Page 3 - Al-Rashed Newsletter Aug 19

SHIPPING WORLD
GOODBYE CARDBOARD, HELLO 3M

ROLLS!!

Getting things delivered has never been more convenient. With just a few clicks,
you can have a new bottle of shampoo sitting outside your door the next day, or that

cool T-shirt you’ve been eyeing on Etsy. But when those items arrive at your door,
there’s a good chance they’ll be in a too-big box, stuffed with lots of wasteful
packaging filler.
That’s why the Minnesota-based materials company 3M is releasing a new type of
packaging that requires no tape and no filler, and it can be customized to fit any
object under 3 pounds—which 3M says accounts for about 60% of all items that are
bought online and shipped. 3M claims that the material, called the Flex & Seal
Shipping Roll, can reduce time spent packing, the amount of packaging materials,
and the space needed to ship packages.

The roll is made out of three layers of different plastics that 3M developed, including
a gray, internal adhesive layer that sticks to itself (you’ll see why in a moment).
There’s also a middle cushioning layer that seems similar to bubble wrap to protect
items during shipping, and a tougher outside layer that is tear- and water-resistant.
It comes in rolls of assorted sizes, almost like wrapping paper: 10-foot, 20-foot, and
40-foot rolls are available now with prices ranging from $12.99 to $48.99, and a
200-foot bulk role will soon be available in August.
To use the Flex & Seal, you just place your item on the sticky gray side of the
material, fold over enough material to encapsulate your item, and press the
adhesive sides together to seal it up like a calzone. The gray side of the packaging
will stick to itself, and not the object you want to ship, and 3M says the seal is robust
enough to stay in place during shipping—no tape required. After about 30 seconds,
during which you can reposition the item if you didn’t seal it to your liking the first
time, the adhesive gets so strong that you have to tear the plastic a bit if you want to
pull it apart. That protects your package from tampering, while making sure it’s easy
enough to tear open or cut with scissors on the other side.

Source:https://www.fastcompany.com/90382264/no-more-cardboard-boxes-3m-invents-an-ingenious-new-way-to-ship-products