What Is Magazine Poly Wrapping?
Magazine poly wrapping is a high-speed fulfilment process in which magazines are enclosed in a lightweight protective film before being addressed and mailed to subscribers, members or customers.
It is particularly useful for publishers who need to protect magazines during delivery or include additional items within the mailing pack, such as supplements, catalogues, promotional inserts or membership material.
Our automated poly wrapping lines can process more than 300,000 packs per day, allowing us to handle both regular magazine mailings and high-volume publication schedules efficiently.
Magazines and inserts can be mechanically fed into the wrapping line, reducing manual handling and providing a consistent finished mailing pack.
What can be included in a poly wrapped magazine pack?
Poly wrapping allows multiple items to be combined within a single mailing pack. Depending on the specification, this can include:
• Magazines and supplements
• Catalogues and brochures
• Promotional inserts and leaflets
• Membership information
• Carrier sheets and address informationItems such as membership cards can also be affixed to a carrier sheet before being inserted into the pack.
How are poly wrapped magazines addressed?
Mailing information can be incorporated into the pack using a printed carrier sheet or other appropriate addressing method. For eligible UK magazine mailings, the mailing specification can also be prepared to work with Mailmark and relevant Royal Mail services.
The appropriate addressing and postal method depends on the publication, mailing volume and data supplied.
What Are the Advantages of Poly Wrapping Magazines?
Poly wrapping remains a practical magazine fulfilment option where publishers need a lightweight, weather-resistant mailing pack that can also accommodate additional inserts.
Protects magazines during delivery
Poly wrapping provides a protective outer layer around the magazine, helping to keep the publication clean and protecting it from rain, moisture and handling during the postal and distribution process.
This can be particularly useful for subscription and membership magazines that are delivered directly to individual readers.
Keeps magazines and inserts together
Supplements, catalogues, leaflets and other loose inserts can be enclosed with the magazine in a single pack. This prevents separate items becoming detached during mailing and allows publishers to combine multiple pieces of content within one delivery.
Adds very little mailing weight
Poly film is lightweight, so the wrapping itself adds relatively little to the finished weight of the mailing pack.
This can be important for publishers mailing large volumes or publications that are close to a postal weight threshold, where even a small increase in finished pack weight can affect postage costs.
Suitable for high-volume magazine mailings
Automated wrapping allows large magazine mailings to be processed quickly and consistently. Our poly wrapping lines can handle more than 300,000 packs per day, making the process suitable for high-volume subscription, membership and customer publications.
Allows personalised mailing packs
Address information can be incorporated using carrier sheets or other addressing methods, while additional personalised items can be included depending on the mailing specification.
Membership cards and similar items can also be affixed to carrier sheets before insertion where required.
Can reduce manual fulfilment
Where magazines, supplements and inserts can be mechanically fed, automated poly wrapping reduces the amount of manual collation required. This can improve consistency and efficiency on larger mailing runs.
Poly Wrapping vs Paper Wrapping for Magazines
Poly wrapping and paper wrapping can both be used to protect magazines and combine additional items into a single mailing pack, but they have different characteristics.
The best option depends on the publication, mailing specification, environmental requirements, number and type of inserts, finished pack weight and budget.
Poly wrapping Paper wrapping Protection Good protection from moisture and handling Protects the magazine during handling Mailing weight Very lightweight Typically adds more pack weight Multiple inserts Well suited to magazines, supplements and loose inserts Can also accommodate inserts depending on specification Visibility Clear film can leave the magazine visible Magazine is enclosed within the paper wrap Personalisation Carrier sheets/addressing can be incorporated Addressing/personalisation can be printed onto the wrap depending on specification Production High-speed automated processing Depends on the paper-wrapping specification Material Plastic film Paper-based outer wrap When should a publisher choose poly wrapping?
Poly wrapping can be particularly useful where keeping the mailing pack lightweight is important, where protection from moisture is required, or where magazines need to be combined with supplements and other inserts on a high-volume mailing.
When should a publisher choose paper wrapping?
Paper wrapping may be preferred where the publisher specifically wants a paper-based outer wrap, wants additional printed space on the mailing pack, or has environmental or brand requirements that favour paper.
We offer both options and can compare the specifications rather than assuming that one wrapping method is right for every publication.
How Does Poly Wrapping Affect Magazine Postage Costs?
The cost of posting a poly wrapped magazine depends primarily on the finished weight and size of the complete mailing pack, the number of copies being mailed and the postal service being used.
Because poly film is lightweight, it can add relatively little weight to the finished mailing pack. This can be useful where a magazine is close to a postal weight threshold or where large quantities are being mailed.
However, the magazine itself, paper specification, page count and any supplements or inserts normally have a much greater influence on the finished mailing weight than the wrapping material alone.
We can assess the complete mailing specification before production so that wrapping, inserts and postage are considered together rather than as separate costs.
Can poly wrapped magazines use Royal Mail Magazine Subscription Mail?
