The phrase “electronics packaging” has two meanings. One is a specialised electronic engineering discipline, dealing with the casings which form part of an electronic product and protect the sensitive components from harm. The other, more obvious meaning is the way that electronics are packaged for distribution and sale. Sometimes this can seem no less technical than electronics packaging in the engineering sense.
Outer Packaging
The matter of outer packaging for electronics is the simplest. As with many other products these days, cardboard is almost universally used as the material for outer boxes. There are, however, some cases in which electronics will not actually need any kind of outer box. For example, this may be the case with smaller items such as memory cards, electronic components and smaller computer parts such as RAM.
These may instead be distributed in clear plastic packaging, usually with a cardboard or paper insert containing graphics and information. Items that are almost universally sold to trade customers may also come in minimalist packaging, which may or may not include a cardboard box. If items in minimal packaging are being shipped by post or courier, however, they usually benefit from additional protection such as a cardboard box or at least a padded envelope or layer of bubble wrap.
Inner Packaging
The inner packaging serves a very different purpose. It provides some padding for the electronic device against outside knocks, and more importantly keeps it securely in place within the outer packaging so that it does not get damaged by rattling around in the box whenever it is moved.
For this reason, inner packaging is usually made of materials that can fill the box and be cut or shaped to provide inserts in which the items and any accessories can sit securely. The most common examples include styrofoam, formed plastic, and relatively lightweight cardboard that has been cut and folded to form an appropriate shape.