Packaging Failures in Harsh Weather Conditions—and How to Prevent them

Packaging is tough, but if you’re not careful, extreme weather can do your packaging in.   extreme conditions can wreck shipments if you’re not careful. Humidity that leaves everything wet and sticky, including the boxes that cause them to break down and exposing the packaging is one example.

Freezing temps, though it might not seem like a bi deal, can be. it can sue the item to freeze over, the possibility of it breaking growing, and might compromise the integrity of the boxes.

Desert heat is another, not just because of the heat melting the insides, the hot rays of the sun can cause UV damage to some products.

Then of course, there's monsoons. Similar to humidity, it can douse the package in water, and cause it to break down.

Again, extreme weather wrecks things, and if you’re not careful, it can wreck you. but, that’s where this post comes in, where we will go over ways to adapt your packaging, and how to prevent the weather from destroying your hard work.

Materials for Resilience 

There are materials that prevent all of this from becoming a problem.

While lamination is frowned upon because it is not eco friendly, it is a solution. More commonly, wax coatings are becoming more popular, where there's a wax attached to them, coating the packaging so that water and humidity don’t damage the items inside.

Insulated liners are used for when it gets cold, allowing for the heat to stay in. They can also be used with packaging that needs to stay a certain temperature, as it can keep the items inside at the temperature range it needs to be.

Finally, for those really humid situations, breathable wraps are also used too, in order to fight this.

In some instances, UV coatings might also be used, to protect the interior contents, but is oftentimes used with the types of ways listed here.

Weather-Responsive Labels and Warning Seals 

Having various labels that tell you if something is intact, or might have been compromised by the weather is a good thing. Some companies are implementing smart sensors to make this work, but those are a bit expensive.

For those companies trying to adapt but don’t want to break the bank, there are color-changing labels and indicators which tell you whether or not a product is compromised or not. There are also heat-sensitive adhesives which are sensitive to the heat and changes, and with such adhesives, you’ll be able to keep the heat in, and also will make it easier to keep intact. 

Designing Region-Specific Packaging 

A lot of packaging is region-specific, meaning that it fits the region at hand. In those instances, designing the correct region specific packaging is important.

If you’re shipping to the desert for instance, you want to make sure that you have the packaging protected from the heat in an insulated box.

If you’re shipping it to a wet location or a flood-prone area, then utilize packaging with a wax coating on there to make it easier for the item to also be protected.

If it’s going to a place that needs to create a breathable feeling to let some of the humidity out and away from the item, keep the wrap breathable, to protect what’s in there.

Overall, your packaging failures are caused by the inappropriate nature of your packaging. Proper preparedness and protection will stop this in its tracks, making it easier for you to not only keep the items rightfully intact, but will also keep the weather out to further enhance its durability.