Final answer:
Suppliers often use impervious plastic to protect hard drives during shipment to guard against moisture, static, and physical damage, though it might not be legally required in all cases. It serves as a best practice in the technology industry for secure packaging.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question whether suppliers are required to ship hard drives (HDs) in impervious plastic typically relates to packaging regulations and industry standards for the shipment of electronic goods. As such, the specific requirements can vary based on location, the type of product, and the supplier's internal practices. However, it is common for suppliers to use impervious plastic or other protective materials to prevent damage from static, moisture, and physical impact during transit.
The use of impervious plastic in packaging also serves to provide a barrier against electrostatic discharge (ESD), which is known to potentially harm electronic components. While there might not be a legal mandate for the use of impervious plastic in all jurisdictions or for all types of HDs, best practice within the technology industry often dictates the importance of secure packaging to ensure that products reach customers without damage.
Thus, while not necessarily a legal requirement, it is generally in the best interest of both the supplier and the customer to utilize appropriate protective packaging materials, which may include impervious plastic, to safeguard sensitive electronics during shipment.