Understanding What is Dunnage Paper, Its Types, and Its Uses

When it comes to protecting products from any type of damage during transit, the importance of dunnage paper can’t be overstated. Dunnage is a robust material that adds padding features to packaging and protects items packed inside it.

However, most product suppliers and shipping services are unaware of the uses and types of dunnage. In this blog, we will explore everything you need to know about what is dunnage, its types, and uses. Read on!

What Is a Dunnage Paper?

Dunnage is a padding material often placed inside packaging to protect products. It can be anything that offers a cushioning effect to products inside the boxes. Some common examples are bubble wraps, void fillers, shredded papers, and corrugated dunnage paper.

When it comes to dunnage paper, they are plant-based cushioning materials with high biodegradability and recyclability. The best examples of dunnage papers are corrugated cardboard or shredded kraft paper.

Why is Dunnage Paper Winning the Market?

Old-school packaging like bubble wrap is rapidly going out of style. Modern smart brands are moving towards paper dunnage (paper padding and fillers), and the reasons are simple:

• Customers Want Sustainable Packaging: Customers care about the planet. More and more shoppers actively choose brands that use sustainable packaging. Many buyers are even willing to pay extra for it. Choosing dunnage paper gives your brand an instant competitive edge.
• Keeps You Out of Legal Trouble: Governments worldwide are cracking down on single-use plastics. Strict new laws, like California’s SB 54 and the European Union’s plastics directives, mean businesses must cut down on plastic or face hefty penalties. Paper ensures you stay compliant.
• Protects Just as Well: Thanks to modern manufacturing, modern paper packaging is incredibly tough. It is specially folded and designed to cushion your products just as safely as plastic air pillows or bubble wrap, while keeping your costs down and your carbon footprint low.

Tidbit: Adopting dunnage paper isn't just a win for the environment but is a smart, protective, and profitable move for your business.

Types of Dunnage You Must Know

Endless types of dunnage materials are out there to meet various needs. Some most commonly used dunnage materials are listed here:

Corrugated Paper

Corrugated packaging material is primarily made of kraft paper with multiple layers. This material has corrugated flutes sandwiched between two plain kraft surfaces. The corrugated flutes provide a cushioning effect to products packed inside custom corrugated boxes.

Corrugated paper is widely used as a dunnage paper for shipping endless products. This type of dunnage goes perfectly with fragile items like crockery, glass perfume bottles, wine bottles, etc. One of the best things about corrugated paper is that it offers remarkable shock-absorbing features without occupying much space in the boxes.

Virgin Kraft Paper 

Made directly from fresh wood pulp using a specialized manufacturing process. It creates incredibly strong, durable paper with excellent tear resistance. This makes it the go-to choice if you need maximum cushioning and structural strength to protect heavier items during transit.

Recycled Kraft Paper 

Made from post-consumer waste paper. While it is slightly less robust than virgin kraft paper, it still provides more than enough protection for the vast majority of everyday retail and e-commerce goods. It is the best choice if your goal is to maximize your environmental benefits and appeal to eco-conscious shoppers.

Packaging Alternatives to Dunnage Paper

When evaluating alternatives to dunnage paper, businesses generally look for options that prioritize either maximum physical protection, ultra-low shipping weight, or alternative eco-friendly materials. Have a look below:

Bubble Wraps

When it comes to safeguarding rigid yet fragile items, the importance of bubble wrap can’t be overlooked. These plastic-based dunnage materials help ship products with utmost safety. One of the primary reasons for their popularity is their inexpensiveness. They can be purchased at a minimal price that can save your budget.

Bubble wraps are made of plain polythene sheets with countless bubble blisters that offer a cushioning effect. These blisters pop under heavy shock yet protect the products they are wrapping. Such dunnage materials are also easy to wrap around your products.

Paper Dunnage vs Bubble Wrap

While traditional bubble wrap is known for absorbing shocks, paper dunnage delivers just as much reliable protection for almost any everyday product you ship.

Air Pillows

When it comes to protecting heavy-duty yet fragile items, you can go for air pillows instead of bubble wrap. The reason is that they are more robust than ordinary bubble blisters and offer insulating benefits along with cushioning effects.

Air pillows are long and inflated pillows of plastic that can be wrapped around products for ultimate protection. Such pillows are often used to wrap middle and small-sized products. 

Custom Foams

When it comes to high-end dunnage materials, you can opt for custom foams. Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) and Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) are most commonly used to create cushioning foams for packaging. Both these foams can be tailored to the shapes of your liking so that you can perfectly fit your products inside them.  

