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Why Honeycomb Packaging Is the Future of Sustainable Shipping?

Waqas Khan Pitafi 2025-07-08 07:05:47

Why Honeycomb Packaging Is the Future of Sustainable Shipping?

With the change in environment every day, customers are moving towards adopting sustainability in their lives. More brands are switching to better and sustainable alternatives to stay in business. Honeycomb packaging is one such alternative, and it helps in keeping products protected for a long time. Read this blog to know how this packaging is shaping the future and helping brands in achieving sustainability. 

A Sustainable Alternative to Plastic Bubble Wrap 

Honeycomb packaging is a better and eco-friendly alternative to the conventional plastic bubble wrap. While the honeycomb wrapper appears to be fragile and less sturdy than the bubble wrap, it sure offers durable protection. 

The packaging is made of sturdy Kraft and mimics the structure of the beehive with a hexagonal structure, hence the name. The cellular structure offers a protective layer, and thus it is used when shipping fragile items such as glassware or ceramics. 

sustainable alternative to plastic bubble wrap

Why More Brands Are Choosing Honeycomb Packaging?

With customers choosing more and more sustainable options, brands are turning towards eco-friendly products and packaging. Many brands have already replaced the conventional plastic packaging with cardboard, aluminium, and bamboo packaging. Choosing honeycomb packaging is not only a sustainable alternative, but it also offers the following benefits:

  • Offers Better Product Protection

While it seems thin and fragile, honeycomb packaging can protect the products to an optimum level. The hexagonal structure ensures the products remain safe during shipping and shelving. You can choose one or more layers of the packaging depending on the shipping distance and the nature of the product being packed.

  • Ensures Lightweight Packing 

Honeycomb packaging does not bear a lot of weight, which helps brands with light packaging. The weight of honeycomb packaging is less than that of bubble wrap and helps in lowering the overall weight of the package. Whether you are packing smaller items or products such as electronics or furniture, using honeycomb will offer durable protection with little to no added weight. 

  • Reduces Shipping Costs

Due to its weight, the overall shipping cost is not affected much, which in turn helps customers save money on shipping costs. This practice helps brands save more money and even attract more customers. As a brand using honeycomb packaging, you can market this fact and attract more sales and stand apart from the competition in the market. 

  • Creates a Charming Effect 

Sustainability does not mean bland and boring, even in its natural form; the brown colour, honeycomb packaging offers an elegant appearance. However, you can customize the packaging to create a distinction and attract more customers. One of the ways of customizing the packaging is to use custom shapes for the packaging. You can also dye the brown shade and get colours such as blue, pink, and even light purple. 

  • Provides a Memorable Unboxing Experience 

Leave lasting impressions on your customers with customized honeycomb packaging. Customers love an exciting unboxing experience, and this protective packaging offers just that. By customizing the packaging in different ways, you can leave your customers in awe as soon as they open the boxes. Most brands are using the honeycomb packaging as a bouquet wrap, and customers are loving this sustainable act. 

How to Ensure Sustainable Shipping with Honeycomb Packaging?

Now that you know the benefits of honeycomb packaging, it is time to ensure you are making the right choices for packaging products. There are many ways you can choose eco-friendly products and means when packing and shipping your products. Marketing your products as sustainable will help you boost sales and reach more customers. Let’s have a look at different ways you can incorporate more sustainable practices:

  • Use Eco-Friendly Packaging Boxes

Before you begin to wrap your products in honeycomb packaging, it is important to choose the perfect box. The honeycomb will only keep your products safe if there is a better and stronger barrier between external factors and the honeycomb packaging. Choosing Kraft boxes for lightweight and non-fragile items is a wise choice. 

When you're packing items that need to be shipped to distant places and are fragile, use cardboard boxes. Ceramics, furniture, and glassware can be packed in corrugated cardboard as it offers two cardboard layers with a corrugated flute. Finally, when packing high-end and limited-edition products, choose rigid boxes to offer a luxurious appeal. 

  • Pick Natural Dyes

Visual elements are used to attract customers towards the product when it is displayed on the shelf. But when you are aiming to be a sustainable brand, you must ensure that the dyes being used for the designs are not toxic. Brands often ensure they are not using petroleum-based ink dyes, as they are hard to recycle and are considered toxic. 

Water-based and soy-based ink dyes are a great alternative, and they offer beautiful and brighter colours on the packaging boxes. You can choose any colour you want, whether it’s retro, rustic, pastels, or even vibrant ones like red, orange, yellow, and more.

  • Go for Rustic Designs 

Most brands use a rustic appearance to incorporate the sustainable factor fully. Using rustic designs offers a raw and natural appeal to attract more customers. All that you need to do is use Kraft packaging in its natural brown shade and use shades of browns and blues for the designs. 

Most brands use pieces of jute and other natural elements, such as adding leaves and flowers to the packaging boxes, to complete the rustic look. You can research the market to see the trendy designs and customer demand before choosing the perfect designs and other visuals for the packaging boxes. 

Be a Sustainable Brand with Honeycomb Packaging!

Choosing honeycomb packaging will help your brand keep the products protected and reduce the carbon footprint. You can use this packaging in place of bubble wrap to attract more eco-conscious customers. Ensure that your products remain safe during shipping and shelving when they are wrapped inside the honeycomb packaging. Contact OXO Packaging today to get your free custom quote for custom packaging needs. 

Frequently Asked Questions
What makes honeycomb packaging stronger than bubble wrap or foam?

Its hexagonal cell structure disperses impact efficiently, offering lightweight yet superior shock absorption for fragile goods

Is honeycomb packaging really eco-friendly?

Yes—it’s made from recycled paper, fully recyclable and biodegradable, unlike plastic-based foam, aligning with circular economy goals

Does honeycomb packaging lower shipping costs?

Absolutely. Less weight translates to lower freight costs and reduced fuel emissions—ideal for both pallets and parcel shipments

Can honeycomb packaging replace pallets and corner buffers?

Yes—honeycomb pallets are lighter and customizable, while corner buffers protect shipments without wood or foam, simplifying shipping compliance

In what formats is honeycomb packaging offered?

It comes as wraps, cushions, void fill, pallets, corner buffers, and food-grade pouches—serving e-commerce, food, pharma, and heavier industrial needs

How do brands benefit from using honeycomb packaging?

Brands boost sustainability credentials, reduce carbon footprint, cut returns from damage, and earn consumer trust—with 81% of buyers favoring brands that choose eco-friendly packaging .

What are the limitations and how to address moisture risks?

While paper-based, moisture-resistant coatings and lamination help resist humidity; for heavy or extremely damp shipments, combining with wraps or liners works well