When it comes to protecting goods from moisture during storage or shipping, desiccants play a critical role. Without the right solution, everything from electronics and pharmaceuticals to clothing and food products can be damaged by unseen humidity, often before they even reach the customer.

There are several types of desiccants on the market, but silica gel continues to be the go-to solution for most industries, and for good reason. In this guide, we’ll explore how silica gel compares to other options and explain why it remains the smartest choice for businesses of all sizes.

What Is a Desiccant, and Why Does It Matter?

Desiccants are moisture-absorbing substances used to keep products dry inside sealed packaging. Even in seemingly dry environments, residual humidity in the air can cause problems over time, leading to mould, corrosion, or spoilage.

Desiccants prevent these issues by trapping water vapour and helping to maintain a dry, stable atmosphere. From retail packaging to international shipping, desiccants are a simple, low-cost way to protect product quality and minimise returns.

Why Silica Gel Remains the Best All-Round Solution

Silica gel is a synthetic, porous form of silicon dioxide. What makes it stand out is its ability to absorb up to 40% of its weight in moisture, all without changing form or leaking. It's clean, inert, compact, and incredibly reliable, which is why it’s the desiccant of choice for thousands of businesses across the UK.

Ideal for:

• Pharmaceuticals and supplements
• Electronics and optics
• Leather goods, tools, and textiles
• Long-term storage applications

Benefits of silica gel:

• Excellent moisture absorption in a wide range of conditions
• Safe, non-toxic, and food-safe when properly packaged
• Compact and versatile, it fits easily into all packaging sizes
• Cost-effective and reusable with reactivation methods
• Available in sachets, packets, or bulk forms

While other desiccants serve niche purposes, silica gel offers the best combination of performance, price, and convenience, making it the clear winner for most general packaging needs.

How Other Desiccants Compare

While silica gel sachets are the most commonly used desiccants for retail and commercial packaging, there are several other materials that serve similar purposes. Each alternative comes with specific advantages and limitations.

Clay Desiccants

Clay-based desiccants are made from naturally occurring minerals like bentonite or montmorillonite, which absorb moisture through physical adsorption. These materials are widely used in low-cost applications because they’re abundant, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly.

However, clay has a relatively lower moisture absorption capacity compared to silica gel, typically only 20–25% of its weight, and its performance drops sharply in high-temperature environments. It's also non-regenerable, meaning once saturated, it can’t be reused.

Best for:

• Short-term storage or low-risk products
• Mild, temperature-stable environments
• Budget-sensitive applications

Limitations:

• Less effective in warm or humid conditions
• Larger quantities are often required to match silica gel performance
• Cannot be regenerated or reused

Calcium Chloride Desiccants

Calcium chloride is a highly hygroscopic salt that aggressively pulls moisture from the air, often absorbing over 300% of its own weight in water. It’s commonly used in bulk shipping, container protection, or construction where large-scale moisture control is needed.

Unlike silica gel or clay, calcium chloride doesn't remain dry; it liquefies as it absorbs moisture, forming a brine-like solution. While effective in specific environments, this makes it unsuitable for use near sensitive products like electronics or clothing, and requires special containment systems to prevent leaks or corrosion.

Best for:

• Sea freight, cargo containers, and warehouse protection
• Environments with very high humidity over long periods

Limitations:

• Messy and difficult to handle in smaller packaging
• Requires leak-proof packaging and careful placement
• Can be corrosive and unsuitable for sensitive products

Molecular Sieves

Molecular sieves are synthetic crystalline materials (often zeolites) designed to trap water molecules in precise pore sizes. Their structure allows for extremely rapid adsorption, even at low relative humidity and in tightly sealed systems.

They outperform most desiccants in environments that require ultra-low moisture levels (as low as 0.1% RH). This makes them ideal for high-tech industries, such as aerospace, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals, but often overkill for everyday packaging needs. They're also more expensive per gram than silica gel or clay.

Best for:

• Laboratories, cleanrooms, and critical electronic components
• Aerospace and defence applications
• Environments needing strict humidity control

Limitations:

• High cost per unit
• Often unnecessary for general retail or e-commerce use
• Requires careful calculation for proper deployment

The Practical Verdict

While these alternatives have valid applications, most businesses don’t require extreme moisture absorption or highly specialised conditions. For the majority of commercial and retail packaging, silica gel packets continue to offer the most:

• Balanced performance across a range of temperatures and humidity levels
• Clean, safe handling without leakage or chemical reactions
• Ease of use, with no complex containment needed
• Scalable use from individual sachets to bulk packaging inserts

Unless your operation deals with extreme humidity, long-haul maritime logistics, or niche scientific environments, silica gel remains the safest, most cost-effective, and most reliable choice.

Silica Gel: The Best Fit for Most Businesses

While the desiccants above serve their purposes, they tend to be more specialised, expensive, or impractical for day-to-day packaging use.
Silica gel, on the other hand, strikes the right balance. It’s trusted across retail, logistics, e-commerce, electronics, and healthcare because it works reliably, cleanly, and affordably.

Whether you’re packing 50 items a week or 5,000, silica gel sachets offer low-cost peace of mind that keeps your goods in perfect condition,  without mess, hassle, or complicated systems.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is silica gel better than clay or calcium chloride?

For most small to medium packaging applications, absolutely. Clay has a lower capacity, and calcium chloride is better suited to bulk container use. Silica gel, meanwhile, delivers consistent performance across a broad range of products and conditions.

Can silica gel be used in food or pharma packaging?

As long as you use food-grade silica gel sachets, it’s perfectly safe to include them inside pill bottles, vitamin jars, or supplement packaging. They’re also ideal for protecting herbal products, teas, and dried food packaging during storage or transit.

How much silica gel do I need per package?

This depends on the size and moisture sensitivity of your product. As a general guide, small sachets (1–5g) work well for individual items, while larger units (10–50g) suit boxed goods, electronics, or textiles. If you’re unsure, our team can help you calculate the right amount.

Can I use silica gel alongside other desiccants?

Yes, but most businesses find that silica gel alone is sufficient for their needs. In high-humidity or bulk shipping cases, you might pair it with container desiccants, but for general packaging, silica gel is typically more than enough.

Is silica gel eco-friendly?

Silica gel is chemically inert and non-toxic, and many sachets are now available in recyclable or biodegradable outer packaging. Better still, it can often be reused by gently heating the beads to remove moisture, reducing waste and cost.