Packaging is great for marketing the stuff that you have, but you also need to look at more than just the box where this came from. Box inserts are actually a great way to enhance, and boost the branding, elevating the experience of unboxing. 

It also can be good for cross-selling, feedback, and a personalized connection that comes with the market you’re going for. Here, we’ll discuss the benefits, and options of these inserts. 

What Inserts Are 

Inserts are some new additions that are put within the packaging, making a better, more impactful type of unboxing experience. 

They include materials that are printed, product types of samples, and even tiny gifts that care divided into two types of categories. 

They are: 

• Inserts for the boxes 
• Promotional types of inserts. 

The box ones are used for product protection, to further support these products so that they get to the doorstep of a customer safely. 

While the primary focus is to protect, the printing on these is possible for box inserts, to offer more branding to the interior of the box through shapes, patterns, even text sometimes. 

Promotional inserts on the flip side are what communicate to the customers for another reason rather than the product itself. Thank-you, inserts of the product samples, or even code discounts are put there. the goal of these is to bring value and also build the connections of the customer. 

Types of Inserts

Now that you’ve got an idea of the two main categories, let’s talk about each type of insert. 

First, we’ll go over the box inserts. Box inserts do range from a simpler type of product to more complex variants of materials, depending on each of the products themselves. 

Some more common material types include: 

• Corrugated cardboard 
• Foam 
• Molded pulp 
• Plastic or blister packs 

Foam is the most common because they’re super lightweight, so they won’t eat your shipping costs. They also are mostly resistant to wear and scratches. 

It also is great for glass products, or anything that’s fragile like a camera lens, since they provide extra protection against shocks and jars. 

Corrugated ones are another very versatile option and are used for durability and protection of these products during the shipping process. It also maintains sustainability by offering recyclable and renewable materials. 

But, despite the fact that they offer less protection, they are also better for high quality printing, finishing, and sustainability, which is something that foam inserts may not be able to accomplish. 

Molded pulp or a plastic one is much similar to the other two, but they are a bit different. They cannot have printing on them due to the texture of the surface. They also offer more precise molding, however, which is cool for a lot of people.

There are some differences between molded pulp and plastic though. molded pulp is good for protection and is good for sustainability. Plastic however, unlike molded pulp, is not as eco friendly, but it’s actually more food safe, which is why some people use it. 

Plastic, compared to molded, is also more lightweight, but offers greater protection. But, plastic inserts, despite their problems with environmental sustainability, are still very common in the food and medical industries. 

Printing on these only works on paper, or the cardboard ones. However, most people don’t print on these a lot.  They might if they know that it’ll enhance the unboxing that comes with this.

Overall, look at your options, and see which type of insert will work for the needs you have.