Honeycomb sleeving

Kite Packaging’s honeycomb sleeving provides a simple and versatile way to protect a wide range of products during packing, storage and transit.

Manufactured from 50gsm recycled paper, each sleeve features an expandable honeycomb structure. In its unused form, the sleeving is compact and easy to store; simply open it out and slide it over the product. As the paper expands, the honeycomb cells open and the sleeve flexes around the shape of the item, creating protective coverage around its surface.

This adaptable design makes honeycomb sleeving particularly useful for businesses packing products of different shapes and sizes. Rather than relying on a rigid protective format, the paper can flex and contour around curved, tapered and irregular-shaped goods.

The natural kraft appearance also makes the sleeves suitable for applications where presentation matters. They can be used for ecommerce orders, gifting, retail products and artisan goods as well as general protective packaging.

Which honeycomb sleeve size should I choose?

Our honeycomb protective sleeves are available in four lengths: 150mm, 225mm, 300mm and 450mm.

The 150mm and 225mm sleeves are well suited to smaller products such as cosmetics, skincare products, perfume bottles, candles, jars, cups, mugs, small ceramics, ornaments and giftware.

For larger or taller items, the 300mm and 450mm sleeves provide additional coverage. These sizes are particularly suited to bottles including wine, spirits, oils and sauces, but their flexible construction means they can also be used with products such as vases, pottery, glassware and other similarly sized fragile goods.

The best size will depend on both the dimensions and shape of the item being protected. The sleeve should be able to expand comfortably around the product while providing sufficient coverage along its length.

Flexible protection for different product shapes

One of the main advantages of honeycomb paper sleeving is its flexibility.

When expanded, the honeycomb cells allow the paper to move around the contours of the product rather than remaining completely rigid. This makes the sleeves particularly useful for businesses with varied product ranges where one protective format may need to accommodate several different items.

They can be used around cylindrical products such as bottles and jars, wider products such as candles and plant pots, or more irregular items including ceramics, ornaments and decorative glassware.

Once applied, the paper surrounds the product to help protect its surface and provide cushioning between the item and its outer packaging.

Compact protective packaging

Although the sleeves expand significantly during use, they are supplied in a compact format in packs of 100.

This helps reduce the storage space required around packing areas and makes them quick to pick and apply when needed. No machinery or specialist equipment is required – simply open the honeycomb structure and place the sleeve over the product.

The combination of compact storage, straightforward application and adaptability makes honeycomb sleeving suitable for anything from small ecommerce operations and independent retailers to larger packing and fulfilment environments.

Honeycomb sleeving and bottle box sets

For customers packing bottles for delivery, we also offer complete sets combining honeycomb sleeving with appropriately sized cardboard boxes.

These provide a convenient way to purchase the protective sleeve and outer packaging together, with options available for individual bottles through to 12-bottle consignments.

The range includes:

• Single bottle 0427 box set – a single wine bottle box supplied with protective honeycomb sleeving
• Single bottle pinch top box set – combines a 450mm honeycomb sleeve with Kite’s pinch top bottle box
• 3 bottle box set – an 0201-style outer box with honeycomb protection for three bottles
• 6 bottle box set – an 0201-style bottle box and honeycomb sleeves
• 12 bottle box set – an 0201-style bottle box and honeycomb sleeves

These sets are particularly useful for wine merchants, breweries, distilleries, farm shops, ecommerce retailers and gifting businesses that want the protective components required for their bottle packaging supplied together.

FAQ

What is honeycomb sleeving?

Honeycomb sleeving is an expandable protective paper sleeve designed to fit around an individual product. Opening the sleeve expands its honeycomb cells, allowing the material to flex around the product and provide protective coverage around its surface.

How do I use honeycomb protective sleeves?

Open out the compact sleeve to expand the honeycomb structure, then slide it over the item you want to protect. The material flexes around the shape of the product and can then be placed inside the appropriate outer packaging ready for storage or transit.

What can honeycomb sleeves be used for?

They can protect a wide variety of products including bottles, cosmetics, perfumes, skincare products, jars, candles, cups, mugs, ceramics, pottery, glassware, vases, ornaments and giftware.

Their flexible construction makes them particularly useful where products vary in shape or diameter.

Are honeycomb sleeves just for bottles?

No. Although the 300mm and 450mm sizes are particularly well suited to bottles, the expandable design means they can be used with many other products.

Vases, pottery, glassware, candles and similarly sized fragile or surface-sensitive goods can all benefit from the flexible protective structure.

Which sizes are best for smaller products?

The 150mm and 225mm options are generally best suited to smaller goods such as cosmetics, jars, candles, cups, small ceramics and giftware.

The correct size will ultimately depend on the dimensions and shape of the individual product.

Which sizes are best for bottles?

The 300mm and 450mm honeycomb sleeves have been designed with bottles and taller products in mind.

The 450mm option is also used within our bottle packaging sets, including the single pinch top, 3 bottle, 6 bottle and 12 bottle packaging solutions.

What are honeycomb sleeves made from?

The sleeves are manufactured from 50gsm recycled paper formed into an expandable honeycomb structure. This creates a flexible paper-based protective solution while allowing the unused sleeves to remain compact for storage.

How many honeycomb sleeves are supplied in a pack?

Individual honeycomb sleeves are supplied in packs of 100.

Do I need any equipment to use honeycomb sleeving?

No. The sleeves are applied manually and require no machinery. Simply expand the honeycomb structure and place the sleeve over the product.

Can I buy honeycomb sleeving with bottle boxes?

Yes. Alongside the individual sleeves, Kite offers complete bottle packaging sets for single, 3, 6 and 12 bottle applications. These combine the appropriate honeycomb protection with a suitable cardboard outer box, with divider fitments included where applicable.