eCommerce Remains Prominent

By Joan Mantini

The eCommerce packaging market was valued at $27.04 billion in 2019 and is expected to reach $61.55 billion by 2025 over the forecast period 2020 – 2025. A recent report from Mordor Intelligence notes that eCommerce has emerged as a prominent choice for purchasing goods since the turn of the century, demanding robust packaging solutions to sustain handling and long logistics for the varied product dimensions. The report found that amongst the key market trends, the consumer electronics segment was expected to witness the most significant growth. However, even with these increasing numbers, eCommerce is facing a few obstacles the industry looks to overcome such as theft prevention and the move toward more sustainable solutions.

Amongst the findings in a recent report from Shorr Packaging Corp. (“2018 Package Theft Analysis: Amazon Package Theft in Major US Cities”), nearly one in four online shoppers (24 percent) had personally experienced package theft. The good news is that was a 7 percent decrease compared to the 31 percent of self-reported package theft victims in the company’s 2017 Package Theft report. Of the package theft victims that were surveyed, 41 percent had purchased a video doorbell to deter package thieves. Additionally, 58 percent of respondents who experienced package theft first-hand indicated that they plan on changing their online purchasing habits around the holidays to avoid being package theft victims again.

Beyond the consumers adding video doorbells, this is an area were retailers can take notice and develop packaging solutions such as improved track and trace capabilities  that can help their products seamlessly reach the end-customer.

Sustainable solutions is another area we see many eCommerce companies continue to focus on in order to reduce plastic wastes, continuing to make a shift in the direction of paper-based packaging. Amazon, playing a large role in this movement, introduced its Frustration-Free Packaging solution for eliminating the additional shipping boxes. Since launching in November 2008, Amazon’s Frustration-Free Packaging programs have grown to include three tiers of certification and multiple other initiatives focused on reducing packaging waste. Frustration-Free Packaging is designed without plastic clamshells, wire ties and other redundant packaging features. Over the past 10 years, Amazon’s sustainable packaging initiatives have avoided over 500 million shipping boxes.

Indeed, innovation has become incedingly important in eCommerce.  Amongst the articles in the February issue of Packaging Technology Today, readers can learn how Tide is setting new standards for the Tide Eco-Box in our “Packaging Perspective” segment. Tide has reimagined its 50+ year old detergent with a breakthrough Eco-Box packaging designed specifically for eCommerce and shipping directly to consumers’ doorsteps, with revolutionary packaging that is now 60 percent less plastic than the equivalent bottle (150 oz.) and contains an ultra-concentrated formula.

Also, amongst the articles readers can also learn what the right secondary packaging equipment is for your applications, how eCommerce companies can reach affective digital transformation, and more.