Custom foams are not only a dunnage material but also an elegant unboxing feature. Buyers receiving products embedded in elegant foams will be impressed by your presentation. These foams are excellent to potently pack luxurious products like watches, jewelry, perfumes, etc.

Peanut Packing Fillers

When it comes to shipping commonly used products, peanut fillers are a perfect dunnage material. Whether you are shipping PR boxes, apparel boxes, or shoe packaging boxes, peanut fillers protect such items from scratches and bumps.

These fillers also enhance the unboxing experience during a PR campaign that can fascinate your prospects. One of the best things about peanut fillers is that they are available at a minimal price. So, you don’t have to pay bank-breaking prices to buy these fillers.

Paper Dunnage vs Packing Peanuts

Traditional plastic packing peanuts have long been a headache for both businesses and shoppers, creating annoying static cling and major disposal problems. Paper dunnage eliminates these issues while offering the same space-filling capabilities.

Uses of Dunnage Paper

Now that we know different types of dunnage, let’s explore the uses of these materials. Here are some common reasons why dunnage papers are widely used in the packaging industry:

Damage Protectors

Protecting items from any type of damage is essential for the suppliers. To do so, robust yet cushioning dunnage materials are essential. By leveraging the above-mentioned dunnage materials, you can keep your items safe from any type of damage throughout the transit.

For example, when it comes to protecting prestigious items, smooth surfaces of a dunnage avoid friction-related damages to the products.

Water Resistant Materials

One of the most unavoidable benefits of dunnage materials is their water-resistant properties. These materials resist water and protect products packed inside them from damage due to water. For instance, water-resistant dunnage protects electronics from getting rusted or sparking due to humidity.

Shock Absorbers

If you want to ship fragile items to your buyers without breaking them, you can leverage shock shock-absorbing properties of dunnage materials. Whether you go for air pillows or foam inserts for boxes, both absorb shocks produced by the bumps and knocks of shipping. That’s how they keep your products safe and deliver them to your customers in pristine condition.

Paper Dunnage Machine

Paper dunnage is created and filled inside the product packaging with the help of paper dunnage machines. These machines can be automated or manual. The primary purpose of these machines is to create void paper fillers from plain sheets and fill them inside the boxes.

When Paper Dunnage Works Best?

Paper dunnage is incredibly versatile, but it truly shines in specific shipping scenarios. It is the perfect choice for:

• E-commerce Fulfillment: Quickly and efficiently fills empty spaces inside standard shipping boxes to prevent items from shifting.
• Electronics and Fragile Items: Provides clean, breathable shock absorption without trapping static electricity or moisture around sensitive components.
• Eco-Driven Brands: Instantly elevates your unboxing experience if your customers value sustainable, plastic-free packaging.
• International Shipping: Speeds up customs clearance because paper is completely exempt from ISPM-15 wood regulations, unlike wooden crates or pallets.
• Lightweight and Small Packs: Offers lightweight, flexible protection for everyday goods without adding unnecessary bulk or weight to your shipping costs.
• Kits and Component Packs: Keeps multi-part assemblies, subscription boxes, or tool kits organized, separated, and neatly protected in transit.

Limitations to Keep in Mind

While dunnage paper is excellent for the applications above, it is not the best fit if you are shipping:

• Extremely Heavy or Sharp Industrial Parts: Heavy machinery or sharp metal edges can tear through paper under high pressure. Where heavy-duty foam or molded plastic might still be required.
• Items Exposed to Severe Moisture: If your packages risk getting wet or are shipped in open-air, high-humidity environments, paper can lose its structural rigidity when soaked.
• Strict Liquid Spill Containment: Unlike specialized plastic or absorbent pads designed to trap leaking chemicals or hazardous liquids, standard paper dunnage can become saturated quickly.

Where to Get Custom Dunnage Paper Packaging?

When it comes to buying quality dunnage paper packaging, the importance of a reputable supplier can’t be overstated. You can partner with a reliable packaging partner like OXO Packaging in this regard. We offer endless customizations so that you can create dunnage paper of your choice.

Along with the cushioning materials, we can also create custom boxes and bags for elegant and safe packaging of your items. Partnering with us brings you various benefits like free design support, free shipping, and fast turnaround

Conclusion

Product protection matters a lot when it comes to shipping items to customers or retail stores. You can go for dunnage paper for shipping your items with ultimate safety. We hope the above guide will provide you with the information you need about what is dunnage paper.