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About Those Air Cushions in Amazon Packages

theatlantic.com

21–30 of 236 posts

Re: About Those Air Cushions in Amazon Packages

#21

I don't remember the source, but I remember reading somewhere that using only standardized boxes was an innovation that results in cheaper shipping of the same products than if they were packaged in irregular boxes instead.

Probably the book The Box although that was about shipping in general.

Re: About Those Air Cushions in Amazon Packages

#22
post #17

I had to package and tape boxes at an Amazon fulfillment center over peak season one day. One of the "problems" I found with the process is the system tells you the size of box to use. You're not allowed to use a smaller size, even if it would work, only that size or larger. It also tends to overestimate the size of the item, so many boxes wind up with a lot more empty space than would be necessary, and more packing.…

UPS wants 2 inches of space between the product and the outer box... keeps real damage from happening if the outer box is slightly punctured by something.

https://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resources/ship/packaging/g...

Re: About Those Air Cushions in Amazon Packages

#25
post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Recent ones you can, but those came about during the ascent of packaged air. Old ones were just plastic. New ones you can even eat. They're made of corn.

It seems silly to use something with finite supply for something so simple to substitute.

It's not that simple. We can turn corn into petrochemicals if the relative prices change enough.

Re: About Those Air Cushions in Amazon Packages

#27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Out of curiosity, are you talking about Blue Apron? I could benefit from a similar solution

Youfoodz (horrific name, great service) actually. Delivers whole fresh meals rather than raw ingredients http://youfoodz.com I've used HelloFresh in Australia, a competitor/alternative to Blue Apron and the polystryene box they use is much much smaller because it only contains the small meat items. The Youfoodz box is much bigger https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0506/7861/files/Blog-Zarah...

HelloFresh (AU) recently switched [0][1]: they now use WoolCool (compostable & recyclable), plus gel ice packs (cut open and dispose of gel, recycle packet). Also means you don't need to return the boxes, which is handy in an apartment building.

[0]: https://www.hellofresh.com.au/recycle-your-hellofresh-packag... [1]: https://support.hellofresh.com.au/hc/en-us/articles/21774766...

Re: About Those Air Cushions in Amazon Packages

#28
post #6

These little air bags makes a lot of sense to me, I wonder why it took them so long to become popular. How did everyone live through the packing peanuts phase and not realize this is a much simpler solution?

the last package peanuts I seem to remember finding in a package were disposable by putting them in compost, which seems like an advantage over plastic bags.

I haven't seen anyone else using it yet, but iFixit uses a paper/cardboard lattice/expanded mesh as packing material.

Re: About Those Air Cushions in Amazon Packages

#29
post #2

My apartment complex has a large delivery bin area and I always wish I can leave the packaging boxes and padding/cushions in that area and only bring back the content of the box (provided that nothing is sensitive and nobody is watching). Would it be great if the delivery person can unbox the item at the delivery location with a fee and then bring the box back for recycling?

We order a from Amazon Prime Now occasionally and that stuff always just comes in a paper bag. No huge boxes, no packing material at all. Just a bag. I imagine that's because its time in transit is far lower and it's handled by only one currier. In the end, probably less efficient but at least on the packing materials side it's more efficient.

Had a prime now package delivered this morning and it was literally just the item. No box or bag. Kinda weird but it works.

Re: About Those Air Cushions in Amazon Packages

#30
post #26

> At the time, bubble wrap was invented for use as wallpaper. How would that work? Nobody wants wallpaper that they have to replace each week because it keeps popping.

http://m.mentalfloss.com/article.php?id=13092

Looks like they tried textured wallpaper and green house insulation before packing. Maybe it was a lot harder to pop in the wallpaper version?

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