Bulk cartons save money — until bad storage ruins them. Meat film that will not cling after a month near the oven, till rolls that jam from crushed edges, bags gone musty in a damp corner. This guide shows how to store bulk packaging supplies so every carton lasts to the last piece.
Applies to everything MRA Packaging sells in cartons: freezer bags, carry bags, roll bags, meat film wrap, liner bags, garbage bags and thermal paper. Start from all products.
1. The 4 Enemies of Packaging Stock
- Heat. Softens meat film cling, ages thermal coating, welds stacked bags together. Keep stock away from ovens, pie warmers, dishwashers and sun-facing walls.
- Moisture and damp floors. Cardboard cartons wick water, bags go musty, thermal paper cockles and jams. Never store cartons directly on tiles — pallet, rack or shelf only.
- Light and dust. UV fades thermal rolls; flour and grease dust coat film cutters and bag openings. Keep cartons closed until needed.
- Crushing. Heavy boxes stacked on bag cartons deform rolls and crease dispenser packs. Till rolls on end, film flat in its box, bags uncompressed.
2. Set Up One Dry Shelf (Even in a Tiny Store)
You do not need a warehouse — one cool, dry rack works. Top shelf: thermal paper (cleanest, lightest, most damage-prone). Middle: meat film flat in boxes plus unopened freezer-bag dispenser packs. Lower: carry and roll-bag cartons. Floor: garbage-bag cartons on a pallet only. Label each bay with product + date opened. FIFO always: new cartons behind, open cartons front.
FIFO Rule That Prevents Waste
Mark every opened carton with the date in marker. Staff always pull front (oldest) first. One venue switching to dated FIFO cut till-roll jams and film rewraps noticeably within a month because nothing sat for half a year.
3. Per-Product Storage Notes
| Product | Keep | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Freezer / carry / roll bags | Sealed packs, dry shelf; e.g. 250×300mm, medium carry | Damp floors, open packs near flour dust |
| Meat film 45cm / 50cm | In-box, cutter up, cool; 45cm, 50cm | Heat, sun, greasy hands on the roll |
| Thermal 57 / 80mm | Wrapped, upright, dark; 80×80 | Sun, heat, oils, PVC sleeves, crushing |
| Garbage / liners | Pallet off floor; 72L, 82L, tray liners | Standing water, sharp objects on cartons |
4. How Much to Hold
Hold one open plus one sealed per fast line — for most venues that is medium carry bags, 250×300mm freezer bags, 72L garbage bags and your printer's till roll. A 50-roll thermal carton is 2–4 months for a single till; a 5,160pc freezer-bag carton is weeks for a busy kitchen and months for a cafe. Reorder when the backup opens. Cool, dated, FIFO stock means the last piece works like the first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I store cartons on the floor?
Only on a pallet. Bare tiles wick mops and leaks into cardboard within days.
Why has my meat film lost cling?
Usually heat or age — rolls stored near ovens or open for months. Store cool, in-box, and rotate. See Meat Film Wrap.
Do till rolls expire?
They do not expire outright, but heat, light and humidity degrade print quality over months. Buy 50-roll cartons you will turn in 2–4 months and store wrapped. See Thermal Paper.
Ready to Stock Up Without Waste?
MRA Packaging supplies all bulk packaging in carton quantities with fast Sydney dispatch and Australia-wide delivery. Store it right, use every piece.
MRA Packaging – Fairfield East, NSW 2165
Phone: +61 414 444 435 | Email: sales@mrapackaging.com.au