Internal Packaging
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External Packaging
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Given the imperative to reduce the amount of plastic used for packing materials, I've started developing more information on this page about Ecowrapping - recyclable and biodegradable packing materials.
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Please feel free to contact me if you have info to share about new products which help in this respect.
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The UK Government intends to reduce single use plastic waste.
From April 2022, all plastic used for packaging is now subject to a NEW plastic packaging tax unless it contains at least 30% recycled plastic. The tax came into force on 1 April 2022 and is charged at a rate of:
Bottom line - for artists, packaging using plastics NOT meeting new standards will become a LOT more expensive If you are buying from suppliers who are importing more than 10 tonnes of plastic, you need to make sure they are registered for the tax. |
Those specifically affected will be:
GUIDANCE
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ARCHIVAL PROTECTIVE PACKAGING
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PROTECTING FRAMES - EDGES & CORNERS
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UK SUPPLIERS - ARCHIVAL
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UK SUPPLIERS - BIODEGRADABLE / COMPOSTABLE
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USA SUPPLIERS
The Market Leader is Clear Bags
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USA SUPPLIERS - ARCHIVAL
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The purpose of Glass safety Film is to stop broken glass from doing any further damage should it shatter.
I've witnessed a packaged painting being unwrapped after the glass had shattered and it can mark both painting, mat and frame. WHAT A GLASS SKIN CAN DO
An alternative to glass safety film is to tape foam core to the glass to act as a cushion and to hold any broken glass in place This article provides a diagram of how to apply glass protection tape to a glazed artwork |
The main problem with Glass Skin is finding a supplier - so don't leave it too late before you start looking.
SUPPLIERS:
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Glassine is available as a sheet or as an envelope
Glassine is used to protect drawings, watercolour paintings, fine art and digital prints and other artworks from the sort of damage which can commonly be encountered e.g. rubbing, exposure to the air, moisture. It is particularly suitable for the softer dry media such as pastel, charcoal or graphite and can protect such media from accidental smudging. Translucent glassine envelopes are available in all photographic sizes and formats. They are available with open end, open side and flap enclosures. For photography: these are perfect for the archival storage of both negatives and prints, both silver and digital. For drawings: these are perfect for storing or transporting pastel drawings |
UK SUPPLIERS:
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BUY Canson Glassine Art Paper Roll, 36"X20yds
Rated an average of 4.9 out of 5 stars by 20 customers
This is glassine on a roll so the big advantage is you can cut to size. It comes as a roll which is 36" x 20 yards so very suitable for those who need to despatch lots of artwork on a regular basis. The glassine has a neutral pH and protects your artwork from scratches. It's great inbetween your artwork and whatever you use for packing. It's also really good for keeping artwork in good condition while stored in archive drawers prior to despatch. |
My framer always uses a special cling film to wrap around the frames to stop the edges getting damaged in transit. He uses clingwrap on a roll to wrap around all the edges of the frame quickly - with corners getting a double wrap treatment.
This has the advantage of
Used by artists and galleries:
Product features
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Tromax Stretch Wrap
Wrapping the Frame
My framer uses one of these rolls of cling film on a handle to wrap the frames after framing to keep them clean and protect from damage
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Corner Protectors are invaluable for keeping frames separated and protecting the corners of frames during transit.
Cardboard corners are used by lots of framers to provide a way of protecting the most vulnerable part of a frame - the corner. If you get a work framed, chances are it will come home with a cardboard corner. Note that Galleries will often NOT allow corner protectors as they reduce the amount of space available for stacking pictures. The corner protectors come in different sizes and it's always best to use the right size for the thickness of a frame - otherwise they slip off. They are also initially flat until assessmbled - and they can be disassembled after use (i.e. they are a complete pain and take up a lot of space if you have lots of them of different sizes and they're not flat) |
US ART Decor Adjustable Corner Protector
These White Picture Frame corner protectors use four per picture frame i.e. one per corner
#1 Best Seller in Frames and Parts on Amazon
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BOXES
BAGS
ENVELOPES
TUBES
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STIFFENING
CUSHIONING / FILLING MATERIALS FOR VOID SPACES
EQUIPMENT
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CAUTION re INTERNATIONAL SHIPMENTS:
You need to be aware of environmental constraints re the use of wood. If you propose to use wood as part of your packaging for you need to be aware that this might mean your shipment does not move - UNLESS it complies with standards which aim to prevent the transport of pests associated with wood packaging materials |
Solid wood packaging includes:
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regulation_of_wood_packaging_material_in_international_trade_ispm_15_2013_en_2016-06-07.pdf | |
File Size: | 777 kb |
File Type: |
Cardboard packing boxes are suitable for smaller to medium sized works of art.
