Protect the product, pass compliance, and ship efficiently.
These specs standardize inner packs, outer cartons, barcodes, ship marks, palletization, and transit testing across IndiaUnbox categories.

Default standards (paste into your POs)

Inner pack

• Choose by fragility: polybag → E-flute box → rigid box → foam/inserts for fragile.
  
• Protection: corner pads/frames; tissue; bubble where needed; silica/desiccant for metal/wood in monsoon.
  
• Labels: SKU, color/size, item name, Made in India.
  
• Polybags: add suffocation warning where required; thickness per destination law.
  

Outer carton

• Board: 5-ply K/K (smalls) or above; furniture per load.
  
• Strength: ECT ≥ 32 or BCT per spec (≥ 8.0 kN typical for heavy décor).
  
• Weight cap: ≤ 24 kg per carton for manual handling.
  
• Carton dims optimized for cube; avoid air “dim weight” penalties.
  
• Sealing: 48 mm BOPP tape (H-tape); strap for heavy/fragile.
  
• Sustainability: FSC/recycled options; water-based inks where possible.
  

Barcodes & labeling

• Type: EAN-13 / UPC-A (retail) or FNSKU (Amazon) as needed.
  
• Size: ≥ 80% magnification, X-dimension ≈ 0.33 mm minimum; quiet zone ≥ 2.5 mm.
  
• Contrast > 0.7; no varnish over bar area. Place on a flat, scannable panel.
  

Ship marks (outer carton)

• PO, SKU, description, color/size, qty/ctn, GW/NW, C/No. x of y, Made in India, carton dims, handling icons.
  

Palletization

• ISPM-15 pallets if wood; 4-way entry; standard 100×120 cm preferred.
  
• Limit pallet height ≤ 180 cm (incl. pallet) unless otherwise agreed.
  
• Stackable Y/N as per product; use corner/edge boards if stacking.
  

Transit testing

• Pick ISTA 1A/2A/3A based on channel (1A basic, 2A retail, 3A parcel/Amazon).
  
• Pre-condition 23 °C / 50% RH 24 h; run drop + compression/BCT; vibration/ incline as test plan indicates.
  

Regulatory marks

• Country-of-origin, recycling marks where required; ISPM-15 stamp on pallets/crates; care/FR labels for textiles if mandated.
  

Category tips

• Metalware (Moradabad): anti-tarnish tissue + silica; avoid metal-to-metal rub; felt/base protection.
  
• Wood (Jodhpur/Saharanpur): moisture barrier bag; corner guards; keep MC logs with pack.
  
• Textiles (Panipat/Karur): fold to avoid creases; size sticker; insert care label; poly with air holes if needed.
  
• Ceramics/Glass (Khurja/Firozabad): molded pulp/foam cells; top/bottom pads; drop-tested partitions.
  
• Paper & gift boxes: ship as sets in master; protect corners; barcode on both inner & master for e-comm.
  

Downloadable templates (Excel)

I’ve made a complete workbook with calculators and print-ready templates:

IndiaUnbox_Packaging_Labeling_Specs.xlsx
Tabs included:

• Inner_Pack_Spec (materials, protection, labels)
  
• Outer_Carton_Spec (ECT/BCT, GW limit, auto CBM)
  
• Barcode_Spec (GS1 fields, verification log)
  
• Ship_Marks_Template (copy-paste to printer)
  
• Palletization_Plan (cartons/layer, layers → auto totals, height, pallet GW)
  
• Transit_Test_Plan (ISTA selection & settings)
  
• Artwork_Checklist (dieline/bleed/color/barcode rules)
  
• Label_Proof_Log (approval trail)
  
• Carton_Qty_Calculator (auto CBM + max cartons for 20’/40’/40HC with fill factor)
  
• Master_Pack_List (CBM auto, for packing list & customs)