Packaging Materials Now Online
Packaging Guidelines
Contents
- About these Guidelines: purpose; scope; and application
- Types of packaging material
- How to package products for delivery to Jumia
- Illustrating best practice: examples of good and bad packaging
- Understanding and avoiding the common causes of bad packaging
- What are the consequences of violation of these Guidelines?
- Further information
1. About the Packaging Guidelines
1.1 Purpose
The purpose of these Guidelines is to provide information to Jumia’s sellers on packaging of products sold to buyers on the Jumia marketplace.
1.2 Scope
These Guidelines cover:
- the required packaging for different types of products;
- best practice packaging; and
- how to avoid bad packaging.
1.3 Application
These Guidelines apply to packaging of all products sold to buyers on the Jumia marketplace.
2. Types of packaging material
2.1 Internal packaging materials
2.2 External packaging materials
2.3 Closures and safety stickers
3. How to package products for delivery to Jumia
3.1 Packaging by product category
The table below sets out the different types of packaging materials required to be used in packaging different types of products.
3.2 Illustration of packaging required by product category
3.3 General Dos and Don’ts
DO
- pack small and fragile items in bubble envelopes and protect them with soft cushioning around each item;
- use cardboard dividers between flat, fragile material such as glass bottles;
- ensure that goods face the right way, as some fragile goods must be kept upright;
- use cushioning materials to stabilise items in a box; each item should be surrounded by at least 5cm of cushioning;
- ensue that fragile stickers are applied on all sides of a package;
- remove all labels and stickers when reusing a box and ensure that the box is not worn out;
- ensure that packages are easy to open and reuse for returned items;
- use cardboard edge protectors to protect the edges and corners of large, bulky or heavy items; and
- use an arrow to indicate if an item (especially in heavy, large, bulky or heavy items) must be loaded on one side only.
DO NOT
- consider “fragile” and “handle with care” labels as a substitute for careful packaging
- use bags made of fabric or cloth;
- use substandard or damaged cartons;
- allow space for contents to move within the packed box or flier;
- allow fragile items inside a package to contact each other; or
- overload a box with more weight than it can handle
3.4 Rules for special categories
Large items must be packaged by:
- protecting edges and corners with cardboard edge protectors;
- only ever using strapping with edge protector;
- using strapping or strong tape to seal and secure the box;
- always using an arrow to indicate if an item must be loaded on one side only; and/or
- placing the package on a pallet if necessary.
Batteries and battery-operated products must:
- be protected by removing batteries from products and packaging separately; and
- only supplied as dry batteries (e.g. AA or AAA batteries) in good condition and in original sealed packaging.
Bicycles must be packaged by:
- disassembling wheels and pedals;
- using bubble wrap to protect pedals;
- securing wheels with thick bubble wrap and placing cardboard between them to prevent friction and damage
- using thick bubble wrap to pack the bicycle frame
- placing all components in a strong cardboard box; and
- using internal packaging or polystyrene foam to stabilise the contents so the bicycle does not move during handling and transport.
Books must be packaged by:
- wrapping heavy/hardback books in multiple layers of bubble wrap and sealing with sellotape; and
- stacking in a cardboard box using appropriate cushioning material (cardboard is fine) to ensure that there is no space and movement between items.
Ceramics must be packaged by:
- wrapping of each individual item, separately, in at least two layers of thick bubble wrap;
- placing each individually wrapped item in its own, separate, cardboard container;
- wrapping smaller boxed items again with bubble wrap and sealing with sellotape and placing into a larger, strong outer cardboard box filled with appropriate dunnage (air cushion or polystyrene chips) to eliminate movement;
- closing the outer container with multiple layers of strong tape; and
- placing a “fragile” label on all sides of the outer package.
Cutlery and sharp objects must be packaged by:
- covering sharp edges with cardboard;
- packing in a thick box; and
- packing in a further outer package with multiple layers of strong tape.
3.5 Quality health and safety
The guidelines in this section 3 represent best practice in respect of packaging of the categories of products identified.
Particular products may however have additional/alternative packaging requirements, and Jumia expects sellers to exercise good judgment and apply best practice quality, health and safety principles to maintain the quality of packaging (and enclosed products).
4. Illustrating best practice: examples of good and bad packaging
4.1 Visual of good packaging
4.2 Visual of bad packaging
5. Understanding and avoiding the common causes of bad packaging
Sellers are required to test their packaging materials, storage and transportation, to ensure that they avoid the common causes of damage to products and packaging described in the table below.
6. What are the consequences of violation of these Guidelines?
Failure to comply with these Guidelines may result in Jumia taking one or more of the following actions:
- refusing receipt of the products;
- returning the products to the seller;
- repacking the products and invoicing the seller for the same; and/or
- applying a financial penalty as provided for by the Seller Penalty Policy.
7. Further information
If you are a seller and you have any questions about this Policy, please raise a claim here.