Packaging Tips
DPD is committed to delivering its customers goods in a careful and timely manner.
As parcels are handled several times during this process, all items carried need to be packed to a high standard to ensure that they arrive in pristine condition.
Packaging Tips
| General | |
| Always use a strong, rigid carton | |
| Use a carton made of high quality corrugated cardboard preferably double walled to ensure strength, durability and protection | |
| Avoid using a carton more than once as it's strength and therefore the protection it offers is reduced the more times it is handled | |
| Choose the correct size of carton to match the contents - under-filled boxes are likely to collapse, and over-filled to burst open | |
| If the carton is under-filled, use padding materials such as polystyrene chips and shredded paper to fill it out | |
| Wrap all items separately within the carton with protective cushioning such as bubble wrap | |
| If possible ensure no items are touching the walls of the carton | |
| Seal the carton with strong tape designed for shipping - everyday sticky sellotape is not sufficient | |
| Ensure all of the carton is sealed securely, with the flaps taped down along the middle and on both ends over the corners | |
| When putting the carton together, use strong staples or tape to ensure the base is secure and will not come open in transit | |
| Many goods are shipped in the manufacturer's original packaging, which is not always suitable for an overnight parcel system | |
| Items such as boxes of CDs, DVDs and video tapes need to be packed with cushioning material around each item | |
| Goods being sent in an Expresspak also need to be protected, just as much as those in a carton: Expresspaks are designed as means of carriage not protection | |
| 'Fragile' and 'Handle with Care' labels are no substitute for good packaging - they are for information only | |
| If you can hear or feel the contents of the carton moving inside, then they are not packed properly | |
| Liquids | |
| Liquids must be shipped in leak-free containers packed with lightweight protection | |
| Containers must also be in a leak-retaining protective plastic bag | |
| Damaged containers of liquids can cause contamination to other customers' goods | |
| Packing recommendations | |
| To reduce the risk of shock damage and movement inside the package, we recommend you use a combination of one of the following types of packing material: | |
| Loosefill packing, e.g., polystyrene chips | |
| Expanded polystyrene foam | |
| Polystyrene sheets or blocks | |
| Bubble wrap | |
| Foam rubber Geber | |
| Screwed-up newspaper or any other similar item |