Eligible publications can be poly wrapped and prepared for Royal Mail Magazine Subscription Mail, subject to the publication and mailing meeting the relevant Royal Mail requirements.
For qualifying subscription magazines, we can manage the fulfilment process alongside addressing, Mailmark preparation and postage.
Can you calculate the finished mailing weight before production?
Yes. If you provide the magazine size, page count, paper specification, cover specification and details of any inserts, we can calculate the expected finished pack weight before the mailing is produced.
This can help identify whether changes to the magazine or mailing specification could reduce unnecessary weight and postage costs.
For more information about postal services, weight thresholds and Magazine Subscription Mail, see our UK magazine postage costs guide.
Is Magazine Poly Wrapping Recyclable?
The environmental impact and recyclability of magazine poly wrapping depends on the type of film used and the recycling facilities available to the recipient.
Where recyclable polyethylene film is specified, the material may be recyclable through appropriate plastic-film collection routes. However, recycling arrangements vary, so publishers should avoid assuming that every recipient can place the film in their normal household recycling collection.
For publishers who would prefer to avoid a plastic outer wrap, we also offer magazine paper wrapping as an alternative.
Can publishers choose between poly and paper wrapping?
Yes. We offer both poly wrapping and paper wrapping, allowing the mailing format to be selected according to the publication, inserts, weight, budget, brand requirements and environmental objectives.
Rather than recommending one format for every magazine, we can compare the options for a specific mailing and help publishers choose the most appropriate solution.
Magazine Poly Wrapping FAQs
What is magazine poly wrapping?
Magazine poly wrapping is an automated fulfilment process that encloses a magazine in lightweight protective film before it is addressed and mailed. Additional items such as supplements, leaflets and membership material can also be included within the mailing pack.
Does poly wrapping protect magazines from rain?
Poly wrapping provides a protective barrier around the magazine and helps protect it from rain and moisture during postal handling and delivery. This is particularly useful for magazines mailed directly to subscribers or members.
Can inserts be included with a poly wrapped magazine?
Yes. Depending on the specification, supplements, catalogues, brochures, leaflets and other inserts can be mechanically collated with the magazine before wrapping. Membership cards and similar items can also be affixed to carrier sheets where required.
Can poly wrapped magazines use Mailmark?
Yes, where the mailing meets the relevant postal requirements. Poly wrapped magazine mailings can be prepared with the addressing and Mailmark information required for eligible Royal Mail services.
Is poly wrapping suitable for subscription magazines?
Yes. Poly wrapping is particularly suitable for subscription and membership magazines because it protects the publication, keeps additional inserts together and adds relatively little weight to the finished mailing pack.
Is poly wrapping cheaper than paper wrapping?
Not necessarily. The relative cost depends on the mailing quantity, wrapping specification, inserts, finished pack weight and postal requirements. We offer both poly and paper wrapping and can compare the options for a particular magazine mailing.
Is magazine poly wrapping recyclable?
This depends on the film used and the recycling facilities available to the recipient. Where recyclable polyethylene film is specified, it may be recyclable through appropriate plastic-film collection routes. Publishers who prefer a paper-based outer wrap can also use our magazine paper wrapping service.
How many magazines can you poly wrap?
Our automated poly wrapping lines can process more than 300,000 packs per day, allowing us to handle both regular publication schedules and high-volume magazine mailings.
Can you poly wrap magazines and manage the postage as well?
Yes. We can coordinate magazine wrapping, addressing, mailing data, postal preparation and distribution as part of the same managed service. We can also work with the magazine printing specification to consider finished weight and postage before production.
Why Choose Cliffe Enterprise for Magazine Poly Wrapping?
High-volume magazine fulfilment
Our automated poly wrapping facilities can process more than 300,000 packs per day, providing the capacity required for both regular magazine schedules and large-volume mailings.
Printing, wrapping and postage managed together
We can coordinate magazine printing, poly wrapping, inserts, addressing, postal preparation and distribution as one managed process. This allows the finished weight, production specification and mailing requirements to be considered before the magazine goes to print.
Mechanical insertion and personalised packs
Magazines, supplements and other inserts can be mechanically fed into the wrapping process, while carrier sheets, membership cards and other personalised elements can be incorporated where required.
Poly and paper wrapping options
Because we offer both poly wrapping and paper wrapping, publishers can compare the two approaches according to their publication, mailing requirements, budget and environmental objectives rather than being restricted to one wrapping format.
Need a Quote for Magazine Poly Wrapping?
Send us your magazine size, quantity, page count, mailing quantity and details of any supplements or inserts. We can review the specification and advise on the most appropriate wrapping and mailing solution.
If your magazine has not yet been printed, we can also review the printing and paper specification alongside the wrapping and postage requirements to help control the finished mailing weight.
Talk to our magazine fulfilment team for a free review of your poly wrapping and mailing requirements.01323 405978 for a free quote.Magazine specialists since 1991 | 300,000+ packs per day capacity | Printing, fulfilment, postage and distribution managed together