Packaging Guidelines

Contents

1. About these Guidelines: purpose; scope; and application

2. Types of packaging material

3. How to package products for delivery to Jumia

4. Illustrating best practice: examples of good and bad packaging

5. Understanding and avoiding the common causes of bad packaging

6. What are the consequences of violation of these Guidelines?

7. 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.

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2. Types of packaging material

2.1. Internal packaging materials

Type Description Example

Cardboard Internal structure flute or channels provide resistance to avoid
Flute crushing and provides cushioning during handling and
stowage. Corrugated sided flute is mainly used as interior
packaging to separate and protect individual items. It is
extremely flexible and can be shaped around the product to
protect them from damage. It should be self-attached to the
product, leaving the flat side visible outside.
Plastic Excellent for irregular forms due to its versatility. It is very
Bubble light, shock resistant, and recommended for very fragile items.
Bubbles must be attached to the product, leaving the smooth
side outside.

Polyfoam It is very similar to plastic bubble with same characteristics but

having less resistance to sharp objects

Paper Craft Serves to cover irregular surfaces, or thinly cover an area to

avoid tears, and to hide valuable things from being visible thus
decreasing the possibility of theft. It is recommended to wrap
items with higher value, only if they are up to medium size and
have a good container – an example is laptops.
Paper Filler Suitable for stuffing within boxes. Paper is pressed between
items, thus immobilizing the items. It is one of the most
ecological and economic fillings. It is useful against impact and
crushing damages.

Crushed Serves as stuffing within boxes, provides cushioning and

Styrofoam / immobilizes the items. It is more annoying for the customer to
Peanut unpack this type of filler as the main problem is that upon
impact peanuts tend to move. It is useful against crushing
damages.
Honeycom It is a card with low weight, without loss of consistency, a
b uniform strength throughout the surface, an appearance more
robust, and better design to achieve thick surface. It absorbs
shocks more efficiently, thus providing great protection.

Air Cushion Air cushion packaging is a dual material solution of a

corrugated box and plastic film bag that is filled with air

2.2. External packaging materials

Type Description Example

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Cartons The structure prevents impact on the product, and protects
against crushing. The cartons can bundle two or more items
and also protect fragile containers. The boxes have two types –
paperboard is used for light items and corrugated for heavy
items.
Shrink It is a plastic with high strength, elongation and adhesion
Wrap which serves to hold in place packing material and put
pressure on it. Though it does not protect against impact, but
is very useful for maintaining two objects together and avoid
wetting the product. The shrink wrap should be stretched by
exerting pressure to fulfil its role.
Bubble- It has barrier of air bubbles that makes it resistant to
filled Fliers punctures, thus protecting delicate but ultralight items during
shipments. It is recommended to preferably use it only as
internal packing for lack of resistance to moisture.

Jumia Fliers Protect items from moisture, but low resistance from crushing
and impact.

2.3. Closures and safety stickers

Type Description Example

Scotch It is generally used for closing cartons. It easily loses its
Tape stickiness when it comes in contact with sunlight, moisture.
Thus, it can be easily taken off and replaced without keeping
any mark.

Gorilla It has a component which, upon contact with water, produces a

Tape reaction that becomes a powerful adhesive to close cardboard
boxes. The gummed paper is made from craft paper and glue
plant has the advantage of being biodegradable and fully
recyclable. Besides, after application, it becomes inviolable as
the part must be broken. It also increases the strength of the
box.
Fragile They are ideal for closed cardboard packages requiring special
Sticker treatment such as fragile glass material.

Heavy-item They are used to indicate the handling requirement of the item
Sticker so that it should be lifted properly.

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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.

Product category Product sub-category Type of packaging material

Clothes & Apparel Men’s clothing, Women’s clothing Flier
Underwear Swimsuits, underwear Flier
Fashion Accessories Women’s accessories, Men’s Flier with Bubble wrap
accessories, Watches, Sunglasses
Footwear Men’s shoes, Women’s shoes Flier with Bubble wrap OR Flier
over Manufacturer box OR Jumia
carton with fillers (Air cushion,
Paper, Styrofoam)
Wallets & Purses Women’s accessories >Bags Formal Flier with Bubble wrap
bag, hand bags, clutches, sling bags
Bags Women’s accessories >Bags Formal Flier with Bubble wrap
bag, hand bags, clutches, sling bags
Jewelry Women’s accessories >Jewelry Flier with Bubble wrap
Jewelry + Other Women’s accessories >Jewelry Jumia Carton with bubble wrap &
items Air fillers
Fragrances Beauty & Perfumes >Men & Women’s Jumia Carton with bubble wrap
perfumes and fillers (Air cushion, Paper,
Styrofoam)
Books Books & Stationery >Books Flier
Stationery Books & Stationery >Stationery Jumia Carton with fillers (Air
cushion, Paper, Styrofoam)
Baby Kids and Baby >Baby, Baby care & Jumia Carton with fillers (Air
safety, Baby feeding, Baby toddler toys, cushion, Paper, Styrofoam) OR
Sleeping & Nursery Strollers Manufacturer carton with Shrink
wrap
Toys & games Kids & Baby >Baby, Car & remote- Jumia Carton with fillers (Air
control toys, Dolls, puzzles, educative cushion, Paper, Styrofoam)
toys, crafts, Sports games, outdoor toys,
Kids laptops & tablets, Bricks, blocks &
buildings, Action toy figures
Phones Phones >Phones & accessories, Landline Flier with Bubble wrap
phones
Computers, laptops, Computing >Laptops, desktops & Jumia Carton with fillers (Air
tablets & Monitors, Printers & Scanners, External cushion, Paper, Styrofoam) OR
components HD, Flash drives, Adapters, Batteries, Manufacturer carton with Shrink
Chargers, Software wrap
Grocer’s shop Beverages, Tobacco, Food Jumia Carton with fillers (Air
cushion, Paper, Styrofoam) OR
Manufacturer carton with Shrink
wrap
Musical instruments TV, Audio & Video, Musical instruments, Manufacturer package with
Guitars, Drums & Percussion, Live & Bubble wrap and Shrink wrap
studio, Pianos
Kitchen & dining Home >Kitchen & Dining, Kitchen tool & Jumia Carton with (Air cushion,
accessories, Kitchen storage, Table linen Paper, Styrofoam) OR

