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Protective Packaging: Keep Products Safe in Transit

Everything you need to protect your products from warehouse to doorstep. Air cushion systems for speed and efficiency, paper solutions for plastic-free protection, and honest guidance on choosing the right approach for your specific products.

What is protective packaging?

Protective packaging is any material used inside a shipping box to prevent the contents from being damaged during transit, storage or handling. It includes void fill (materials that fill empty space and stop products moving), cushioning (materials that absorb impact and shock), wrapping (materials that protect product surfaces from scratches and abrasion), and blocking and bracing (materials that hold products firmly in position).

The right protective packaging depends on what you're shipping, how fragile it is, how far it's travelling, and what experience you want your customer to have when they open the box. A bottle of wine needs different protection from a laptop, which needs different protection from a candle, which needs different protection from a t-shirt. There's no one-size-fits-all answer — which is exactly why we offer multiple solutions and honest advice on which to use when.

Types of protective packaging we supply

Air cushion packaging

Desktop machines that inflate rolls of recycled film into protective cushions, bubble quilts and tubes. The most space-efficient and cost-effective protective packaging for businesses shipping at any volume. Films contain 50% recycled content and are 100% recyclable.

Ideal for: Void fill, fragile item wrapping, blocking and bracing. E-commerce, retail, electronics, gifts, homeware, food and drink.

Paper void fill & protective paper

Manual, automatic and padded paper dispensing systems that produce recyclable paper void fill and cushioning on demand. 100% plastic-free, biodegradable and easily recyclable by your customers.

Ideal for: Plastic-free packaging requirements, gift and premium brands, fragile items needing wrapping and cushioning.

Gummed paper tape

Water-activated paper tape that bonds permanently with cardboard. Stronger than plastic tape, tamper-evident, and fully recyclable with the box. Secures your protective packaging inside and provides the final seal.

Ideal for: All box sealing applications. Particularly valuable where security, tamper-evidence or recyclability matter.

Honeycomb paper wrap

Expandable kraft paper that stretches into a 3D honeycomb mesh for wrapping products. Beautiful presentation, good cushioning, 100% recyclable. Available as rolls and in dispenser boxes.

Ideal for: Gift wrapping, premium unboxing, surface protection for irregularly shaped items.

Choosing protective packaging by product type

What You ShipPrimary RiskRecommended Protection
Glass, ceramics, crockeryImpact breakageAir cushion bubble wrap + cushion void fill
Electronics (phones, tablets)Impact & staticAir cushion pillows for snug fit
Bottles (wine, spirits, oils)Impact breakageAir cushion tubes or bubble wrap
Clothing, textiles, soft goodsMovement, creasingLight paper void fill or tissue
Gifts, candles, homewaresImpact + presentationHoneycomb paper or padded paper
Books, prints, flat itemsBending, corner damageCardboard edge protection + light void fill
Mixed/multi-item ordersItems hitting each otherAir cushion pillows between items
Heavy industrial partsMovement, crushingReinforced blocking & bracing

Not sure what's right for your specific products? Our free try before you buy service takes the guesswork out. Send us a typical order, and we'll repack it using our recommended materials with a full comparison report.

Talk to a packaging expert

Tom has helped businesses across e-commerce, retail, logistics, pharma, food & drink, gift and homeware sectors find the right protective packaging. No sales pitch — just practical advice based on what you actually ship.

Get Expert Advice