Whether you’re packaging food, bottled water, or medicine, it can all be a bit complicated. That’s why it’s important to learn some packaging tips before you head out to make a delivery. You don’t want to send off your packages for two weeks until you figure out the packaging for each one. It takes time, but there are some simple things you can do before you leave that will make your packing trips a lot easier. Use these tips to make sure the next time you’re packing for a move that you’re using the right approach.

Use new, double-sided boxes with your most protective packaging in mind. If you’re shipping food, use cardboard boxes with dividers to keep liquids and dry foods separate. If you decide to reuse old packaging, be cautious. Plastic packaging gives too much protection and is easy to damage if it’s not. Cardboard boxes offer less protection but can be reused more often.

Use high-quality thermal insulation material for any packaging that contains food, since this type of material has proven especially useful for food packaging. Boxes with dividers and plastic inserts are great, but the best packaging tips include climate-controlled shipping. Climate-controlled packaging allows items to remain fresh at all times, so they don’t spoil as easily when shipped to retailers who aren’t experienced with temperature-controlled shipping. Some cardboard boxes are already packaged in an environment friendly way, but your best bet is to purchase a climate-controlled shipping material and use it all throughout the packing process.

Pack your items carefully, using smaller cardboard packages for fragile items and larger, more protective ones for more sturdy items. The same goes for your packing material. You may think you need a thick, unwieldy cardboard box for a box of cereal, but a box of cereal shouldn’t be heavy and bulky.

For whatever you’re packaging, make sure it comes with the appropriate packing materials. If you’re a retailer, for instance, you should always use cardboard boxes for perishables, food marketing strategy and packaging. Cardboard is a very inexpensive option, and it offers a level of protection that you might not get with other types of packaging. Even if your business does most of its packaging itself, you should invest in climate-controlled packaging material.

Your packaging tip number three is to evaluate whether or not you should use a certain paper for packaging. While it might seem that paper costs too much, you should be able to cut costs by evaluating the actual uses for your packaging and determining which is most cost efficient. A great packaging tip is to use a white, laminate or bubble wrap for anything that doesn’t contain food; in general, though, heavier packaging needs extra layers of protection.

You should consider using cartons with snap on lids when possible, rather than plastic ones. This is especially helpful for food marketing strategy and for packing perishables. Plastic cartons are more prone to being chewed, cracked and damaged, whereas snap on lids to keep everything neat and protected. Cartons are also available in many different sizes and thicknesses, so you can choose one that best fits your product or specific container needs.

The fourth food packaging tip you should follow is to think about how well your packaging matches your product. If you sell healthy products, for instance, you’ll want to go with clear plastic packaging so that you’re advertising what’s inside without having to distract from the appearance (and therefore the taste) of the product. If you sell dairy products, on the other hand, you’ll probably find a plastic carton very appealing. Just remember that even though it’s an effective and attractive packaging option, a plastic carton won’t retain its freshness for very long.