Parcel mailing bags- Poly Mailers vs. Paperboard Mailers vs. Bubble Mailers

E-commerce businesses ship their products mostly through mailers. But while choosing parcel mailing bags, there are a couple of things that matter. The package needs to look good, be easy to assemble and cuts the shipping cost.

This is why jiffy envelopes are the favoured packaging material of many e-commerce businesses. They cut the shipping cost by a lot and are a perfect choice for non-fragile, small merchandise.

However, there is a small problem.

There are so many alternatives in the market for shipping mailers that it can get really confusing. From paperboard mailers to small padded envelopes to plastic mailers, each has some benefits and drawbacks.

Poly mailers

Poly mailers or plastic postage bags are protective moisture-resistant bags made from polyethene film. They are waterproof and highly durable.

You will find them in a number of variations both in size and colour. Grey mailing bags and white poly mailers are the most commonly used ones. But you can customise the colours and sizes according to your products.

The online textile industry uses these types of poly bags a lot. However, they have some drawbacks which are being criticised by experts.

One of the major cons of plastic mailing bags is that they are made of plastic. The order cost is high and is widely known for being non-recyclable in most cases.

Although, some packaging companies are making efforts to make these bags eco-friendly. Another important con of poly mailers is that they don’t work for every item.

They don’t have a particular structure which makes them a very risky choice for fragile items like jewellery. You need small padded envelopes or bubble mailers for that.

You could wrap the items with bubble wrap, but it adds up time, expenses, and shipping costs.

Paper board mailers

If you need to send out documents or small garments, paper board mailers are a perfect choice. Paper board envelopes have a definite structure, suited to keep rigid, fragile items flat during shipping.

Paper board mailing bags are made of paper pulp which is a recyclable material. For quick shipping, these are the best options. They are available in many sizes and cuts transportation costs by a lot.

Compared to bubble mailers, these have a self-sealing technique, require no void filling or packing tape, and save up to 75% storage space. You can also print on them by adding your company’s logo and other information.

However, the biggest drawback of paper board parcel mailing bags is that they aren’t appropriate for carrying heavy items. A slightly bigger and broader item won’t even fit inside the bag. They can be easily torn and don’t have waterproof quality.

Bubble mailers or small padded envelopes

Bubble mailers are the perfect choice for fragile shipping items like cosmetics, small jewellery, or even garments.

Some electronic companies also use these small padded envelopes to ship headphones, pen drives, memory cards, etc.

These bags come in plastic or paper materials. But the inside is layered with bubble wraps or another padding. They give an added protection to the products inside. As the quality of these bubble mailers goes up, so does the size of the bubbles. And bigger bubbles mean more protection.

Although these padded jiffy envelopes are designed for fragile items, they aren’t for bulkier products. Heavy products can easily bend the envelope, thus compromising the safety of things inside.

How to choose?

E-commerce packaging comes in all forms of shapes and sizes. So, whether you choose plastic mailing bags or paperboard mailers, it ultimately depends on the type of product you are shipping.

Each has its unique features and flexibility when it comes to a cost-efficient way of shipping products. But it also matters the quality of your packaging materials. Parcel mailing bags are anyway very lightweight. Add to that you get cheap supplies; the result can be disastrous.

As an e-commerce brand, you CANNOT compromise on the quality of your packaging supplies. And that’s why you should choose your suppliers wisely. Get an experienced, trustworthy distributor like Wellpack Europe for a cost-efficient, secure packaging option.