 2–5 cm of cushioning on every side, wrap each mug, and fill gaps — rather than dropping mugs into a large box with a handful of fill.

When standard sizes don't fit: made-to-measure and custom options

Kite's site highlights Made To Measure box creation and a custom print range for branding. These matter when:

  • Your product falls between standard box sizes and you're losing money on oversized cartons.
  • You ship at volume and want branded packaging as part of the customer experience.
  • You need a specific format (for instance, honeycomb sleeves, listed among Kite's newer products) for a particular product type.

Bespoke packaging usually has longer lead times and higher minimum quantities than standard stock, so it suits repeatable, high-volume lines rather than one-off shipments. For everything else, standard sizes plus void fill are usually cheaper and faster.

Supplier services worth checking before you order

The page evidence gives concrete terms to compare:

  • Free delivery on orders over £45 — factor this into order sizing; consolidating orders can clear the threshold.
  • Next-day delivery available Monday–Saturday, with a 16:30 cut-off (15:30 on Saturday). If you rely on next-day, plan dispatch around that cut-off.
  • Credit account with up to 30 days credit — useful for smoothing cash flow if you buy regularly.
  • Regional distribution centres nationwide and a Mobile Test Facility / packaging review service — relevant if you want help auditing what you currently use.
  • An app for ordering.

Also confirm stock availability for the specific lines you need; a broad catalogue (Kite cites over 2,500 standard products plus bespoke lines) doesn't guarantee every item is in stock at all times.

Sustainability and compliance

Two things are worth building into your choice:

  1. Eco-friendly ranges. Kite lists a sustainability range and an in-house environmental packaging team. If recycled content or recyclability matters to your customers, check the specific product rather than assuming the whole catalogue qualifies.
  2. Regulation. The site references EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) and the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), with blog posts on EPR registration and reducing EPR costs. EPR fees are typically linked to the weight and type of packaging you place on the market, so lighter packaging and right-sized boxes can reduce both material spend and compliance costs. Rules and thresholds change — verify current obligations for your business size and material types with the relevant regulator or scheme.

A practical way to decide

  1. List your top products by volume and note fragility, weight, and size.
  2. Choose an outer format (box, bag, or mailer) sized close to the product.
  3. Add cushioning and void fill only where the product needs it.
  4. Check whether a standard size works; if not, price made-to-measure against the cost of oversize boxes and fill.
  5. Compare suppliers on delivery threshold, cut-off time, account terms, and stock reliability.
  6. Review packaging annually against EPR/PPWR obligations and switch to lighter or recyclable options where they perform adequately.

If you're unsure, a supplier packaging review — Kite offers one via its team and mobile facility — can identify where you're over- or under-packing before you change your whole range.