However they are NOT DESIGNED TO CARRY ART and the extent to which they deliver the art safe and sound its entirely dependent on the person packing them - and using additional and appropriate materials. i.e. not great of you are dependent on a third party to ship your art back to you in the same packaging! The critical issue is the amount of weight they can carry - and this needs to be the packaged weight - not the weight of the art prior to packing. It's possible to purchase packing boxes - in different sizes - which arrive flat and you then assemble for use as and when required. The flat pack makes for easy storage - however predicting the supplies required for different sizes may be more of a challenge. There is some merit in using the packing box sold by the company which you use for shipping. If it then fails in transit there is no third party to blame! |
Companies providing packaging materials for fine art
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Many artists in the USA are huge fans of Airfloat Boxes. The boxes come up with specialised inserts suitable for particular kinds of art
REFERENCE
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The Art Box has four sizes and works as follows:
`NOTE:
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Helping artists and galleries jump-start their shipping since 2018.
Museumpak™
This is their claim Museumpak™ was created out of a need for an all-in-one, safe, affordable and monkey proof shipping solution for the fine arts and contemporary art. Museumpak™ is our strongest box that offers strongbox safety with three layers of foam inside. |
There are three types of envelope available in the UK
If you are using these bags to send artwork via a courier, make sure you have a clear and secure label that it belongs to you on the outside and inside (and no other possible source of confusion for the people transporting it.) The bags themselves do not provide protection for edges and corners - and you may need extra protection. |
Measurements for bags are for the size of the bags - not the size of the artwork they can hold - so you need to order a larger size which can accommodate a frame if framed.
Velcro seals are effective but NOT secure. Bags like these particularly good for using in circumstances when you are
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This strong art bag is designed for packing, storing and transporting 2D artworks and frames. It's typically used by quality framers.
It provides:
It's suggested that a big will need at least an extra 10cm to hold a canvas or frame of specific size If you want to protect corners and edges you will need to apply corner edges and foam separately. |
ArtPakk : Smart Bag Artwork Storage and Protection : 70x92cm
ArtPakk : Smart Bag Artwork Storage and Protection : 70x92cm
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Much loved by many artists (as you can see from the interior of the art transport van).
I know a number of artists who recommend the use of the Stiffy Bag because:
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The Stiffy Art Bag offers
REFERENCE
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These bags are:
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There are ten different sizes - each with a different colour edge to the flap
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While it's really easy to get artwork in and out, this aspect makes these bags less than useful if using shipping other than a responsible courier
Bottom line there is no intrinsic element to the bag itself that stops artwork from being damaged - other than the fact it is covered. To protect edges and corners, you need to buy these as additional items. |
Various sizes are available via Amazon UK. This - with the light blue edge - is the smallest version.
Corner and edge protectors are also available - but you could use other makes Click my associate links below to explore further re pricing and different sizes on Amazon UK |
Brown paper has been
The contemporary version is recyclable & biodegradable |
Triplast 750mm x 50m Roll of Brown ECO Kraft Paper
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Robust Mailing Tubes are a good way to send giclee prints and/or large originals on paper so they don't require a large flat package and arrive undamaged
REFERENCE:
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Duck Brand Twist-n-Pull Tamper-Evident Mailing Tube
Rated an average of 4.4 out of 5 stars by 133 customer reviews
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Small artworks are often shipped in envelopes used for small packets which use different aspects to:
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REFERENCE:
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The great advantages of foam board is it is very stiff and very light.
It can be used to create a sandwich around unframed artwork to protect it. Other foam products are also available. |
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Bubble wrap can provides a cushioning barrier around objects that need to be protected - BUT MUST BE USED WITH CAUTION.
It is frequently used to wrap packages.
