Packaging electronics: The crucial difference between packaging foam and bubble wrap

If you sell electronics on Amazon or eBay, there’s a crucial choice you’ll need to make for the sake of your customers’ satisfaction: what type of packaging are you using? Packaging foam or bubble wrap?

Don’t be fooled into thinking it doesn’t matter. The right kind of packaging can be the difference between a satisfied customer and one who writes a negative seller review. 1 in 10 packages that are ordered online arrive damaged in some way. And damaged electronics can be a problem, because of how delicate they can be.

The truth is that packaging foam better equips you to deal with the things that can go wrong when shipping electronics. Bubble wrap isn’t reliable enough to protect against scratches on sensitive surfaces like smartphone screens, and in the worst cases, it tends to leave marks. Polyurethane, or PU foam is ideal for packing electronics with sensitive surfaces because of how soft and lightweight it is, and how it protects those surfaces from unwanted abrasions.

Bubble wrap also doesn’t have the same resistance to liquids that PE packaging foam does. Moisture and electronics have never mixed well, and polyethylene, or PE foam has a closed cell structure, so it won’t absorb moisture or allow moisture to seep into your electronics. Both types of foam also come in anti-static forms, so that no electrical charges build up and fry your products from within.

Are you convinced yet? The Foam Factory has a collection of electronics-friendly packaging foams for you to explore. Make sure to check it out.