HexcelPack reveals paper wrapping system for plastic-replacement shipping protection

17 Jun 2021 --- HexcelPack is unveiling a protective paper-based wrapping system for product shipping as a cost-effective alternative to bubble wrap and other plastic or foam-based materials. Three leading US retailers use the HexcelWrap system. 

The solution uses cushioning paper, delivering product protection and packing simplicity for e-commerce, retail catalog, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products, and third-party logistics and contract packaging applications.

Utilizing “groundbreaking” slit paper technology, HexcelPack converts extensible paper into a three-dimensional, internationally patented cushioning product by making precise cuts at specific angles.

This method makes the paper “flex,” expanding its volume while maximizing the strength and stiffness of its fibers.

The result is a superior cushioning product “proven to outperform environmentally-harmful product protection alternatives,” including plastic-based bubble wraps and pillows, the company says. 

Human-powered dispenser
HexcelPack protective cushioning is easily dispensed through the company’s compact options, including a standalone and completely recyclable tabletop dispensing station.

The most popular of these – the Mini Packing Station – is an easy-to-use, human-powered dispenser requiring no electricity or maintenance in a tabletop space.

Available in both white and Kraft paper, benefits of HexcelWrap and the Mini Packing Station include:

• Product protection: Engineered with Ultra Stretch technology, HexcelWrap delivers enhanced cushioning and product protection. Users stretch, wrap and tear the lightweight, interlocking material to custom lengths without the need for tape or scissors. HexcelWrap is ideal for shipping fragile items and reduces product damage by eliminating glass-on-glass contact during the supply chain journey.
• Environmental sustainability: Completely paper-based, HexcelWrap cushioning paper is made of 100 percent Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) Canadian Paper. Unlike single-use plastic bubble wrap, the paper used to produce HexcelWrap is fully curbside recyclable and biodegradable. 
• Return on investment: Considering the fully manual, electricity- and maintenance-free nature of the Mini Packing Station dispenser, using HexcelWrap is as impactful on the bottom line as it is on the environment, the company highlights. Protective and cost-effective, the system allows retailers to recoup their investment expediently.

“At HexcelPack, we’re passionate about developing simple, cost-effective and sustainable packing solutions that minimize our carbon footprint without sacrificing outstanding product protection performance throughout the supply chain,” says Lorne Herszkowicz, partner at HexcelPack.

“Our paper-based solutions like HexcelWrap and the Mini Packing Station offer companies an easy way to increase packing efficiency without the need for automation, while also showcasing to end consumers that their production and logistics practices are as green as possible – a key selling point in today’s hyper-competitive e-commerce landscape.”

Fiber-based protection
In addition to HexcelWrap, HexcelPack offers void-fill products that can be used in conjunction with its wrapping products. For example, the company’s Hex-a-Fil is an engineered void-fill that expands to 24 times its original volume.

The solution is dispensed via the company’s corrugated, manually-operated Fil-in-a-Box, which prompts the material to spiral as it comes off the roll, creating the bulk required for efficient void-fill.

In a similar innovation, Flexi-Hex launched a premium beverage delivery box that protects products using paper honeycomb sleeves. The Bottle Box is made from 85 percent recycled content and is tape- and plastic-free.

Edited by Joshua Poole