title: "Void Fill Choices — Paper, Air, Foam"
description: "Compare void fill options by cost, pack speed, damage prevention, customer cleanup, and sustainability — plus when void fill is a symptom of a bad box."
order: 17
schemaType: "Article"
navLabel: "Void Fill"
navGroup: "Materials"
navPriority: 2---
First Rule: Void Fill Is Not a Strategy
If the product rattles like a maraca, your shipper is too big. Fix DIM and carton fit before you subscribe to a peanut fountain.
Void fill exists to immobilize and cushion — not to hide bad planning.
Options Compared
| Material | Pros | Cons | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kraft paper (crumpled / machine) | Cheap, recyclable, fast with a dispenser | Can settle; dusty | Softgoods, sturdy goods |
| Air pillows | Light, clean unboxing | Plastic optics; leaks; storage of rolls | Non-abrasive light SKUs |
| Bubble (sheets / bags) | Proven cushioning | Plastic; pack labour | Fragile faces, frames |
| Foam-in-place / foam inserts | Excellent protection | Cost, storage, environmental optics | High value electronics, instruments |
| Biodegradable peanuts | Better story than EPS | Static, mess, mixed facility realities | Low cube gaps when customers accept mess |
| Molded pulp / custom fiber | Great brand + protection | Tooling lead time | Repeat SKUs with volume |
Pack-Time Economics
A "cheap" fill that adds 40 seconds per order is not cheap at 400 orders/day. Measure:
- Seconds per pack
- Material cost per order
- Damage rate pre/post change
- Customer complaint keywords ("mess", "crushed", "plastic")
Immobilize vs Cushion
- Immobilize: stop sliding (paper dams, tight fit, cardboard standoffs)
- Cushion: absorb shock (bubble, foam, pulp)
Heavy products that slide punch through walls even with pillows. Use friction and fit.
Sustainability Without Self-Foolery
Switching to paper fill while still shipping a shoe in a microwave box is green theatre. Report grams of pack-out material per order in your metrics. Prefer right-size + mono-material pack-outs customers can recycle in their region.
AI Assist Pattern
Describe product weight, fragility, current box void %, and whether packing is done in-house or 3PL. Ask for two fill strategies: lowest material cost and lowest labour seconds — then pilot both for a week.
Decision Tree
- Can you step down a carton size? Do that first.
- Does the product need immobilization (stop sliding) or cushioning (absorb shock)? Pick fill for the job.
- Is pack labour in-house or 3PL? Machine paper systems win when volume pays for the dispenser; hand-crumpled paper loses at scale.
- Will customers hate the mess more than they hate plastic? Read return comments before you switch.
Pilot Protocol (One Week)
- SKU A: paper fill, current carton
- SKU A: paper fill, one size down
- SKU A: air pillows, one size down
Track: pack seconds, material $, damage tickets, “mess/plastic” comment rate. Pick the winner with a spreadsheet, not a vibe.