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The artist had wrapped the painting in bubble wrap, the smaller bubbles. The bubbles had stuck to the varnish on the painting, and, upon removing the bubbles, we found that we had a bubble wrap pattern in the surface of the piece. CAUTION: Bubble wrap will make impressions IF:
CAUTION: Ordinary bubble wrap is not biodegradable. _ but some new products are.... |
NEVER use bubble wrap
(PS a green label does NOT make it a green product!) |
REFERENCE:
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Duck Brand Bubble Wrap Original Cushioning
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Eco-packaging is a bit more complicated than switching from plastic to paper if you consider the wider environmental impact - such as
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RECOMMENDED READ
Choosing Eco Friendly Packaging: a guide to the complex world of what’s ‘best’ for the environment
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Ecowrapping alternatives to ordinary bubble wrap include:
THANKS to Finstown Post Office on the Isle of Orkney for alerting me to the new options |
ECO ALTERNATIVES - REFERENCE:
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Geami Paper Wrapping Machine
A green eco-friendly organic alternative to plastic cushioning materials - offering remarkable strength and shock-absorbency. It comprises a brown Kraft paper roll which, horizontally die-cut into thousands of slits, is converted into a 3-D web of angled cells when you pull it through the Geami WrapPak expander box. The robust honeycomb structure holds provides superb cushioning. A layer of white tissue paper is interleaved simultaneously to provide surface protection for your goods.
I've had products delivered in this and been very impressed with the product. BUY Geami Paper Wrapping Machine
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cushionPaper Roll
Made with recycled paper and is shock absorbing and recyclable. Each roll is now 5 meters long x 60 cm (16'4" x 1'11"). Less flexible than bubble wrap in terms of use of small pieces but can be molded to fit inside boxes and is excellent for larger items.
BUY cushionPaper Roll - the ecological alternative to bubble wrap.
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Eco Friendly Paper Bubble Wrap
Seller states 100% recyclable with biodegradable materials. Available in a range of width sizes and sold in single rolls Thickness 125gsm with deep indentations to provide protection.
BUY ECO Friendly, Paper Bubble wrap 300mm x 70m
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Jiffy Green Recycled Bubble Dispenser Box
Fully recyclable. Use for void filing cushioning and wrapping. Size: 300mm x 50m. Weight: 1.331 kg
BUY Jiffy Green Recycled Bubble Dispenser Box, 300mm Wide x 50m Long
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Packing is so much simpler with a tape gun. My recommendation - buy the best tape gun you can afford - you'll never ever regret it! Mine has to sit in a very prominent place so I never ever lose sight of it!
Once you've used a pistol grip tape gun (or seen one demonstrated professionally - in person or on a video) you will never ever want to use anything else for taping up a package! Honest! The way it speeds up packaging is absolutely awesome and you don't get tape sticking to itself (and you) while you're trying to stick it to the package. |
Professional Pistol Grip Tape Gun
This is an alternative available from Amazon UK which is highly rated
Pacplus Heavy Duty Premium Pistol Grip Carton Sealer
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I love my wide brown sticky packaging tape! My preference is for Scotch Heavy Duty Packaging Tape.
The cost for add-on rolls is minimal. In the USA it can cost something like $5 more to get 5 extra rolls of tape when compared to a single roll and dispenser. I'd alalways buy the extra rolls - you'll be amazed how fast you use it up if sending packages out on a regular basis! Plus there's nothing more irritating than running out in the middle of a packaging exercise! |
Scotch Heavy Duty Shipping Tape
REFERENCE
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A good tape dispenser saves time and avoids much uttering of expletives as you try to find where the tape actually starts
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Scotch Tape Dispenser
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Waterproof Laserjet Labels
Waterproof Seal required for labels printed using Inkjet Printers If you want to protect labels produced using inkjet printing cover it with a durable and waterproof film. Ordinary sellotape works reasonably well Alternatively use a transparent shipping envelope (see How to ship internationally) |
Shipping Labels
Most waterproof labels only work with laser jet printers. These labels claim to be waterproof whether you use a laser-jet or an ink-jet printer
These are also proper Shipping Size Labels - use a large font size and make labels easy to read! Avery Shipping Labels
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Remember you might know how your post works at your end but you've no idea where the parcel might be left when it reaches the customer.
Make sure that the address is written using marker ink which is PERMANENT & WATERPROOF - which means the address won't disappear if the package gets left outside - and it rains. Have you ever seen a package which has got wet and the address has dribbled down the side? |
Permanent Waterproof Marker Pens
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Copyright: 2015-2021 Katherine Tyrrell | Making A Mark Publications
- all rights reserved If you've got any suggestions for what you'd like to see on this website please send me your suggestion
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