Great Northern – Fiber Interior Packaging Frequently Asked Questions

Below you will find some of the most common questions about our protective packaging solutions. If you are unable to find an answer to your question in the information below, please contact one of our fiber interior packaging specialists!

What are the advantages of using Great Northern – Fiber Interior Packing?

Protect Items within a box during shipment

  • Easy to pack
  • Biodegradable
  • Easily recyclable
    • 100% recyclable curbside, same as any paper-based product
  • Nest-able
    • Requiring less warehouse space
  • Customization
    • Tailored to your specific product, providing optimum product protection
  • Transit Testing
    • Great Northern has an ISTA® 6 Certified Laboratory
    • Able to conduct
        • ISTA 1A, 3A, FedEx 6A and Amazon SIOC 6A (Ship In Own Container)
        •  Tests may include: vibration, inclines, material handling, free-fall drops and compression tests

What are Fiber Interior Packaging parts made from?

  • 100% Recycled – Made from used corrugate and newsprint
  • Biodegradable – The US Environmental Protection Agency defines Biodegradable as any substance that has the ability to be broken down physically and/or chemically by microorganisms
  • Our parts are produced by creating a slurry made from mixing used corrugated and newsprint with water. The slurry is then pulled through a tool that molds the part, then dried

 

What type of molded fiber is this?

  • Our products are referred to as thick-wall and range in thickness from 3/16” to 3/8″
  • What is thin-wall molded fiber?: Thin-wall molded fiber typically ranges from about 3/32” to 5/32” and typically both surfaces are smooth. 
  • We use thick-wall molded fiber because it is much sturdier than thin-wall, allowing for better protection against heavy items and helps keep them safe throughout shipping.
  • Parts are produced using a single tool, leaving the front side of the part reasonably smooth and rough on the backside

 

How does Fiber Interior Packaging compare to other interior protection options?

Comparison Chart

 

What are target applications for Fiber Interior Packaging?

  • Annual volumes of around 20,000 pieces or more
  • Weights ranging from just a few pounds to 100 lbs.
  • Products that require excellent shock absorption and compression strength
  • Products that require void fill, blocking and bracing
  • Not ideal for light-weight and/or highly fragile items

 

To which product applications does Fiber Interior Packaging apply?

 

What types of packaging materials does Fiber Interior Packaging typically replace?

  • Foams including expanded polystyrene, aka eps or styrofoam, foam in a bag and foam in place
    • These foams
      • Cannot be easily recycled
      • Are not seen as environmentally responsible
      • Require more space because the parts do not nest
  • Corrugated die-cuts
    • Highly labor-intensive
    • Not molded to fit contours of the item
    • Can require multiple parts
  • Honeycomb
    • Parts do not nest and require more space
    • Not molded to fit contours of the item
  • Bubble Wrap
    • Often created with toxins that can be harmful
    • Resistant to biodegradation
    • Items must be individually wrapped and taped for shipping which is very time-consuming and labor-intensive

 

What will Fiber Interior Packaging parts cost for my application?

  • A price estimate can be provided in just a few days once we receive your product and/or a drawing with dimensions and annual volumes

 

What is the timeline for creating my new Fiber Interior Packaging parts?

  • Assuming the above preliminary pricing meets your requirements, we will require a sample of the part to design the tooling and provide a formal quote
    • Samples
      • Once you have approved the design and pricing, we will require a Purchase Order for the production of samples to begin
    • Production
      • Production can be initiated once we receive approval of samples and a Purchase Order for production of parts to begin

 

How can Fiber Interior Packaging parts be disposed of?

  • Since they’re produced from 100% paper products, parts can easily be re-entered into any paper or corrugated waste stream.

Benefits of Testing Your Packaging

  • Ensure product & package protection with or ISTA 6 testing and certification services.
  • Great Northern’s ISTA 6 Test Lab exposes packages to conditions and hazards including:
    • Vibration
    • Inclines
    • Material Handling
    • Free-fall Drops
    • Compression
  • Testing your packaging solution before sending it to your end-user ensures that your product will arrive damage free every time! Click here to learn more about our testing facility.

 

Download Our Fiber Interior Packaging FAQ Sheet

Great Expectations

Great Expectations is more than a tagline, it is an attitude. At Great Northern, customer challenges are met by an undying spirit to doing what others can’t or won’t. It’s in our DNA. And it is what our customers have come to expect with Great Northern.

How can we exceed your expectations?

Agent Chat With an Expert