When searching for suppliers of cardboard box packaging or for sustainable packaging solutions, it is not only price and speed that you care about; trust and reliability are important considerations. A reliable packaging supplier can eliminate the stress of damaged shipments, dissatisfied customers, and possible compliance difficulties. So what are the characteristics that separate a quality packaging supplier from one that is average — or even potentially dishonest?
Importance Of Trust In Packaging
A packaging supplier is not just an entity that sends you boxes. The primary responsibility of a packaging supplier is to provide an effective means of making sure that your product is well protected, as well as helping support the branding of your company by providing the end consumer with an excellent experience when receiving a product. When shipping bulky, premium, or fragile products, you want your packaging to be consistent, reliable, and to conform to necessary safety and sustainability requirements.
Working with a vendor committed to providing high-quality packaging with complete transparency can significantly decrease the risk of your products being returned, lost in transit, or otherwise damaging your reputation.
Identifying Trustworthy Suppliers
The following are the primary indicators that you should use when assessing the integrity of your potential packaging suppliers, regardless of whether you are seeking basic shipping cartons or more eco-forward, artisan packaging.
1. Accepted Certifications and Compliance
The best sign that a packaging company is reputable is by demonstrating the ability and willingness to provide accepted certifications as proof of reputable business practices; examples include:
FSC – Forest Stewardship Council (paper/board from responsibly managed forests), ISO 9001 (Environmental Management System), ISO 14001 (Environmental Management System), AS 8000 (Australian Standard for Social Compliance), etc.
Certifications should include the expiry date and certificate number, and the supplier should have documented evidence readily available.
Eco-Friendly or Sustainable Packaging Suppliers must have certifications to back their claims of being environmentally friendly or sustainable, and those certifications should be verified through independent audits.
2. Companies Have Excellent QC and Testing Procedures
A reputable packing company does more than just talk about quality; they enforce and maintain quality through thorough QC practices.
For example, in the production of corrugated and cardboard boxes, there are several accepted types of standardized testing procedures – Edge Crush Test, Bursting Strength Test, Grammage Test, Delamination Resistance, Adhesion Test, etc.
Reputable Suppliers provide prototyping/samples before the start of production. This will give the end user the ability to verify the strength of the material, the print quality of the materials used in the production, and determine if the finished product meets the expectations of the end user.
Lastly, reputable Suppliers conduct final inspections before shipping (random sampling) of the boxes that were produced in the event there was a mistake that the packing company did not catch during the production process.
3. Keep You Informed and Provide Excellent Service
The responsiveness and willingness to share information about their manufacturing facilities, lead times for production, and quality control are evident in the way a company communicates. Suppliers don’t try to hide behind marketing jargon; they provide clear price breakdowns for the various costs associated with producing your custom printed items (setup fee, printing fee, finishing fee, etc.), including delivery timeframes, different methods for delivering the product, shipping method, and other potential associated costs.
Another aspect of a commitment to working with you, rather than just producing generic products, is whether or not a supplier offers customization options such as size, print options, different inserts, and other eco-friendly product concepts.
4. Production Capacity and Long-term Reliability
It’s perfectly acceptable to begin working with a small company as a starting point, but it’s critical to be able to work with a manufacturer that can support your growth and allow for scaling up production as you continue growing your business without suffering delays and/or sacrificing quality. A reputable manufacturer will have sufficient capacity to consistently produce your orders, and will have a documented history of producing small- to large-sized production runs.
Reliable delivery performance is also crucial. Timely delivery, organized logistics, batch delivery support, or warehousing services all contribute to mitigating potential disruptions in your supply chain.
5. Sustainability and Ethical Practices
Many businesses are increasingly concerned with the environment, so it is becoming increasingly common for the manufacturers supplying them with packaging to offer sustainable options for the materials being used in the production of the packaging. Make sure to look for suppliers providing materials that are either recycled or are responsibly sourced, as well as packaging that is recyclable, biodegradable inserts, and/or eco-friendly printing options.
Packaging that is sustainable isn’t just about “green claims.” It demonstrates that the company has a long-term vision for its business and takes into account ethical sourcing and environmental responsibility. Those types of values typically transfer to their quality and reliability as well.
Red Flags to Watch Out For
Oftentimes, if you find a supplier that you feel is a good match for your company, but you see any of these warning signs, you need to be cautious and thoroughly evaluate these red flags before committing to them.
- They either do not have certifications to show you or their certifications are either expired or unverifiable by an official third party.
- The supplier does not provide an address for the manufacturing facility, does not provide business information that is clear and transparent, or appears to be acting more as a broker rather than as a manufacturer.
- The supplier will not provide samples or prototypes, will not allow for a factory visit or video walkthrough.
- Extremely low pricing and minimal information on the product (e.g., “too cheap to be true”) is often indicative of either low-quality materials being used or a lack of quality control during the production of the materials.
- Poor or slow response times from a supplier, lack of clear and transparent communication relating to logistics, hidden fees, or lack of clarity regarding lead times for delivery are all red flags that could potentially create problems for you if you decide to proceed with this supplier as a source for packaging after the production runs have commenced.
“If a supplier cannot or will not share documentation, samples, and/or physical location of the facility with you, you will be treating them as a black box. The risk does not warrant this practice.”
Why it is Important to Use Cardboard Box Suppliers that Provide Eco-Friendly Cardboard Boxes
When purchasing Eco-Friendly Cardboard Boxes, all companies should use these eco-friendly guidelines as they relate to Cardboard Box Suppliers. Before making your final selection, businesses should do their due diligence and evaluate Cardboard Box Suppliers that have a long history of providing the highest quality Cardboard Box products and have reliable Cardboard Box Packaging Suppliers.
- Eco-Friendly Packaging Suppliers should have an ecologically responsible product line and have verified certification from a third-party certifying agency.
- Cardboard Box Packaging Suppliers should utilize transparent quality control by using multiple inspection points throughout the manufacturing process.
- Cardboard Box Packaging Suppliers should be committed to ethical practices in the manufacture and marketing of their Cardboard Boxes.
- Cardboard Box Packaging Suppliers should have established business practices and operational systems that will help to minimize both waste and materials used to produce the products.
Conclusion
As a business owner, when selecting your packaging partner, you should be looking for a long-term relationship with your packaging supplier. Select a packaging supplier that not only has a competitive price but is a trustworthy manufacturer of Cardboard Box Packaging, so you can count on them to provide consistent product quality, ongoing communication, and environmentally-responsible products for your business.
When you are reviewing various Cardboard Box Packaging Suppliers or considering Eco-Friendly Cardboard Box Suppliers, remember that cheaper does not always mean the safest option. For more information, please visit the Yiruixing Packaging Company’s website for an overview of its packaging products and commitment to eco-friendly packaging products.
FAQs
What certifications should a trustworthy packaging supplier have?
Examples of Certifications to look for: FSC Certification; ISO 9001 Certification; ISO 14001 Certification; Additional Certifications for Compliance/Sustainability.
Why are packaging samples necessary?
Packaging will allow you to test the strength of the materials used for your product(s), print quality, and accuracy prior to producing the final product(s).
What quality tests matter for cardboard boxes?
Cardboard box quality tests include Edge Crush Test, Burst Strength, Grammage, and Adhesion/Delamination.
How to verify if Eco-Friendly Packaging claims are real?
Request Certifications, Proof of Recycled Content, and Confirmation of Sustainable Manufacturing Practices.
What red flags indicate an untrustworthy supplier?
Lack of Certifications; Failure to provide samples; Pricing that is difficult to understand/unclear; Failure to respond promptly; suspiciously low Quotes.