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 & Accessories, Table ware Manufacturer with Shrink Wrap
Kitchen & dining Cookware, Bakeware Manufacturer package with
Shrink Wrap
Kitchen & dining Cooking knives Jumia Carton with bubble wrap
and (Air cushion, Paper,
Styrofoam)
Large appliances & Appliances >Washing machines, Dryers, Manufacturer package with
electronics Fridges & Freezers, Wine & Bar, Shrink Wrap
Dishwasher, Air conditioning, Heaters,
Hot water systems
Small appliances & Appliances >Small Appliances, Mixers & Manufacturer package with
electronics Blenders, Cookers & Toasters, Ironing & Shrink Wrap or Jumia Carton with
Laundry, Vacuum cleaner, Floorcare fillers (Air cushion, Paper,
Styrofoam)
Bedding & Home >Bedding, Bathroom, Bedlinen, Flier
Bathroom bedding accessories, Pillow, Towel, mat
& robe
Bedding & Shower accessories, Bathroom storage Jumia Carton with bubble wrap
Bathroom and fillers (Air cushion, Paper,
Styrofoam)
Decor Home >Home Decor, Decorative pillow, Manufacturer package with
Wall art, Curtains, blinds & shades Bubble wrap Or Shrink wrap
Decor Mirror, wall art, clock Jumia Carton with bubble wrap
and fillers (Air cushion, Paper,
Styrofoam)
Lighting Home >Lighting, Decorative ceiling Jumia Carton with bubble wrap
light, lamp, lampshade, bathroom light, and fillers (Air cushion, Paper,
bulbs Styrofoam)
Furniture Home >Furniture, Bedroom & Living Jumia Carton with fillers (Air
room, furniture, Kitchen & dining cushion, Paper, Styrofoam) OR
furniture, Office furniture & Game, room Manufacturer package with
furniture Shrink wrap
Home fixture Home >Home fixture, Door hardware, Jumia Carton with fillers (Air
Safety & Security, Toilet & Toilet cushion, Paper, Styrofoam) OR
fixtures, Electrical fixtures, Laundry Manufacturer package with
fixtures Shrink wrap
Pets Home >Pets, Pet food, Pet accessories & Flier OR Jumia Carton with fillers
toys, Pet care (Air cushion, Paper, Styrofoam)
Games, consoles, Games & Console >Home & portable Jumia Carton with fillers (Air
CD, DVD consoles, PlayStation & Xbox, Board & cushion, Paper, Styrofoam)
card games, Gaming accessories
Sports equipment & Jumia Carton with fillers (Air
accessories cushion, Paper, Styrofoam) OR
Manufacturer with Shrink wrap
Motor vehicle Automotive & Motorcycle >Oils, fluids & Jumia Carton with fillers (Air
accessories spray, Car fresheners & electronics, cushion, Paper, Styrofoam) OR
Station equipment, Batteries for Car, Manufacturer package with
Car lights & accessories, Car stickers, Shrink wrap
Tyres & wheelers

3.2. Illustration of packaging required by product category

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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:

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  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).

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4. Illustrating best practice: examples of good and bad packaging

4.1. Visual of good packaging

4.2. Visual of bad packaging

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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.

Type Description Image

Impact Occurs due to mishandling during transportation and
handling of the product.

Flattenin Occurs when a product is subject to more weight than it

g can endure. It can be due to a bad stowage or piling
other heaving objects on the packaging.

Humidity Occurs when the product comes into contact with or

other liquid or moisture, often resulting in fungi growth
and weakening the strength of the packaging.

Improper Occurs when staples, shafts, etc. damage the box

packing rather than help protect it.

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 contact
our Seller Support Team.

Adopted 1 April 2020

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