Cling Film Packaging & Shipping: Export Cartons, Palletization & Damage Prevention

Why Packaging Matters for Cling Film

Cling film is lightweight but compressible — poor packaging results in crushed boxes, deformed rolls, and unsellable inventory. The cost of proper packaging (~2-3% of FOB) is far lower than the cost of returns or customer rejection (10-100% of order value).

Carton Specifications by Product

Product	Carton Grade	Burst Strength	Carton Size (L×W×H cm)
Retail boxed (48/carton)	5-ply corrugated	275 lb/in²	42×32×28
Retail boxed (72/carton)	5-ply corrugated	275 lb/in²	42×32×40
Catering roll (24/carton)	5-ply corrugated	300 lb/in²	50×48×28
Jumbo roll (2/carton)	7-ply heavy-duty	400 lb/in²	48×48×35
Jumbo roll (1/carton)	5-ply + double-wall	350 lb/in²	48×48×50

Retail boxed formats are most common for PVC cling film shipments, while the heavy-duty 7-ply cartons are designed specifically for cling film jumbo rolls that require extra crush resistance. All SUNWRAP export cartons use moisture-resistant adhesive and are sealed with H-tape on all 6 sides.

Palletization for Retail Boxed Cling Film

EUR Pallet (120×80cm):

• Cartons per layer: 6-8 (depending on orientation)
• Layers per pallet: 5-6
• Cartons per pallet: 30-48
• Pallet height: ~170cm
• Pallets per 40’ HQ: 20-22

US Pallet (48×40” / 122×102cm):

• Cartons per layer: 8-10
• Layers per pallet: 5-6
• Cartons per pallet: 40-60
• Pallet height: ~170cm
• Pallets per 40’ HQ: 20-22

Floor-Loaded Container Loading Pattern

For destinations with manual unloading (common in Southeast Asia, Africa), the stacking sequence is critical — see our full cling film container loading guide for 20ft vs 40ft HQ optimization and capacity calculations.

1. Layer 1-3 (floor): Heaviest cartons — jumbo rolls and industrial film
2. Layer 4-8 (middle): Standard retail cartons — interlocking pattern for stability
3. Layer 9-10 (top): Lightest cartons — smaller format retail
4. Dunnage bags: Inflatable bags placed in gaps at top of load to prevent shifting

Moisture Protection

Cling film is sensitive to moisture during sea freight — this is especially important if you are importing cling film from China via ocean shipping:

• Desiccant: 2× 500g desiccant bags per pallet (or 4-6 per floor-loaded container)
• VCI (Vapor Corrosion Inhibitor): Not needed for plastic film, but recommended if container also carries metal cutters
• Moisture barrier: Kraft paper liner between cartons and container walls

Labeling Requirements

Every master carton must show:

1. Product description (type, size, quantity)
2. PO number
3. Carton number / total (e.g., “CTN 42 of 800”)
4. Net weight / gross weight
5. Country of origin (Made in China)
6. Handling marks (“Keep Dry”, “This Side Up”)
7. Food safety compliance markings (FDA, EU 10/2011) where required by destination market

Container Inspection Before Loading

SUNWRAP’s pre-loading checklist: ☐ Container interior clean, dry, odor-free ☐ No holes or light penetration (check with doors closed) ☐ Floor boards intact, no protruding nails ☐ Container seal number recorded ☐ Loading photos taken at 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%

FAQ

Q: What is the damage rate for cling film during shipping? Under 0.5% with proper packaging. Damage typically comes from: water ingress (container leak), crushing (poor stacking), or impact (rough handling). Photo documentation of loading helps with insurance claims if damage occurs.

Q: Can I use my own carton design? Yes. If you have specific carton specs (e.g., your warehouse racking dimensions), provide them during ordering. Custom cartons add $0.02-0.05 per unit. For full branding options including printed cartons and color boxes, see our private label cling film OEM guide.

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From inner wrap to outer carton to container loading, every packaging detail matters. Choose a cling film manufacturer with 20+ years of export packaging experience — request a quote from SUNWRAP.