Egli Plastic: Plastic and Paper Packaging for Swiss Businesses

If you run a shop in Switzerland, operate an online store or ship goods to customers, you need packaging that suits what you sell. A florist in Winterthur has different demands from an electronics retailer in Lugano or a winery in the Valais. That range of needs is exactly what Egli Plastic is built around: a supplier of packaging materials with bags, carrier bags, protective covers, films and more environmentally friendly alternatives in its range. This article looks at what the range offers and what to keep in mind when you choose.

A range built for everyday business use

Packaging hardly gets noticed as long as it works. Once a handle tears or a film fogs up, customers see it straight away. At Egli Plastic you will find the basic types a business needs day after day: bags in several formats, carrier bags made of plastic or paper, protective covers for delicate goods, films for pallets and shelves, and products made from more sustainable materials. If you order regularly, that saves you the trouble of asking three different suppliers for quotes.

Bags and carrier bags: the last impression in the shop

The carrier bag is often the last thing a customer takes from your store. After that it travels through the pedestrian zone, onto the train and into the boot of the car. Plastic bags are light, tear-resistant and cheap. Paper bags look more upmarket and suit fashion, gifts or baked goods. Small bags work well for textiles, screws, jewellery or documents that need to be posted.

Material thickness and load capacity matter most. A bag that holds two paperbacks will not necessarily carry six bottles of wine. Ask about load capacity before you place a large order, and request a sample if in doubt. Incidentally, many Swiss retailers have charged a small fee for single-use bags for years, usually five Rappen. If you hand out bags, you are better off choosing a quality that can be reused several times.

Protective covers and films: getting goods there in one piece

Transport damage costs you twice: once for the damaged item and once for the replacement shipment. Protective covers keep out dust, moisture and scratches. Films bundle pallets, secure cartons and protect furniture on its way to a new home. Depending on the job, stretch film, shrink film or bubble wrap may be the right choice, and each has its own purpose.

Here is an everyday example. If goods sit in an unheated warehouse over winter and are then moved into a warm room in spring, condensation forms quickly. A suitable cover or film stops cardboard from going soft and metal parts from tarnishing. Measure and weigh your products before ordering. A cover that is too large wastes material, and one that is too tight splits at the seam.

Eco options: paper, recycling and bio-based materials

More and more businesses want to use less plastic without giving up protection for their goods. Egli Plastic offers environmentally friendly alternatives for this. Paper is easy to collect and recycle. Films with recycled content reduce the need for new raw material. Bio-based plastics come wholly or partly from renewable resources.

To be honest, not every green solution is automatically the better one. A sturdy bag carried ten times often performs better than a paper bag that ends up in the waste paper bin after the first shop. Size counts as well: if you are not packing air, you use less material and pay less for freight. For every item, weigh up how long it will be in use and what happens to it afterwards.

Packaging as part of your brand

Customers judge more than the product itself. They also judge the way it reaches them. A clean bag with a sturdy handle, a mailer without creases or a film that peels off without a fight leaves an impression no advert can replace. Small businesses competing against large chains win trust with well-considered packaging. It often costs only a few Rappen more per piece and pays off through word of mouth.

There is a practical benefit inside the business too. Uniform formats are quicker to pack, stack and store. If you stock three bag sizes instead of ten, you lose less time at the packing table and make fewer mistakes when reordering. Once a year, review which formats you really use, and drop whatever only takes up shelf space.

What to check before you buy

A few points are worth checking before every order:

•       Size and load capacity: Do the format and strength really fit your product?

•       Food contact: If the packaging touches bread, cheese or meat, it has to be suitable for that use.

•       Quantities and tiered prices: Larger volumes lower the price per piece but tie up storage space and cash.

•       Prices in francs: Check whether quoted prices include or exclude VAT.

•       Printing: A logo on the bag turns every customer into an ambassador for your brand, but it needs lead time and usually a minimum quantity.

•       Samples: Test handle, seam and film thickness by hand before ordering a whole pallet.

Who benefits from the range

The range appeals to a broad audience. Retailers need bags and carriers for sales. Restaurants and takeaways rely on paper and practical covers. Online shops depend on mailers and cushioning. Trades and crafts use films to protect material, machinery and building sites. Clubs and associations that need packaging for a market or a festival will also find something suitable. In every case, the packaging should fit the goods, the budget and the daily routine of the business, not the other way round.

Conclusion

Good packaging is not a luxury, it is part of the product. It protects goods, shapes the customer’s impression and can show how seriously a business takes the environment. With bags, carrier bags, protective covers, films and eco variants, Egli Plastic covers the most important areas. If you choose format, material and quantity with care, you end up with happier customers and less waste. Take your time with the Egli Plastic range and compare which solution suits your business.