An external pack member for a dishwasher appliance, the external pack member includes a base panel extending along the lateral direction and the transverse direction; a first channel formed downward into a top surface of the base panel along the vertical direction and extending along the lateral direction; and a second channel formed upward along the vertical direction into a bottom surface of the base panel and extending along the lateral direction, wherein the external pack member is formed from a recyclable molded pulp material.