All parties in the supply chain have a responsibility to ensure that goods can be transported safely, with the minimum level of risk to people and the goods themselves. While our team is trained to handle your goods with care, if they are not packaged properly the chances of them being damaged in transit is significantly higher. These guidelines set out the minimum standards we require in order to transport your goods safely and ensure they reach their destination in the condition intended.

Ideally, you should be packaging your goods in the manufacturer’s carton or a similar new carton. If the carton is used, you need to ensure it is in excellent condition with no compromise to its structure.

The carton must have its internal flaps intact which add to the structure of the parcel. If these are not in place, do not use the carton.

If the parcel weighs 12kg or more, you must use heavy duty double-layered board to mitigate the risk of the goods falling through the bottom of the carton.

Packaging for wine or other liquids must be double-layered board with inserts to separate the bottles.

While we strongly encourage you to use the manufacturer’s original cartons, displaying branding from high-end manufacturers is not encouraged, with generic brown cartons being preferred.

Sufficient Labeling

If there are any labels on the box from a previous shipment, they must be removed. Cartons with multiple labels have a significantly higher chance of being lost in transit.

Noting that a carton often travels thousands of kilometers and touches many hands, you must ensure that your labels are stuck down adequately for transit. You should never stick tape over a thermal label.

Labels must always be on the top of the carton where they are easy to read and never underneath the carton.

The sender details must be visible and include a contact phone number along with a mobile number for the receiver so that any issues with delivery can be quickly resolved.

Handy tip: place a duplicate address label inside the package in the event that your external label comes off.

Internal packaging

While the outside structure of the carton is critical, also packing your goods well internally is just as important. Do not leave significant excess space in the carton around the goods. This will ensure your goods will stay secure and not move around in the carton, reducing the chances of them being damaged in transit.

For any small spaces that still remain, place cushioning material internally such as high quality foam, industrial paper or similar material to minimize movement in the carton.

If your item is fragile, wrap each item separately with bubble wrap so that it can withstand the long journey ahead.

Sealing your carton

When sealing the carton, use strong tape designed for shipping. Ensure that all exposed edges of the carton are sealed using the H-tape method.

Satchels Cushioning

Even though your item may be small, it still has a significant journey ahead of it, often entailing several people handling it and potentially several thousands of kilometers of travel. To withstand the long journey, your goods must have enough cushioning around the item to make sure it isn't damaged, generally in the form of high-quality bubble wrap.

No Sharp Edges

All parcels ultimately are handled by people. If items with sharp edges are placed in a satchel, they will more than likely protrude from the satchel exposing our team and the receiver to risk of being injured. Ensure that items with sharp edges travel in a carton, or at a minimum, place abundant bubble wrap placed around the edges, which cannot be pierced by the item itself.

No Liquids or Glass

Items containing liquids or glass should never travel in a satchel. Liquids and glass must always be placed in a suitable carton with adequate protection around them, and limited space for movement, to ensure they withstand the journey.

Unboxed Items

Unpackaged items such as vehicle parts or industrial equipment etc. must be wrapped with sufficient padding to protect any sharp edges which may be exposed. Labels must be applied so they are clearly visible and the barcode can be easily scanned.

Mitigating Risk

GP Supply Chain reserves the right to reject freight that is not sufficiently packaged and appears to be of a high/medium risk of being damaged. Items such as computers, electrical goods and goods of high value should not be transported in packaging which identifies the content. It is suggested that these goods be wrapped in plain packaging to mitigate the risk of theft and loss.