However for the uninitiated one, poly mailers are a widely used e-commerce shipping option. Technically defined as “polyethylene mailers,” poly mailers are lightweight, weather-proof, easy-to-send envelopes often used as a shipping alternative for corrugated cardboard boxes. Poly mailers are also flexible, self-sealing, and ideal for shipping apparel and other non-fragile items. They offer strong protection against dirt, moisture, dust, and tampering, to ensure your items arrive at your customer’s doorstep intact and secure.
In this piece, we’ll explore the nitty-gritty behind what poly mailers actually are, various uses, and how they can help e-commerce companies ship merchandise easily, effectively, and on the cheap.
What Are Poly Mailers Made of?
Poly mailers are made of polyethylene—a light, synthetic resin that composes the most widely-used plastic in the world. Polyethylene is used to produce everything from shopping bags to clear food wrapping, detergent bottles, and even automobile fuel tanks.
Poly Mailer Varieties
That’s no doubt that. No one-size-fits-all shipping solution with poly mailers. In fact, there are many different types to choose from:
Layflat Poly Mailers
Layflat poly mailer bags are basically the industry standard. If you’ve ever ordered something from a popular e-commerce company, you’ve probably received it in a layflat poly mailer. It’s a flat plastic bag that can hold a wide array of items, is good for items that don’t need a lot of cushioning, and can be easily affixed with stamps and sealed with a self-adhesive strip.
Clear View Poly Mailers
Clear view poly mailers are a solid choice for shipping print materials like catalogs, brochures, and magazines. They’re completely transparent (hence the clear view) on one side with an opaque backside that’s perfect for postage, labels, and other shipping information.
Bubble-Lined Poly Mailers
For fragile goods that don’t necessarily need a fully packaged box, bubble-lined poly mailers offer extra cushioning and added protection. They’re a low-cost way to send small, delicate items to customers and are usually self-sealable.
Expansion Poly Mailers
Expansion poly mailers come with an expandable, durable seam along the side that makes it easier and more efficient to ship bulky items. These work well for shipping large items like jackets, sweatshirts, books or binders.
Returnable Poly Mailers
As we all know, product returns are one of the many inherent costs of doing business online. Returnable poly mailers are a popular way to ship products while planning ahead for potential returns (and are often included in initial shipments). They have two self-seal adhesive closures, offering customers the ability to conveniently return an order directly to your receiving address.
Recycled Poly Mailers
If you’re trying to build a more eco-friendly, sustainable business, 100% recycled poly mailer bags are made with a mixture of post-industrial and post-consumer materials and have a significantly lower carbon footprint than their virgin counterparts.
A Cost-Effective Shipping Option
One of the biggest advantages of poly mailers is their affordability, for both purchasing and shipping. For instance, poly mailers can be shipped via USPS First Class Mail, for lightweight packages (under 13 oz), starting at just $0.49. (Try out our USPS postage calculator for an idea of actual discounted rates when using Shippo.) In terms of purchasing, when buying in bulk, poly mailers ring in at around $0.25 per unit, while mailer boxes of a similar size can cost upwards of $1.25 each.
Made for Easy Storage
Spatial relationships don’t have to be your strong suit to see why shipping boxes—even if they’re collapsed—take up more space than poly mailer bags. Cardboard can create a lot of clutter in the packaging process, turning your fulfillment area into a bit of a… hazard zone. Poly mailers, on the other hand, are simple to lay out and pack products into and they don’t require the abundance of assembly that comes with corrugated cardboard boxes or honeycomb paper roll.
Designed for Durability
Weather-proof, water/dust resistant and not easily torn, poly mailers are able to withstand a wide range of conditions without compromising the contents inside.
Optimal Uses for Poly Mailers
Poly mailers are nothing if not versatile and they work well for fabric-based goods like clothing and textiles. Certain types of hats and shoes ship easily in poly mailers, too. And boxed products that need an added layer of protection like jewelry boxes, shoe boxes, and small toys also travel well in poly mailer bags.
The important things to consider when shipping with poly mailers is whether the items are fragile (in which case, a bubble-lined poly mailer or corrugated box or Aircraft Box with padding or void fill might be better) and whether they will fit in a small, medium or large-sized mailer.
For reference, here’s a little breakdown of sample goods paired with poly mailers of each size:
Post time: Oct-20-2022